Makes sense....what you heard. Van Alstine is not a tweaker....he does not believe that parts or connectors or fuses, damping, etc....make any difference. He uses ordinary wire, connectors, capacitors, resistors, unbypassed power supply caps, transformer mounted with steel hardware, fuses everywhere.......even on the output.. etc. etc. If you tweaked his amps they would sound completely different and way, way, way better. I am not modding his amp....he would not approve and would freak out and anyone with a modded Van Alstine amp woud probably never get help with any issue, etc.
As I have stated....high end audio is all over the place......not so with quarter mile hot rodding.....everyone knows how to make a car go fast........all knowledge is available to anyone......In high end audo....it is a giant mystery for most people. When I tell people to remove binding posts and spades for better sound, etc.....they have no idea what I am talking about. There is no "tweaking bible".....where all the secret sauce is revealed. I am not making one......no one would buy it.....people want to believe the advertising sales pitch.
This is why you have to listen for yourself. Then you will know what is what. I appreciate all serous A/Bs of equipment. Thank you Mark for letting us know what you heard.......My friend used to say "It all comes out in the wash"......meaning, that over time....the truth about things is known.
The truth about the intrinsic beauty of our soul is what is always real...May you bask in the light of your own being.......and radiate it to everyone.