opinions on Clayton amps ?

I've never heard the Clayton but am interested. For reader's info: At '07 T.H.E. Show in the ModWright inner room they had the latest greatest balanced preamp circa $4500, circa $12k Belles Power Modules huge class-a amp & $21k/pair Escalante Design monitors.

Someone in the industry w/ no known direct connection w/ Clayton, whose opinions generally matched mine on equipment w/ which we are both familiar, said the little $4k Clayton SM40 beats the big ole Belles heard in that room that day. That got my attention.

My current amp short list includes the Clayton, Ayre V-5xe & $4500 Primare A32 (A32 sounded fantastic driving $11k/pair Martin Logan; speakers current model as of early '07, audibly improved vs. earlier).

If I didn't have tube amps now and was looking to go with some great solid state amps, one of the Clayton models would be at the very top of my list:

http://iar-80.com/page6.html

First let me say that I am a Clayton Audio dealer. I will say that they are awesome. The sound is very smooth and precise. I use a pair of M-200's for demo. You will not be disappointed with them. I promise.

Clayton Audio- warmer, denser, more liquid but a darker treble than the Ayre in my (limited) listening experience.

A buddy of mine in Chicago is also a dealer for Clayton and I've gotten to spend a few hours with the M-200's on a couple of occassions. These are really terrific amps with plenty of jump and a very smooth presentation. jmlm has it about right although I would say they don't give up any detail to be that liquid and smooth. If you're near Chicago I could hook you up with him and you might be able to set up an audition to go hear them.