High-end amplifier clarification?

Are you looking to buy one that just "makes it" and avoid one that just "falls short"? For the most part it is marketing speak, since most equipment performs pretty well today, or better said, you don't need to spend a lot of money to have "high-end" sound. I suspect folks would think that $500-$750 integrated from companies like NAD, Rotel, Cambridge...are truly high-end, but they sure do capture an awfully large % of what is possible from 60-100 watts SS amps.

I suspect that all amplifiers here:

http://www.higherfi.com/amplist/amplist.htm

might be high end.

If the editors and columnists of TAS or Stereophile refer to the designer of the amp by first name, the amp is high-end. ;)

The amp must have at least one end 3 feet off the floor; this classification method is as accurate as any other you are likely to find. High End is in the ear of the beholder and nowhere else.

Well said.