Silky and soft highs: product of coloration?

No. In real life, female vocalists with a 'silky and soft' presentation, and violins, alone or massed have a clear, 'silky' sheen that digital has a hard time recreating. If the amp is taking a harsh signal and 'fixing it' then I guess it would be coloration. But if it is the signal it gets, and sends it out amplified... I would say it is true to the source.

So, two things here: An amp that can transfer the perfect signal would pass crap as well as perfection. Or: the amp that makes it all sound like a silk purse.

the room, the speakers, and most of all,the recording, have a bigger part to play for those silky highs than the amp. a good amp just sends the signal its given.

This is probably the toughest thing to get right in a system-- silky treble without loss of detail, and treble bite (on brass & strings) without aggressiveness. Source, preamp, amp, speakers all make or break. I think one giveaway that it's not right is if a silky, pretty treble is accompanied by weak dynamics lower in the frequency range. In my tube system at least, I've found that steps taken to improve control & dynamics usually extend and refine treble. Since the amp has the key roll in dictating system dynamics, perhaps this is where your friend is coming from with his observation about its importance.

Still think the amp is the most important component in the system. The type of speakers you own plus personal tastes will have a big influence on the type of amplification you may choose.

Any one of us could build a system around a good sounding amp via trial & error with interconnects/cabling, trying different preamps, tayloring the sound to the desired outcome. Soft highs could be a by-product of coloration which sounds desirable to some but not considered accurate.

I'm currently using a McCormack 0.5 Revision A and know by past experience with the stock amp the Revision A in itself has refined this amp by removing the grit and grain in the upper registers but still preserving its dynamics & increasing transparency, midrange is uncanny. It does need to be fed other quality components to fully realize its potential as so with other high end amps. I will have to say that this amp is very accurate and extended no way soft or colored but still sweet and detailed.

In conclusion & giving a choice I will opt for silky highs but not soft highs but maybe not prefering either.

Agree with Sogood...most people...including myself...spend way too much time fiddling with amps...but hey...its nuerotic fun!...