HIFiAl, you need to come to grips with the definition of subjective and how it related to audio. Again, just because you, your buddies, or half the people at the mall prefer the sound of an amp, doesn't mean it is objectively better. The only way to measure an amp objectively is through specs. On that count, the nc1200 is not superior to the nc400. If you prefer the sound, that's your right, but your subjective valuation only goes as far as your nose- it may be "better" for you but that does not mean it will be "better" for everyone. Believe it or not, some people don't even think the Merrill nc1200 is "better" compared to many other class a amps. Everyone has their own opinion on what is better or best.
Here is the info on NAD M22:
"NAD's M22 power amplifier is the first nCore-based model from a mass-market company. Unlike competition from Acoustic Imagery, Merrill Audio, Jeff Rowland and Mola-Mola which get $10'000/pr and more for equivalent monos, the NAD stereo amp sells for $3'000. "We have our own nCore module developed in close cooperation with Hypex. It is based on the NC400 not the 1200 but this is not a qualitative difference. It only affects power output. We can do this because we will build and sell a lot of units. The 1200 was developed primarily for the pro market where huge power is required. In the Hypex 400 module continuous power is 200W@8 and 400W@4. In our implementation it is 250W@8/4 controlled by Erik Edvardsens precision clipper circuit. The benefit of this approach is the ability to offer much more short term or dynamic power where we have 350 @8 and 600W@4.This makes the power in actual use seem greater than the spec in typical NAD tradition!"
350W/8 Ohm and 600W/4 Ohm....Sound familiar? This is why I conjectured that the new Merrill amp is based on the nc400, like the new NAD. I did not state it as fact, I simply said the odds were good the module in the new Merrill amp, based on price and power, would seem to be based on the nc400, not the nc1200. Again, the tech in these two is the same so saying it is based on the nc1200 is the same as saying it is based on the nc400.....The price and power output make it a better bet that the module is actually more closer to the nc400....