Are some of us cultish in our beliefs

OK I'll bite.
I guess becoming a classic Jazz (anything not smooth jazz) cult member.

And I'm looking to join Cult Cayin. Pretty nice what the chinese are able to pull off for the price. Now I don't know who makes these things as they may be branded and re-branded etc... I guess it's becoming like cars, almost every maker uses parts from and copies everyone else.

Bartokfan you've now given yourself free reign to start and praise in Cult Cayin, although I thought I saw you lusting after the lastest "brought to my attention" chinese import.

Launche, yes i did break my commiitment to get the Cayin A88, as i saw the opportunity for the Xiansheng. But as you point out at these price points the Cayin can still bea possibility. That is if the Xian, due to arrive tomorrow, should not meet some expectations. If it does not, then I may not in fact get the Cayin , as it also has KT88's. I tried some EH KT88's in my JOR, and the sound was flat and just aweful. THe JOR has KT90's and offers a perfect balance with bass, mids, highs.
. The PV web site mentions this amp has bass, so we'll see.
If the amp turns out to be a dud, I'm only out of pocket $700, and may either list it (doubt it'd sell, but then maybe at $500, with the Cayin I;d be out $1200) or give it to a friend. When I say dud, meaning the KT88 is not the sound I;'m after for my classical.
The new opportunities offered from china are entriguing, and they seem to learn well.

in addition to equipment preferences, there are sonuc preferences.

rather than be concerned about sound, i'm concerned about timbre. i'm a timbre "nut".

are there any soundstage , dynamics, timbre, bass, et al. "nuts" out there ?

Mrtennis- Your confession about timbral fealty is utterly on target although I don't see how you can differentiate it from a concern for sound.
I see soundstage as an entertaining but non-essential part of the presentation as it really doesn't occur much in live acoustic performances and can't occur in amplified venues. The other points about timbre, dynamics and bass are indisputable necessities in my opinion.
I think Bartokfan was actually seeking brand name loyalties however, and asking us to confess our brand name biases.
As is well known by now, I have fallen wholeheartedly for the Zu speaker line and have become a "Listening Post"/ dealer for their products as of last week.
I have always admired cleverness as I see it in Zu designs and as I read it in Viridians comments. Hence the reference to being a Viridian groupie. Also greatly admire the input of Jax2.