kkltam

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
This is an absolutely awesome preamp, especially if you only listen to CDs/digital front ends only. The folks at Plinius are totally cool also--they'd go out of their way to help you with any issues. The sound-wonderfully solid, quick, and with the kind of depth and clarity that you'd expect from this company.

Strengths:
Built quality, service, and of course the performance.

Weaknesses:
No phono if that matters to you.

Similar Products Used:
McCormack TLC, McIntosh C-40

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Audiogon (used)

Summary:
$3000 list price in either silver or black. Well built minimalist preamp designed around CD "ONLY" systems but with 2 additional inputs. Has single-ended and balanced in's/out's. Rugged remote control for all functions. Vacuum display. IEC outlet.

Strengths:
Well built, quiet and very transparent...even more so through balanced connections, but pretty damn good through single-ended! Remote controls ALL possible functions. Seems to integrate well with most equipment...not fussy. $3000 list price is a bit for some but you can usually get one for 1/2 list on Audiogon, etc. Compares most favorablly with units costing much more!!

Weaknesses:
No phono...but it was engineered for CD Play. No other weakness.

Similar Products Used:
Audio Research, Classe, VTL

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Used

Summary:
I bought this from a friend who was emigrating to match my SA-100 power amplifier and was completely surprised to read the review below mine as I have no hum at all with this combination. In fact I would go as fas as to say that Compared to the BAT VK-5 pre it replaced, it trounces it in every respect. The depth of the sound stage increased hugely and the improved resolution was nothing short of breathtaking. My only gripe was the lengthy run in period. My friend had not given it much use, so when I got it, it was virtualy new. It takes at least a month to sound its best and wow how does it sound.

Strengths:
Soundstage, resolution, tonal balance.

Weaknesses:
No at all and certainly no Hum

Similar Products Used:
BAT VK-5, Audio Research LS-9.

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Used

Summary:
I bought this from a friend who was emigrating to match my SA-100 power amplifier and was completely surprised to read the review below mine as I have no hum at all with this combination. In fact I would go as fas as to say that Compared to the BAT VK-5 pre it replaced, it trounces it in every respect. The depth of the sound stage increased hugely and the improved resolution was nothing short of breathtaking. My only gripe was the lengthy run in period. My friend had not given it much use, so when I got it, it was virtualy new. It takes at least a month to sound its best and wow how does it sound.

Strengths:
Soundstage, resolution, tonal balance.

Weaknesses:
No at all and certainly no Hum

Similar Products Used:
BAT VK-5, Audio Research LS-9.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from used

Summary:
After searching for a pre-amp to match with my sa-100mk3,i ended up buying this stupid pre-amp, i though the pair from plinius will work fine together but i'm wrong. when i connected the balanced interconnect from the cd-lac to sa-100, i heard a loud hum, after setting the ground loop provided by the power amp and cd-lad, it managed to lower the hum but it still audible from my listening position. not sure what to do, anyone out there experienced the same, pls email if u have solution to this.

Strengths:
not found yet

Weaknesses:
hum hum hum...

Similar Products Used:
m16