Dreaming of a DIY 8W Class A amp designed by Nelson Pass?

@auxinput - Woops, the connectors are indeed Oyaide-- for the ACA, 2.5 ID x 5.5 OD (based on the Meanwell data sheet spec.)
I do a custom build to 10-11awg with a twist of 20awg .999 dead soft silver strands from Rio Grande on-line.  IME, with DC the higher the gauge and shorter the length the better.  For terminations to small connector tabs, extend 2-3 strands out of the bundle to make the solder junction.     

I've been experimenting with a bunch of sources and preamps over the last few months.  

  

@jayh - I built these with my kids as well.  Our second or third project.  Even my 7 year old participated.

System photo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RG7oFzBtF1pH-ViMwFv83GhkWPTNIU6-/view?usp=sharing

Upon returning from the CAF audio show with good sounds freshly implanted in the memory bank, I was greeted by two Zerozone 24V/5A linear supplies from Hong Kong.  Even without break-in they improve on the stock Meanwell SMPS. Increased dynamics. Weighty and extended LF. The slight opaqueness, politeness, and soft-focus of the stock unit is gone.  Soundstage is larger and more dimensional. Resolution is increased across FR.  Mids are supple and SET-like. There is a vivid tactile quality as heard with top echelon amps. Well worth the $450.   

 
they alll seem somewhat sterile and lifeless. IMHO, they all need a tube preamp to warm them up

@lou_setriodes Nelson understands the importance of lower ordered harmonics since you can't eliminate distortion altogether (this is a lot bigger topic than there might be room for on this thread!). So his stuff doesn't have that dryness to which you allude above. But a good tube preamp shouldn't be particularly warm- just neutral :)

Perhaps using the word "warm" to describe tube sound isn't the right word.  Sweet sounding might be better, at any rate, with tubes, there's a certain something there - warm, sweet, euphonic whatever it is that just sounds so right and is to me more appealing than listening to solid state.  Maybe even order distortion is the term I'm looking for.  
 

Even without break-in they improve on the stock Meanwell SMPS. Increased dynamics. Weighty and extended LF.

I have found that going from switching power supply to a linear with a very large capacitor bank will yield significant improvements in bass strength and body.  Along with all the other improvements! lol