Rhyno, I don't recall claiming that 501 monoblocks are the "absolute best", what ever that means. I did say that to me they sound like music because they do so many things right, especially in the midrange. Having owned quite a few tube amps and prefering that type of sound, I find that 501's give me that sonic quality while also being able to drive my speakers well and recreate virtually any type of music at realistic levels with their superior "dynamic" abilities over tube amps. The term "absolute best" if a very illusive term indeed. One man's best is another man's torture. The 501's suit my sonic preference, power output, dynamic abilites and pride and enjoyment of ownership. As far as coloration goes, everything outside the original recording instance is a coloration including, mikes, mike cables, recording equipment, your playback system and especially your speakers and room's acoustic response/interaction with speakers. So you see, coloration is a very illusive term as well. If the 501 are "colored" and add their own color to the painting, then so be it, I am very happy with these painters and their work.