This thread reminds me of a long ago review in the Audio Critic of the Sunfire amp with a similar power rating to this Crown. Aczel discussed how ultra low distortion wasn't a design priority for Bob Carver and studies that backed Carver that showed humans can only detect so much. It is available via download on biline.ca, issue 23. I do feel there is too much emphasis on the number of zeros after the decimal, seemingly at the expense of other considerations like features. My JDS Labs El Amp has more distortion than the Atom, but still in "transparent" territory. What it also has that the Atom doesn't is aesthetics and ergonomics in a nice aluminum case. I think I can sacrifice some increase in inaudible distortion for pride of ownership and tactlie feel.