Hey Wind Chaser
MiniWatt is very nice if used in the right setup. (I have compared it to my Decware monos and can share my findings if anyone is interested)
It doesn't mean that we should drop the ball and settle down without exploring other possibilities.
Ampino integrated amp:
According to Zoran Dobrin of Dayens Audio, AudioCircle tour unit is about ready and will be shipped pretty soon. I definitely am looking forward to this one.
One of the reasons is its favorable review on 6moons by Ebean Srajan (his ear and preferences are similar to my own).
And second, giving a SS amp another chance ( yes, I have used SS in my system before
).
Besides the above mentioned points, it is reasonably priced & convenient.
Vinnie of RWA might be able to provide one of his battery power supplies for Ampino amp and that too sound like an interesting concept to explore.
I have also contacted new kid on the block in audio industry in regards to their upcoming product which caught my eye. Company is located in Canada and they will come out with compact, full-featured (balance as well as RCA out) monoblocks in the 2nd quarter of next year. They also might be interested in participating in future AudioCircle tour.........we will see if that can be arranged?
Jolida's new flea tube amp is another integrated which might be worth checking out. I will try to get that as well for AudioCircle members pleasure in the near future.
P.S
(No affiliation with this retailer)
I never bought anything from them but Pacific Valve has some inexpensive offerings on their website as well. Again, I have no experience with PV whatsoever and can't comment on their service or products they carry.Best
Mariusz
