Nuforce STA200

Ooh, I'd like to know this as well.  I love the 530s

I bought a STA200 and have about 5 hours of listening into it. Using on 86db/6ohm speakers and coming from a well respected chip amp. First thing I noticed was the impact this amp has at higher volumes.Very dynamic and lively -  it is meant to be played loud!  However, highs are a bit strident / grainy and bass/mid-bass is a little too exaggerated and loose (on my speakers).  I have a feeling the 60hz-200hz range is somehow accentuated on this amp.  These faults are easily overlooked when the volume turns up and you start "feeling" the music. It's dynamics & speed are addictive.  I wonder how much improvement could be had with a 2nd unit in a vertical bi-amp set-up...my rational self thinks it may not be worth it for a 10% subjective improvement in performance.  I will continue to listen for improvement as the amp breaks in.

A couple hundred hours for break in. Leave it on, continuously, with music playing through it, if possible. The question of vertical bi-amp....I feel it is significant, but this goes with many dual amps I have had experience with. As far as a purchase, making any percentage of improvement, well, this is all part of our industry. It is a great amp, at the selling price, for many systems, and not the best, for others. System matching is still very important. 

Thank you Mr. D.  I'll follow up with an update after 200+ hrs of break-in.

TOO MUCH GAIN. Even with my McCormack passive preamp I can't turn my volume knob past the 10 o'clock position without leaving the room holding my ears.  There is no need for a preamp. All you need is a attenuator between your source and the amp.