Unless one cares about the look more than the sound, 3e or topping seems to be a better choice.
As an owner of both a 3e A5 and Ampapa D1 I do not agree. "Better choice" is subjective until you lay down the criteria that determine what better choice means. Lets ignore the look.
If Better Choice means the Amp ASR members rate best in the poll, then the A5 wins by a lot. The majority rate it Great Golfing Panther and the D1 Fine Happy Panther. Amir Golfs both.
If Better Choice means performing better on Amir's tests then the A5 wins as it beats the D1 on most all but the power output test. Note that this would only make it the best choice for those who have read Amir's tests and believe performance measurement is most important. ASR members who complete the poll have read the tests.
If Better Choice means objectively evaluating Amir's results to determine which amp is most transparent the answer is not clear. Two performance differences could be audible in normal use: PFFB (load dependence) and Output Power.
The PFFB performance difference results in a worse case 1.6 dB variation that starts above 10kHz and peaks above 20kHz. Even with excellent hearing this will be nearly imperceptible. The difference is small, in a region with no music fundamentals, where our ears are least sensitive. The difference is dwarfed by speaker anomalies, toe in, and listening location. OTOH, once you read the tests, if you make a sighted listening comparison you will most certainly hear a predictive perception difference because the D1's PFFB graph looks nasty.
The power output difference favors the D1. At 4 ohms the D1 outputs 136w and the A5 92w. But, this results in just a 1.7dB difference in maximum output which is quite small, and does not matter if you never utilize maximum power. I think neither Output Power or PFFB Performance differences will impact objective listening for the vast majority of owners. However, many of us at ASR will see the PFFB issue as more problematical because it probably results from an engineering flaw rather than a design choice.
If Better Choice means useability and features the D1 has many more of them but whether they have positive or negative value to you is subjective. The LPF and Tone Controls may significantly improve objective performance depending on your circumstance.
If Better Choice includes price, the Ampapa D1 sells for 28% less ($200 vs $280 on Amazon)
When I put on my audio consultant shoes I would recommend the D1 as the better choice for most people. I would recommend the A5 to those who read ASR. I like them both, use them equally, and gave both great golf scores.
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