Hi Dev,

I guess that you are comparing the Leak Stereo 20 to the WAD 6550? I have heard that WAD in my system and it is certainly a 'take no prisoners' amplifier, it is primarily marketed at the school of thought that thinks the more Watts the better and to tempt people away from Solid State. Have you seen these threads from PFM?

Building a WAD 6550.

Review of the WAD 6550.

I'm not surprised that you are torn between the two styles of valve presentation:

The Stereo 20 with the sweet sounding EL84 valves and relatively small (by today's standards!) transformers.

The WAD 6550 with the muscley American 6550 tubes and big transformers.

I'd guess the former to sound quite soft and magical compared to the grippy and attention grabbing sound of the latter.

It might be worth investigating the cheap little WAD KEL84, this is considered to be the best value for money kit that WAD have produced. I would expect that it could offer a halfway house between the two amplifiers I have commented on above as it is a modern design using the same sweet EL84 valve as the Leak.

Have fun!