Decware: a worthwhile option?

I've been looking at their line and don't see it that way at all. All low power amps are going to be useable in the real world with speakers 94dB and up- and the higher the better. I have been saying for a long time that 92dB is the lowest sensitivity I would ever considered for any speaker, and this is regardless of the amp. Obviously this is even more important with single-watt amps, and Decware is no exception. 

Seems to me all they are doing is making quality gear for advanced audiophiles. People willing to put a little more effort and planning into it than your typical buy the name brand box types that make up the vast majority of audiophiles. 

Now if they made anything that is incompatible with anything else then you would have a point. But all they are doing is what everyone else is doing. I had for 16 years an ARC phono stage that had about the same gain as the ZP3, and being an experienced knowledgeable audiophile even then knew it would be best with a medium output cartridge, or else I might need a SUT. I'm real happy with my Herron, but if I were to try something else the ZP3 is one of only two that make my list.   

To be honest, I find your "spend spend spend" criticism somewhere between aggravating and misplaced. Near as I can tell these are all very high value products. Tremendous sound quality for the money. Maybe it is just that they are intended for a customer with more experience? If so I'm sure there are plenty around happy to help you learn.

So are Decware amps in the 2W-6W range actually useable in the real world with speakers of, say, 94dB-96dB efficiency and above?

Yes. Omega and Decware are a common pairing among those in this camp. I use an SE84UFO with Omega's entry level Super 3i Monitors (94.5 dB) and a DeepHemp 8 Subwoofer (high-level connection). Sounds sublime. Plenty of volume and dynamics with or without a preamp/gain stage/etc. in the mix. As long as your source puts out at least 2 volts, which the SE84UFO requires to achieve full power, you don't need another gain stage. My DAC, no problem. My turntable with on-board phono amp, not so much. I use a preamp with the turntable.

I had a pair of his EARLY TorII 60 watt per channel MB..   No lack of power just a load issue on Strathearn Ribbons. For some reason that amp got a little wiggy.. Those Ribbons dropped to 1.4 ohms at 150 200 hz or so.. Did not sound good.. A push pull valve amp worked fine...High current SS worked good.. Not the single ended stuff..

Now I would have just upped the XO point to 250 or 300.. Long time ago.. I sold them for more than I paid for them..

I'm looking at his Phono pre and waiting.. Tuning up a Thoren and a R2R to give it a workout. I like the way they are built.. look inside, ART... We use to call it straight wire Point to Point.. No turret boards though.. Common ground and hot rails.. SHORT paths.. good layouts. QUIET..

They take a long time Amego... they kinda slow.. like oh so slow, ho ho ho...

HEAVY.. I like um..

Your speaker choices will be relatively limited with any flea watt amp. But if that is the way one chooses to go then I think Decware offers very good value.  Definitely products I would consider buying. 

I purchased a Decware ZLC, haven’t received it yet, but I’m eagerly anticipating. Very nice looking products for sure, overall they seem to be well received too. We’ll see...