There's no question that I prefer the SS amps from Sugden and Pass because of their pure class A and Single Ended no feedback approaches - I liked Sugden before I knew zilch about the technology so my ear led me to the conclusions not the technobabble. And no doubt there will be endless streams of counter argument to the technobabble anyway. Still IMO even the SS designs here really don't compete with good SE Tube amps IMO.

Power is the issue but that is being blown out of proportion as well. The room as well as the efficiency rating need to be looked at - big room LE speakers then yes the SETs are going to run into trouble but I said a million times - there just is no good reason for a speaker to be low efficient. My 10 watt tube amp can drive the Quads electrostatic very easily and loudly (well as far as Quads go anyway). Since I have not heard a cheaper panel from anyone else that is even remotely as good then I think SET and Panels are covered.

Then if you leave panels you're into box designs and here you have speakers like the AN E and J for medium rooms - 5 watts is more than enough to play deep bass at ear pain levels. For a larger room you have even more sensitive speakers like the Tannoy Westminster which can play even louder at even harder hitting levels with the same 5 watts. Most normal listening sessions do not require amps to go above a few watts. And anyone out there who claims otherwise simply has not done their homework by actually LISTENING to such systems.

The only reason to trade efficiency was for bass but that is simply not the case and enough speakers have illustrated that that is a fallacy. Keeping costs down is more likely the reason based on my listenng experience.

I get complaints from neighbors with my set-up, my keyboard bounces, the paintings shake. No I can't crack plaster but I didn't have my system up more than half way. And Feaner the AN J while easy to drive is not a pinnacle of efficiency. 89.5-93db depending on corners and while they don't dip much under 4 ohms this plays more than loud enough for any sane audiophile with a 10 watt amp (4.2 watts before distortion arises).

95db is loud and prolonged listening will damage your long term hearing. SETS are easily capable of that with resonably efficient speakers.

10 watts with reasonably efficient speakers is more power than you'll ever need. Rather than blaming the amp - I look at the speakers. Offer me better sound than the AN J or AN E or Westminster or Kensington or the 2905 etc and then show me why I need a 250 watt amp.