That was my opinion, but based on what I think are some pretty solid assumptions. First, there are a lot of "high end" companies that have decided to use NCore or ICEpower modules to supplement their lines rather than design their own new Class AB amps because that's where the performance per unit cost is optimum these days. There isn't a ton of margin available to firms who opt to go in that direction by providing super reasonably priced products, as the only savings possible is in the connectors and packaging and there's not a lot of "real" differentiation to be had (yeah, yeah, OK...input buffers excepted--perhaps?) It's been noted that market is looking like a "race to the bottom" in one thread here.
Next, seems to me that Topping, SMSL, et al have a biz model based on small and light products that can be shipped worldwide, both quickly and at low cost. That means big, heavy Class AB amps are not something that one would expect to fit in with their current model. My take is the only way for them to provide a reasonably priced power amp using their own design savvy is to go the chip amp route, and even with that, they are kind of just another player because those are well thrashed out.
