Audio Research VSi75Price: $8000

Website: www.audioresearch.com

Jason said: Solid-state lovers would like it. Tube lovers would like it. But where it would hit a home run, I believe, is with two groups: those who would like to try a tube amp but are leery of doing so because of the perceived downsides of tubes, and tube aficionados who might be getting tired of unreliable, soggy-sounding tube amps.

Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.

The gist: An amp that expertly straddles the tube/solid-state line.