I have owned a Baron for a year. The difference between the Baron and other amps,solid state or tubes, is true flexability.When I ponder what my listening mood is the Baron can go there with me.I'm personaly tired of trying to listen to music through products that are not made for my specific taste in music.The Baron allows you to change your mind from time to time.Is'nt that why most of us listen in the first place?You can truly rock with this amp.Full pentode power hooked to good bass speakers will bring Zep to life.Full triode mode will invite Kenny G, if that's what your into. When these differnt musicians we love to listen to were developing their musical styles that we love, don't you think they experimented? Of course! So if you enjoy having freedom of choice,I reccomend the Mesa Baron. Any speaker combination will work. So just enjoy the music. Whether you play loud or soft.

Obviously, "Ben" here doesn't know what he's doing if he bought an amp with 1 working channel, then expects to put up a credible review. But, he said even that 1 channel "sounded great", so what's that tell ya about the Baron?

Also, I don't know what his problem is about the 'frame' of the Baron (?)...it seems plenty sturdy to me. I've owned my Baron since purchased new in Nov. '98 (with BOTH channels working!), and have played it just about every day (often times LOUD), on fairly difficult speakers - Magneplanar Tympani IV and B&W Nautilus 803 - and all I've had to do to it is replace the original power tubes once since then, which is just normal maintenance for a tube power amp. I just replaced the power tubes about 6 weeks ago, and Tien Lawrence at Mesa Engineering was very helpful and prompt with sending the tubes. Also, as the original owner, I got the replacements at half the regular cost, so I can't complain. The input tubes I'm using (N.O.S. Mazda's) are still going strong. The Baron has performed flawlessly for me, and I would buy it again.

Many of these guys on Audio Review claim to be "audiophiles" and to know what they're doing. But, I would take alot of what's said here with a LARGE grain of salt!

In my book - the Mesa Baron rates 5 stars for it's sound, flexibility, reliability, and good looks.