Just a wee bit o' history here.
James Bongiorno started out as an engineer with Dynaco. He later cofounded SAE (the elders here will remember, we all coveted them!), left them, cofounded GAS (Great American Sound, most famous model Ampzilla), left them, had a stint with cancer, beat the bugger, founded another company, Sumo, had another stint with cancer and beat the bugger again, and is now back with his Ampzilla range.
While I've never met him in person, I have been exchanging messages with James for some years now. He's an old grouch, but in essence, he has a stupendous mind, leaves you breathless sometimes.
For example, he invented fully complementary circuitry some 33 years ago, something we take for granted today, not to mention such trifles as DC servo and quite a few other circuits, again taken for granted today.
In short, this is a truly extraordinary man, and one I most gladly take my hat off to. Probably because of my better than usual knowledge of the man behind the product, one thing I'll guarantee is that there is NOTHING on that product that doesn't need to be there. He's too smart, too experienced to throw in something he's not convinced of. And what James thinks of audio fashon of today is best not repeated in polite company.
So, while all this should make it clear that James has a right to be respected, by the same token, don't expect the usual fare from him. Expect the unexpected, and these days, truly great amplfiers appear at the rate of wisdom teeth. But when they do appear, you can bet your last cent one of the two or three best ones will be from James Bongiorno. Most probably THE best one.
One of the last audio giants.
Cheers,
DVV
