raferx99
Lavardin IS Reference
Did a home demo of the Lavardin IS Reference against the Sugden A21SE, and while both amps do many things, very, very well, I'd have to give the nod to the Sugden overall. The Lavardin has, hands-down, one of the smoothest, silkiest midranges of any amp I've ever heard, a beautiful, detailed top end without a hint of glare or brightness or hardness, but ultimately lacked the bottom end of the SE and had a rather collapsed-in soundstage. I will say, by comparison, the Sugden sounded a bit forward, and perhaps didn't have quite as deep a soundstage.
Lavardin IS Reference
Did a home demo of the Lavardin IS Reference against the Sugden A21SE, and while both amps do many things, very, very well, I'd have to give the nod to the Sugden overall. The Lavardin has, hands-down, one of the smoothest, silkiest midranges of any amp I've ever heard, a beautiful, detailed top end without a hint of glare or brightness or hardness, but ultimately lacked the bottom end of the SE and had a rather collapsed-in soundstage. I will say, by comparison, the Sugden sounded a bit forward, and perhaps didn't have quite as deep a soundstage.