What Class A is better? SUGDEN FPA-4 or PASS LABS XA-25

Sugden gear always bothered me due to the lack of air and the slightly veiled sound they produce. A good friend of mine runs the Saphire pre & power combo with a pair of B&W 802Ds. Heard the A21 amplifier in different iterations as well. Never really liked their sound, for me it just sounds not natural. It’s like having the flaws of class A without the benefits…

Can you really go so wrong with either one?  I've owned several Sugden pieces, still have some.  I like the way they sound for my ear.  Period.  Very quick with immediacy that is difficult to match or beat.  Decent sound stage.  Voices sparkle. No rumbling bottom end.  But they are not the only game in town and 25wpc is just that, not enormous and if you need more well you need more.

FYI a stereophile review of the Sugden a21 shows that it reaches 1% distortion at 24 watts, below its 25 wpc rating. 

The pass reached 1% thd at 80 watts, far exceeding its rating.  

the sugden was noted to run quite hot during operation.  

the pass is twice the price of the sugden.  

both are well liked by their users. 

I had the Coda #8 and now the Coda #16 and it’s the best solid state amp I’ve ever heard.