I had the opportunity this Saturday , along with some others who can chime in if they desire, to compare the Merrill Veritas monobloc amplifiers -
http://merrillaudio.net/veritas.htmlto my own NC400 stereo single chassis [2 x Nc400 + 2 x SMPS600] amplifier.
I've had the Nc400 for a few months and have gradually tweeked it with my own mains input cabling and signal input cabling, as well as my own speaker wire, as well as some other tweeks. My initial dissatisfaction with the NCore's midrange and treble were largely mitigated by these changes. Actually, I was thrilled with this amp, and IMO, its is the best amp I'd had in my system.
Using all my own cabling, we listened to my remote controlled Ear Acute III CD player primarily to CDs (also fed via Itunes from a Windows laptop via a cheesy USB cable, with less than spectacular results. I really need a better usb cable) feeding my NC400, and later the Veritas NC1200 monoblocks, and then to my Marten Miles II speakers. The Acute III was fed from one of the isolated 3 amp isolated duplex on my Alchemist power conditioner, and the amps were powered via the 'pass-thru' duplex on the Alchemist with no series reactive components and simply some parallel small 'X' capacitance.
We first listened to my Ncore400 to establish a baseline. All felt my Ncore400 a very good amp. Before switching to the Merrill Veritas I wanted to hear my amp with the Merrill supplied Synergistic Research Mechanical Interface Grounding (MIG) footers in lieu of my brass cones under my Nc400. I'll be ordering a set. We listened a bit more to re-calibrate our (improved) baseline.
So we substituted Merrill NC1200s, and it was quickly apparent that this NC1200 is subjectively a better amp. Not a 'knock you on your ass', I can no longer bear to listen to my POS amp, but an easily perceived and very worthwhile, substantial improvement. Where I loved the dense, slightly warm midrange of my NC400s, the midrange of this Nc1200 was simply mo' betta. Same goes to the ability to do that difficult task of presenting tambourines and bells, or recreating accurately the brass 'blat' from a Balkan brass band. Whereas the bass on my amp is taut and controlled, aiding in the the recreation of the recording venue, the Merrills were tauter and more controlled. The Merrill Veritas amps are simply, IMO, wonderful amps. I really don't know how to convey in words how exactly it is better, but as Justice Potter Stewart said of pornography 'I know it when I see it', with amps 'I know it when I hear it'.
I don't know what to attribute my subjective preference to, the intrinsic qualities of the Nc1200 vs those of the Nc400s, or the different choices Merrill Wettasinghe made in selecting the connectors, wiring and tweeks; its probably a combination of both.
I spent a goodly amount of time with Merrill discussing audio and music, and will simply say he seems a very knowledgeable EE and audiophile, and a really nice guy.
FWIW,
Paul