What amps do Electrical Engineers own...why?

Interesting question.

"As a lay person, I don't know enough to be able to differentiate good engineering from good marketing."

You really don't have to. Listen to some amps and pick the one you like best. Also, just because someone is an electrical engineer doesn't make them right. Its a matter of what you like, not what someone else likes.

Another option you may want to consider is working with a good dealer. They can assist you in making the right choice. Thats what they're for. I know some really good ones. If you post the area you live in, I may be able to recommend a good store for you.

Which ever amps have the BEST specs.

As an EE, it's definitely about the specs. I own Ayre MX-Rs. First of all because they sound unbelievable paired with my Nagra PLL and WP7s, second because they provide more than ample power reserves (yeah I know that's a spec) and third because they're aesthetically pleasing to look at.

Zd542,
I actually own a pair of amps that I absolutely love and can't imagine ever giving them up and they are a fraction of the cost of my last amp. Clearly there isn't always a correlation with price and synergy (or quality) and I'm trying to educate myself on how the electrical engineers approach the decision making process. I'm not in the market for new amps but am trying to demystify some of the hobby if that's even possible.