It is true that PPI, Soundstream, and Orion are all owned by Epsilon now, but that's still way better than their previous owner DEI in my opinion. Same as Power Acoustik and others, BUT it is also important to remember that their mid and upper end are still really, really good quality overall. Definitely worth considering. I merely picked an amp quickly through my supply of options, but that amp could easily have been a Soundstream Picasso or Picasso Nano, or Tarantula Nano model, or a PPI Phantom or Black Ice.
I've read and participated in deep discussions with the new designers of these amps and the brand line in general, and it is absolutely clear that even though Epsilon owns them, the direction they are going is UP in quality and performance, not down to flea-market level. In fact, the upper lineup of SS or PPI right now are WORLD-CLASS, and worthy to try without much actual expense. Would I buy one of their subs over one from Jacob at Sundown or Nick at Stereo Integrity? Hell no, I would rather buy from Jacob or Nick. But for amps and such, sure. For front speakers, I usually gravitate toward home speakers optimized for car use, but I'd still rock a set of PPI Power Class 3-way components if they fit the build.
