Actually, I am old school and try not to run anything less than 2 ohms if I can help it! Blame it on my basic electronics background where I always had it beat into my head that running amplifiers close to a theoretical short puts undue stress on the components and causes excessive heat, thereby reducing useful life. Yes, I know the internals can be engineered, overbuilt, etc. to run at ultra low impedance loads. I just get this gut feeling that low impedance and budget power amplifier don't go together. It is just a personal preference on my part and I guess that makes me an "amp snob.":emb:
Also, I am sure you have seen some of my posts where I said I was going to purchase Sundown, hence the dB-r reference, but I have since changed my mind and I am going MMATS or DD the next time I need a Class D amplifier. Getting back to your dB-r repair reference, I see a lot of guys either begging to send or sending their blown up Hifonics as well as other budget brand name amplifiers to him for repair too. I guess it is the luck of the draw...
Lastly, I know there are lemons in all forms of electronics but I hope that paying more still gets you something a little better.
ETA: Even though I am an "amp snob" I would have absolutely no problems with purchasing a bigger Hifonics, or other budget amplifier, with more RMS than I need and running it at a 2 ohm load. In fact, I have considered doing just that for my dual DD1508 build that I have scheduled for next year.