I didn't have any DIY skills, so Tom built me a Mod-286, which I've been enjoying for several weeks and thought I'd share my experience with the amp.
In my early life, I played bass and enjoyed many types of music - hard/progressive rock, jazz, folk, pop, indie, classical, etc. For the last 30+ years, I've been through a mix of separates and integrated amps from Creek, Rega, Naim, Wyred4Sound, LFD, Aaron, Line Magnetic, Micromega, Rowland, Karan Acoustics and Audia Flight. Many were fabulous pieces of gear, but all had a distinct 'house' sound that fueled the gear churn and just didn't stick with me long-term.
The Modulus-286 is the first amp I've heard that seemingly has no character of its own, which is the highest compliment I can pay. This amp is supernaturally quiet and has tremendous clarity, without any stridency or harshness. Instrumental dynamics, pitch, timbre and nuance are easy to hear, including in the bass, which is very difficult to achieve. Every recording sounds different and the music's emotional content is easily communicated to the listener. Amazingly, there's nothing cold or clinical about this amp - Tom has managed to weave together clarity and musicality in a way I haven't heard before. To top it off, these qualities are all available at low listening levels - there's no need to turn up the amp to get this performance. Tom's build is meticulous and for me personally, I don't see needing more in an amp. If you're in the market for a completed amp that really does get out of the way and let the music speak for itself, I don't think you can go wrong with this incredible piece of gear. If you've got the DIY skills, just build one already! Very highly recommended!