Are future improvements in Amp/PreAmps slowing to a crawl?

costco_emoji, good reaction! I assume you are enjoying another one of your DMT flashbacks. Obviously I’m not referring to transformers that are already outboard, Mr. Smarty Pants. I’m not surprised you didn’t know that all capacitors induce vibration in themselves. That’s why damping them is a good idea. I realize you’re a newbie and a wannabe but you shouldn’t let your emotions go crazy. As I said previously anyone who argues that air in a listening room moves at some great speed is not exactly in normal reality. If you wish to become the resident know it all I'd say you've already made it. 😀

@geoffkait
Good job, fool. Can’t actually attack me for what I did say so you just make it up. Go figure. I’m the guy that’s been running around championing the case for capacitor burn in on account of the small vibrations passing an AC signal though them induces. Those are internal vibrations though, and you’re only going to damp them internally, not be mounting the cap on springs. That’s the big selling point for ELNA caps, don’t ya know? Any other stupidity to spew, Mr. Magic Rocks?

costco, but I DID attack you for what you said. It’s very easy to do. You're the resident name caller. And quite a sophomoric one at that. I am starting to suspect reading comprehension might be another issue for you. You know, they’re doing wonders with anti psychotics these days. Check it out.

I agree with Atmasphere.  Many designs are nothing to write home about, made to a price point very similar to each other.  Other designs use better parts caps, resistors, custom transformers, etc.  Measurements mean nothing to me as I cannot hear the differences (general statement).  I recently made a Pass labs clone using better parts and it sounded really, really good, we were surprised how good it came out.  Some designers are exceptional and go the extra mile.  Making something cheap and real good is a challenge if you use custom parts though IMO.  I have yet to hear a SS amp sound like tubes depending on the design IMO.  I heard a FM Acoustic power amp and that was the closest SS amp that I really liked.  Very expensive.  No special parts so we figured that they matched up the parts very closely, but I don't really know.  In designing products, I can basically tell you how something will sound by the design, the parts used, etc.  I listen so much for changes, etc., that I really never hear the music for enjoyment now a days.  So far in my limited listening to class D designs, I can hear the sound and while I can enjoy it, it is really not what I prefer to listen to.  Not saying that I have heard enough but knowing that design I can hear what I do not like in that design.  But what I prefer may be different than what you prefer and its all good!  That is all I got!  Happy Listening.  

@geoffkait 
Ok, Mr. Magic Rocks. Go play with your mystic morphic fields now and let the big people talk about reality. 

@bigkidz 
It's hard to build a Pass amp and not develop an appreciation for the careful consideration put into the design, even if the topology isn't something radical. I think that's where the real art is.