Excellent post, O'Shag.

Switching amps are the wave of the future. Most of the switching amps I've heard (Rowland, ARC, PS Audio, BelCanto, Spectron) do a very good job of melding the attack and depth of great SS amps (big Krells) with the liquidity and sweetness of tubes (ARC). If there is one thing they do better than either however, it's transient response. Backgrounds are inky black and because of the huge contrast, transients are lightening quick. This is likely the "pace" that O'Shag was referring to, and I concur wholeheartedly!