Price Paid:  $1650.00 from First Owner

Summary:
This is the MK III version of the SA-50. It is a very powerful amplifier which excels by putting out tremendous dynamics, but with the ability to serve up fragile music with all the nuances the recording can offer. Very smooth with no brightness whatsoever! This amp puts out 50 watts class A or A/B into 8 ohms and continues to double its power output down to 1 ohm. It can drive most speakers except for the "freaks of nature" or what I call the "poorly designed" with their 81 db sensitivity and 2 ohm load! A well designed speaker should have "real-world" specs! It is built like a tank and is very heavy for its size (75 lbs.) The best sounding amplifiers in the world are low powered ones since it is much easier to match a lesser quantity of superb-quality output devices (4 to 8) than amps requiring 12, 16, 24, etc, output devices!

BTW: The SA-100 MK III is another great amp which is very similar in topology to the SA-50 MK III but with 100 watts output in class A and A/B.

Strengths:
Great dynamics and power reserves. Very smooth - no solid state brightness. Switchable from class A to A/B. 2 pairs of 5-way, heavy duty, binding posts. Build quality - second to none!

Weaknesses:
None - except if you need much more than the conservatively rated 50 watts this baby puts out!

Similar Products Used:
Gamut D-100, BAT VK-200, Aloia 13.01

Price Paid:  $2000.00

Summary:
I am using:
PLINIUS SA 50 power amplifier,
PLINIUS M7 preamplifier (ready to be upgraded),
DENON DCD1015G Cd player,
B&W DM603 S2 loudspeakers,
KIMBER silver interconnects
MONSTER XPHP3 speaker cable (ready to be upgraded,
LOVAN system support.
(I have a medium sized listening room)

Although I have two weak links in my system (the pre-amp and the speaker cable), I am quite pleased with it's performance. I run a hifi store in PLINIUS' home town (Palmerston North, New Zealand) and I have had the good fortune of being able to listen to world class products without having to buy any of them! So when it came to putting a system together for my main listening room at home, PLINIUS was what I decided to invest in.
I have also had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at the PLINIUS factory (with Peter) earlier this year and was pleased to be able to see first hand the stirling effort and craftsmanship which make PLINIUS products stand out from the rest.
I think PLINIUS products are well worth considering and I am sure any hifi enthusiast will recognise the benefits PLINIUS products can offer simply by listening.
As I say to all of my clients, " it is what sounds good to you, not what sounds good to me or the magazines. By all means consider other opinions, but make sure it sounds good to you. Listen with your own ears!!"

Strengths:
Natural, open sound stage,astonishing detail (with most components I have tested), audio purity.

Weaknesses:
perhaps the price, but nothing else to my way of thinking.

Similar Products Used:
I have tried and test numerous amps (Denon, Marantz, Arcam, Linn..etc) and have found the Plinius sound to be the most pleasing.

Summary:

looking for a power amp in the us$2-4k range, tried musical
fidelity xa-200 monoblocks, mission monos - not delivering
the goods and too high $$$ (due to import charges and
exchange rates). krell/mark levinson too costly in nz.

enter plinius - local nz manufacturer (and no i'm not a
kiwi) - stunning sa-50 power amp for a great price (approx
us$2k).

too good to be true - dem model was a mk2 version and
suffered a little mains hum, the follow up mk3 version
uses twin transformers to fix this.

takes a while to get warmed up (or should i say get hot),
but then capable of a really lucid and powerful delivery
(esp when partnered with plinius pre-amp). great
soudstaging, convincing atmosphere presented.

dynamic, vivid and full presentation.

solid build. needs good ventilation.

strongly recommended.

Strengths:
clarity, sense of purpose, controlled delivery, open lucid and vital, value for money (esp in nz!)

Weaknesses:
runs way hot in class a! fairly heavy unit. a little imposing in appearance (some may like this).

Summary:
The Plinius SA-50, delivers a strong and powerfull musical way of reproduce music. For anyone thinking that the specified 50 Watt are insufficient for a high-end performance, my advice is go listen. If used with medium sensibility speakers it does wonders. I've been use mine with Sonus Faber Electa Amator II, and Magneplanar speakers and the amplifier always show a splendid control over them.
As all Plinius products it is very musical and controled, with a tigh and extended bass, transparent in and sweet in the mids and higs. An excellent product at a fair price.

Strengths:
Power, smoothness, musicality

Weaknesses:
Zip

Summary:
I have to agree with everyone that has rated this amplifier with five stars. I'm using it with a Cary Audio 94LP preamp and Dynaudio speakers. In Class A mode, there is nothing I've heard, short of a couple exotic tube amplifiers, that presents such a large three dimensional soundstage with the warmth of a tube amplifier yet the detail, bass extention and control of a solid state powerhouse. Yes, you can believe the hype from Plinius, the SA50 MKIII is a remarkable amplifier.

Strengths:
Open, airy, spacious, deep,deep bass, warm and detailed

Weaknesses:
Haven't found any yet

Similar Products Used:
Aragon 4004, Golden Tube SE40 monoblocks Special Edition, McCormick DNA .1, Krell 300 Integrated