One Amp To ‘Rule’ Them All....

A very silly question indeed.

“We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are” Anais Nin

Eveyone has a different standard, taste, inclination based upon many, many factors. Some audiophiles here mostly believe in measurements, others trust their ears and many people have their own ideas about what sounds good. I like to say that they like their own coloration of the sound.

Without delving into deep psychology, we are products of our culture, our parents, our indidual and collective biases, our values, norms and so on. How could we agree on the “One amp to “rule” them all. And why would we want that anyway. I have two amps, one solid state and one tube. Different sounds that I both really like... I also like many flavors of ice cream and one does not rule them all.

There is not a reference amp. Even if there was one, tomorrow someone would make a better one?

That is why I call it a silly question.

I understand your point, but I would like to say that the sky, when you start to understand atmosphere and light is not blue. It is never just blue. Look at it on any given day, and you will see all the colors of the spectrum from cool or warm gray to yellow to greenish blue to red and so on. To say the sky is blue as a reference point is just limiting and misleading and not educational. But the color of the sky is a good, if not a great, example of amplifiers. I think amplifiers, the beauty of the sounds they all make, is much like that of the beauty of the sky. Limitless in color, tonality, purity of hue and intensity. And we cannot say one skyline is better than another. If really seen deeply, they are all quite stunning.
BTW I used to think solid state amplifiers sounded the best. I picked up a good, maybe not great, vacuum tube amp that I adore much more than the solid state amp. When I went to an audiophile buddy’s house he picked up a Bel Canto class d amp that he luvs. I cannot stand the sound of it, but I did not tell him. Beauty of sound is in one’s own brain. That’s it... really but I suppose anyone can learn to better at listening.

BTW the posts so far are leaning away from the idea that one amp "rules" them all. Audiophiles here are offering different amps and I will predict that list will get longer. I doubt you will come to a consensus on ONE amp.

Noble100 has given the best advice. Your first answer had me on the floor laughing. Your second answer much more diplomatic and polite.
Thank you Noble100.

OP- you may want to start here.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/my-long-list-of-amplifiers-and-my-personal-review-of-each

Like most audiophiles seeking answers such as yours, there is mud and sludge one must go through reading all these experiences with all these amps to find some answers. This guy (who started the post above) has stated he had the opportunity and resources to do much of the work and has tried many quality amps. So it’a good read, to say the least.