Esoteric A-02 Amplifiers in Stereo or BTL (bridged to mono mode)

[SCAudiophile]

I have found the A-02 to be a giant-killer of an amplifier (ironic I know as it is well respected and a giant in its own rite...) in terms of dynamic range, overall frequency range (it renders every frequency no matter how low or high with ease), imaging, soundstaging, musicality, etc...to be one of the 3 best amps I've ever heard. It damping factor and "grip" (control) on any speaker and its proven ability to double down and drive the most difficult of loads whenever I've heard it here or on the road put it (IMHO) in a class of amplifiers with very few members.

I'm interested in hearing from other A-02 amp owners, people who have done extended demos or reviews on several (or whatever else you want to bring up);

- performance in stereo mode in your systems overall, listening impressions, etc...

- if you've had a chance to hear it and compare to the Esoteric Grandioso Stereo S1 or Grandioso M1s, or other top-end SS amps, I'd like to hear your impressions...please note I'm not interested in hearing simply "Grandioso is better because it's Grandioso, it's a more recent design, etc......."; I'd like substance; what the A-02 does on-par or close to Grandioso and concrete opinions on what the upper line does better...

- if anyone has had a chance to run in in BTL (bridged to mono) mode, I am VERY interested in hearing from you as to whether all the attributes of it running in stereo mode are preserved while still capturing all the additional power and dynamic capabilities of bridged mono withOUT increase in THD and other unwanted side-effects (many good amps in the past/currently "lose it" in bridged mono and display some very undesirable increases in THD, etc...when you bridge them)...

I've collected feedback on the A-02, particularly in Asia and Europe that has claimed that the A-02 was/is "the" sweet spot in the Esoteric line and that bridged A-02s come very close to the performance of other vendors' much more expensive and highly regarded gear (including the M1s or at least the S1 from Esoteric).

Thank you in advance for the help.....the way the A-02 sounds, it is clear that what I've heard from others in the last paragraph may very well be true, but not having direct listening experience with the S1, M1 and other vendors' top-line products beyond Esoteric at even higher price points, I'm definitely looking for real experiences others may share...