Well here goes...
I sat down with my audio dealer yesterday and had an actual listening session of the Line Magnetic 216IA. It is a Chinese designed and manufactured integrated tube amp.
My FIRST impression was that he is correct. After listening to the Cary SLI-80 Signature, the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum and even a Primaluna Prologue model it sounded much better to my ears through Vandersteen 2CE SIG II speakers.
It is PTP wiring and built very well. It can be switched from UL to triode on the fly and has a built in meter for bias of the tubes. It uses 4 KT-88 tubes (push-pull) and puts out 22 watts in triode and 38 watts in UL.
I did not think it would sound better than the Rogue or Cary, but it did. I did not think it's low power would impress me, but it did.
Bass was more defined and it had a black, quiet background that I have been searching for. Midrange was silky smooth and the timbre on all instruments I heard was accurate. That would be violin, sax, piano, female vocalists, percussion and upright bass. Orchestral music sounded very convincing and the sound stage was fantastic. The separation of instruments was perfect.
There appeared to be a SS handling of mid to deep bass that I had not heard on the other amps. There was a delicacy of sound that I was looking for contrasted with some dynamic
range which took me by surprise. The midrange and high freqs were not harsh of shrill sounding. There was a sweetness to the sound.
I arranged to purchase this amp after less than 2 hrs of listening to it. The dealer told me they were flying off the shelf. Once I take possession I will post a follow up review. The price is (was) quite nice and affordable.
I think Tone Audio imports this amp along with the likes of Leben Hi-Fi and Shindo Labs.