Robert,
To me, its like the difference between a work of art and a work of nature.
To describe the SEX sound is like to describe the deliciousness of truly pure water.
Because our bodies are mostly water, it is simply impossible to know the difference until we've been immersed in it. Its also impossible to remember completely, and very hard for us to value (individually or as a society).
But to those who "rebel" in a sense from being seduced by an artistic lense and instead value purity for its own sake, good things come, my friend!
Attached are photos I took of water from pupu springs last year on our honeymoon in New Zealand. It was one of the most shaping experiences of my life, to taste and watch the liquid crystal. (It is the most optically pure water in the world.)
In the guidebook, however it didn't say that it would be that interesting. People we ran into said it was a cool roadside stop for 30 minutes. But we spent 4 hours mesmerised until it got dark. But then again, I'd been a SEX amp lover for many years prior. I'm getting into some synethesia here, only hoping that some vague point comes across from the metaphor.
I've struggled to find the same clarity in an amp with higher power, and it is all tradeoffs. Even with alot of the big bottle SET's. Its been the same struggle I've had to find larger fullrangers that have the same clarity as the small fullrangers I've grown an affinity for. All tradeoffs, unless you are spending TONS of money. But I'll take clarity over power any day in a small listening space. And so, why I am such a huge fan of the SEX amp.
So part of me says, "If honesty can't get me really high volumes, then I guess I should just feel lucky to have this much honesty at all."
Sortof like, "Even though the purest, coolest looking water in the world is on the other side of the globe, at least I am happy its somewhere in the world".
All the best to you,
Clark