Plinius SA-100 MKII Amplifiers Reviews

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from used

Summary:
I respect all other high end brands. I must say that this amp is a wonder to listen to. For the price you pay, you get double the performance. All frequencies so well tuned and produce. Get a neutral preamp and this amp will tell you teh truth in listening.

Strengths:
Soundstage, power, refinemnet, tube like mid range, transistor speed and great dynamics all in one. Never too harsh after long litening. KISTEN TO BELIEVE.

Weaknesses:
Depends on whether there is a weak chain in your other components.

Similar Products Used:
Mark Levinson, Krell, Jadis, Audio Research

Price Paid:  $2700.00 from USED

Summary:
It amp is a killer...listen to it and you will know...need not say more, go listen. I HAVE UNDERRATED IT BEFORE I OWNED ONE, THE TRUTH IS IN LISTENING.

Strengths:
Power, refinement, good vocals, clarit, air, pace,layers of details, not harsh and always maintain that good character. When played loud, the sound remained composed, GREAT SOUNDSTAGE N SENSE OF REALITY....

Weaknesses:
N.A.

Similar Products Used:
Krell 300i, Krell 100s, Mark 331, Aragon 4004Mk2, Kinergetics KBA 75.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I don’t think that the mk3 has any more power compared to the mk2. The power stated in my "older" mk3 manual is also 160 W at 4 ohm. Plinius did however later come out and said that the SA100 amps really are capable of 200 W at 4 ohm. At the same time they also change one more “error” in the specifications, but I don’t remember which one. The difference between the power supply of the mk2 and the mk3 is that the mk2 uses one 800 VA transformer and the mk3 uses two 400 VA. I think they did this to reduce the mechanical humming noise that a larger transformer sometimes can produce if the supply voltage is of bad quality. The sound of the sa100 is great. Slightly warm, yet clear and detailed with good bass control and speed.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Used SA 100 Mk II

Summary:
Great sounding amplifier!

I agree with the majority of comments stated in the review (with the exception of the comments of Mr. B), but I think the differences between the Mk II and Mk III need clarification.

The Mk III has been re-wired with silver, and the transformer has greater capabilities resulting in greater power reserves (200 RMS into 4 ohms vs 160 RMS).

I am speculating that the slew rate and transient reponse may be a bit faster in the newer Mk III as well.

Both are great amps!

Strengths:
Very transparent, fast transient response, musical.

Weaknesses:
Need a fork lift to move it.

Similar Products Used:
Plinius SA 50 MkIII

Price Paid:  $1900.00 from Fidelis Audio

Summary:
This is a transparent amplifier. To say that it sounds "tube like" is a slam on a product that doesn't sound at all. It's pure music.
Try Crystal Clear Records Sonic Fireworks d2d of Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" or Sheffield Lab's d2d of Wagner's "Siegfried's Funeral March". Awesome.
I'm driving full range electrostatics w/a passively crossed over subwoofer (80hz). The room volume is aproximately 3,000 cu. ft. I have yet to run out of amplifier.
The best part is that there are smokin' deals on used units. Ciao!

Strengths:
1. Crystal clear music reproduction.
2. Tremendous transient response.
3. Drives extremely difficult loads with ease.
4. The amplifier seems to have considerably more power than 100 watts/channel

Weaknesses:
1. Ventilation requirements limit placement options.
2. Considerable heat generation in class A mode.

Similar Products Used:
Threshold 400A, Krell KSA-200