This is a Cartesian and almost peremptory answer in the sense that if we rely on ASR measurements, there would be almost no point in buying the LA90 and even less an AHB2.... If measurements take precedence over emotions, you might as well buy a PA5 without asking questions....
I realize that many people who have never owned the PA5, or even the LA90 or the Purifi manage to give an objective opinion by taking into account a measurement test as an absolute basis for reasoning...
I could be wrong but that's my way of looking at things )
1. wth is a "Cartesian answer"?
2. this is ASR. "emotions" == "BS i tell myself to validate my money spending"
3. yes, measurements take precedence over BS when it comes to electronics. might as well spend that money on cables, according to the Kult of Audiophilia, your emotions will be equally excited and you'll hear plenty of tumescent mids and fluorescent highs
4. funny how you mention objective opinions right after talking about emotions taking precedence over measurements. are you sure you understand the website you're on, and what all these words mean?
5. and yes, the superiority of the PA5 as a product (horrible QC not withstanding), among many others, is what I and many others have been saying for a long time, and why I (and some others) consider it a bad product: the advantages it provides are inaudible, while costing well over twice as much money (not to mention the cost difference will increase significantly over the years due to increased consumption of electricity), and providing
less power (unless you buy two and use bridged, but then the cost difference becomes enormous..).
and the AHB2, compared to the LA90 is not entirely pointless, as it has a clear audible advantage: power (whether you need that power is another question entirely and dependent on many factors). but yes, it is in a way pointless as many Purifi amps are equally audibly transparent at half the price while providing more power, but far less pointless than the LA90, as at least there's the factor of build quality, brand, customer service, warranty etc to consider, which may play a role in purchasing decisions