The $25. 000 USD gold, and Ferrari-red, solid-state integrated amplifier from Switzerland exuded raw sex appeal as it sat in my listening room oozing quality. With it’s staggeringly addictive color scheme (a point of opinion, and contention I know), muscular casework and that rubbery, nubby-feeling volume Pleasure Control for tactile feedback, the CTH-8550 could be a bit much for some people at times, but oh baby was it posh. Edward Ku at had made the amp available to me for review, and I was looking forward to having a few drinks, and letting it take advantage of me.