Buts that's just my old ears with a "cheap" Jolida amps (40w/ch) ...
I'm sure with a Manley amp or more high end gear, its even more subtle.
Your JoLida almost certainly sounds better than the Manley gear, in my experience. This is a pretty common example of price being a poor indicator of good sound. Some gear just costs a lot. Sometimes high end equals hind end.
Clark
Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears