Building the Audio Note Kit 1 SET amp...

Hmm, well let's be real and not exaggerate.

Any good quality amp delivering just a few watts will clip and distort sooner than one of similar good quality with more watts, all else aside. Its just a matter of when and how. I don't think this point is debatable even really.

In this case specifically though, the experts are saying that there is something wrong and it should not be clipping and distorting as soon as it is. That makes it harder to resolve perhaps in that the issue is not as severe as many it would seem, but I don't think it accurate to say that an amp that delivers only a few watts clipping is "rare".

If one applies an underpowered amp to a task in general it might be harder than normal in practice to determine if things are working properly or not as this case would seem to support, in that clipping WILL occur sooner than in other cases.

Rebbi had the amp tested by a qualified tech who confirmed markedly decreased power output.The amp struggled with a Tekton speaker that was then easily driven by a 3 watt 2A3 SET. brownsfan has very successfully driven the De Capo with 2 different 8 watt amplifiers. Rebbi has a malfunctioning amplifier.

Here's what I find remarkable about this situation. A decfective(below specified power rating) amp driving 86-87 db speakers sounding better than the former higher powered amplifier with the same speaker. When this amplifier is fixed, look out!

Well, let's not jump to conclusions. I hope that's the case, but time will tell. There are many reasons why one thing may sound better than another case by case.

No doubt sending the amp to an expert with the right knowledge and tools to get to the heart of the matter is the best thing at this point.

Rebbi has been emphatic regarding the new sonic discoveries heard with the amp with familiar music(three listening session notes on his blog). There's no logical reason not to expect a properly functioning amp to sound better than one that's defective.He's getting better music reproduction than he ever had with his prior Manley. His future is bright with the AN Kit amplifier. With the one exception he has pointed out(synthesized bass reproduction)all else was an improvement. Quite telling and very encouraging. Rebbi built a better amp than what he had.

I could be shocked, of course, but I would be very surprised if this isn't some problem with the amplifier itself and not merely a matter of inadequate wattage. You may remember earlier in this endless thread that when the local technician attempted to fix the amp, he sent pictures of his scope readings to Brian at Audio Note Kits. Brian said that the scope readings looked "squashed." Something really didn't look right.
I would also be surprised if there isn't a legitimate problem with this amplifier because it's such a classic and time-tested design and the parts quality is so outstanding, from the gargantuan transformers to the beautiful, Audio Note silver speaker binding posts. Anyway, we shall see