If you want impressive looking specs on paper, that's fine. Just don't confuse specs with good sound, there's not as much relationship as many would have you believe.
First, as to your statement, yes some manufactures are ethically challenged or don't know their craft well enough to take accurate measurements in realistic tests, yes I am being charitable with the ethically challenged. Some companies like McIntosh consistently underrate their products.
If you have some suggestions on sleeper products, buy all means post them.
The integrated amp (surround receiver) that I use fronting 3 totl Yamaha power amps is a Pioneer Elite THX rated receiver. Since I only use the pre-amp section, the power output is irrelevant and to save weight and size the lower the better.
THX is not only specs, it includes bench tests to verify robust performance and design integrity.
I believe that if anything we need more specs and independent tests to back them up, THX is one set of standards that all can be measured against.
I couldn't find the list of amp tests from a former THX employee, but it was extensive and a lot of them had to do with surviveability in addition to linear 1 in 1 out performance type tests.
I believe that SN, THD, Damping, linear response curves etc are important, better if they are verified in case someone is shading their numbers.
As far as adjusting the sound, sure I have lots of EQs, and my Mac Preamp has lots of filters and an expander feature I play with.
An interesting case in point is the 55-60 year old McIntosh MC 30 amp, which most people have a good reaction to when they hear it. When you look at the specs to peak output, they are OK but not great, when you look at the .5 Watts specs (important with horn loaded speakers) the specs are stellar compared to anything. Of course the manual only has peak, and I couldn't find the cut sheet with the .5 numbers......
Can you have a pre amp or amp that specs out poorly but sounds good, sure it's possible, but it would be interesting to do box swaps with units that measure better and see if there is a difference in sound.
My recommendation for anyone looking for a killer 2 channel pre amp is to pick up a used THX certified surround receiver with pre-amp outputs, auto room-speaker correction, a built in EQ, a built in quality DAC with 120Db SN, a great remote control etc....... for about $150-200 max.
Alternatively, if you like to solder and can interpret the specs on OP Amps you can get a good used Pre-amp or integrated if you like tight spaces and replace the Op Amps with sockets and begin OP Amp rolling, the headphone guys swear by it, and some of the re-builders of stereo gear are already into it, like wine tasting.
The little $2 op amps have a lot to do with the sound of a pre-amp and the attached amp.
My two cents.......
). If you have efficient speakers, or don't need to make your ears bleed in order to listen to music, it works well as an integrated also.
