Amps with meters ...

Yes no doubt amps with VU meters are better than amps with LED. Unless maybe lots and lots of LED. Whole bunch of them in rows by frequency. With dials. And sliders. Lots and lots of sliders.

"Some listeners may find that the amplifier sounds better with meters."

Count me in. Maybe not "sounds" but "overall experience".

"...and the manufacturer's name engraved, without the model name/number or anything else."

Why put the manufacturer's name there? I would skip that first.

My old Phase Linear 400 amp had VU meters. After some forty years the light went dim, but not out, on the right channel .Thinking the world may be coming to an end, I replaced the Phase 400 with a brand new Luxman L-507uX Mark 2 with two large brightly lit VU meters.

1. An amp without VU meters is hardly an amp at all. It just sits there showing little or no sign of life or activity, unless you want to count the odd LED as something of note.

2. Those who do not like large ostentatious meters with their gyrating meter needles at best may be heartlessly obsessed with musical perfection to their own detriment. There is no fun in a comatose amp.

3. VU meters at best are useless relics from the past, but then again I might be too, so why not enjoy them and yourself, and both our ridiculous displays. 

4. I was thrilled to find out Luxmans had VU meters. The world has not come to an end.

Mike

Carver knew about the value of meters. I had a pair of their small monoblocks in the 90's. I can't remember the model number. They didn't sound good at all BUT, they held a good value I think because of the cool looking Frankenstein meters they sported. I also had a Threshold T800D with meters. THE best amp I've ever heard. Try finding a used one! Joe

Right on, Joe! You are obviously with the program.

Mike