Class A or Class D solid-state amplifiers (modern designs)

Perhaps forget about 'technical performance' and configuration.  By 'quality' I presume OP means sound quality.

That's what all of us are looking for, but it cannot be an absolute - each of us has different tastes in sound reproduction.

So I suggest OP  just goes and listens to a range of amps of many configurations and takes the ones he likes best.

Check out the new Topping PA5 Class D amp. $349! Clips at 110wpc@8ohms with 1% distortion. Uses advanced circuitry and has an input level control. Ranks just below the Benchmark AHB2 in SINAD at 1/10 the price! 

TCO is total cost of ownership--I'm guessing he means power bill.

TCO for class A should include the cost of back surgery.

Has anybody had the chance to listen to LSA Voyager and Starkrimson and Hypex NC400?

Hi, about 10 years ago I owned a class D integrated from nuforce. on the long run I was not happy with it (too dry, a lack of soul) and I sayed to myself: never again class D! but that is foolish. things have changed very much. a few years now a class A preamp is working together with a class d power-amp from a little company in poland named acuhorn. it is a joyfull combo and I am pretty shure it is hard to beat in this price-category. I was very skeptical, but because of the money-back-guarantee I ordered one acuhorn rate-amplifier and he is still making music in my living room every single day.