So, someone could build an amp which mimics the qualities of other
amps, simply by accurately measuring various aspects of the amps to
be mimicked and applying filters appropriately.

More specifically and technically, the adjustment facility for amplifier
mimicry would be a combination of linear and non-linear compensators.

A regular audio equalizer (parametric preferred, graphic accepted) would
be
a kind of linear compensator.

There are no common high fidelity audio components that are intended to be
nonlinear compensators. The *Pod* device someone else mentioned may be an
example of such a device. However, its generally pretty sonically deadly
to
put a complete musical signal through a highly nonlinear device because of
all of the non-harmonic spurious responses. When nonlinear devices are
used,
they are usually used with just one voice or just one instrument.

If I was going to try to make a chameleon amplifier, I would start out
with
a good clean pro audio type amp ( Hafler, Crown, QSC). I would front end
it
with a 5-band parametric eq per channel. I might add a back-end device
that
would provide a variable, perhaps even frequency-dependent source
impedance
for the loudspeaker.

In use, I would try to duplicate the speaker voice-coil voltage of the amp
being *duplicated* by intelligent adjustment of the source impedance
simulator, and then fine tune the results with the parametric eq(s).

Wise audiophiles wishing to get off the new amplifier merry-go-round would
cut to the chase and just get some parametric eqs for their own system.
Then
(and here is the hard part) they would learn to adjust them properly by
ear.

This probably comes down to semantics: do you view an audiophile as someone
who specifically seeks "straight-wire" sound, or is an audiophile anyone who
is critical of, seeks out and appreciates what they perceive to be superior
sound?

If the former then wouldn't they be better off purchasing the
"straight-wire" source, amp and speakers, and not playing with eqs to
compensate for the inferiority of "curly-wire" products?

If the latter then how can you quantify what is a "proper" adjustment of an
eq, beyond whatever the listener prefers?