This thing DOES sound great. (A surprise from Alesis...) I have it in my studio/mastering system, which also doubles part-time as my audiophile listening system. This amp does NOT disappoint - plenty of punch and quite accurate. Excels in the bass and treble. It is a little sensetive as to what is feeding it, and will reveal any shortcomings. (I upgraded a NAD preamp to a B&K preamp, and it was night and day difference!) I also listen through B&K ST140 and Samson amps - the Alesis is much more accurate and enjoyable.For it's price, you just can't beat it unless you've got several hundred (and more) to spend on an amp. For those on a budget, GET THIS! You WON'T be dissappointed.
(It loses points for having 1/4" inputs (no RCA) and damned spring-terminal speaker connectors.)