Overall sound (or lack thereof, I should say).
Morrison's unequalled customer service!

None

The best testimonial that I can give for the ELAD is that for the first time in my life, music sounds just as sweet at very low volume levels. Finally, I don't have to rattle my neighbors' walls to get that perfect sound. This unit simply doesn't add anything to, or take anything away from the music. What more can you ask from a preamp, especially at this obscenely low price? I highly recommend the ELAD to everyone who is serious about audio - regardless of their current components, and I challenge anyone to demonstrate a better sounding preamp at ANY price!

Mr. Morrison is a true gentelman by any measure, and my dozen or so phone conversations with him have felt like talking to a longtime friend. (Actually, sometimes more enjoyable.) I've also learned some very interesting things about the audio world in the process.

Please do yourself a favor and call Mr. Morrison and order an ELAD before the current 10 week wait becomes 20-30. This gem is one of life's true bargains, and earns my highest possible rating for both quality and unbelievable value.

My equipment:
Morrison ELAD
Audio Research 100.2
Wadia 830
Magneplanar MG3.6R

a) perfect neutrality of sound,
b) universality with respect to the music genres,
c) assembling quality,
d) customer service: possibility to customise the unit.

a) sensitive to grounding,
b) too brief a manual,
c) no remote control (not quite sure if this is a weakness),
d) no flashing lights ;-),
e) too heavy to cary with, if you want to show it to your friends ;-)),
d) you cannot listen to it before you buy (however, buy confidently).

I'm proud to be the first owner of ELAD in Russia.
IMHO, to estimate the sound quality of a preamp is a headache. At least it is a lot more abstract a task than to rank speakers. Having a degree in SS physics, I'm probably too reserved regarding the supposed miracles in high-end audio. Fortunately, Don Morrison ELAD showed no sound reproduction miracles. Don't take me wrong. I mean just to say that the sound of ELAD provides no ammunition for negative criticism. It is an absolutely transparent device: what you have at its input is exactly what you get at the output no matter whether you are listening to rock, jazz, symphony, organ, or just spoken word. The signal path contains no capacitor. In Don Morrison’s words, "There's no capacitor, like no capacitor!"

ELAD is actually a DC amplifier with a very wide frequency range ending above 200kHz, with S/N ratio at stunning –120dB, and with nearly immeasurable THD, which makes it an ideal gear for the new Super Audio CD technology. Both subjective and rationalistic tests show that a preamp with better performance is hardy possible to even dream about.

IMPORTANT: If you live in Europe, don’t forget to tell Don your AC outlet voltage is 220V.

ELAD has been tested at the "coolest" high-end store in my hometown. It was compared to one of the most "wired" preamps, the multi grand Mark Levinson No 380. I hardly could detect any difference in sound quality. "Hardly" means that I actually could while listening attentively. Strings, especially violins at forte reproduced by ML sounded a bit "shaggy." By this I mean that ELAD sounded on contradistinction smoother, more natural. However, I'm not going to bash Mark Levinson. The difference is impossible to notice without a sudden switching.

Yes, if you are too lazy to raise your ass from your armchair to adjust the channel volumes, if you like different kinds presets for different kinds of recordings, and if you enjoy flashing lights on the front panel, you should better look for something else. Prepare, however, to bid then at least five times as much as the current price of ELAD, and remember that even in this case it's not likely that you'll get better sound.

A few words on my rating: I would give seven stars on Overall Rating and a good dozen on Value Rating but I can only afford five and five.

Short remark on the price of the device. Including a headphone box and shipping to Europe it costs $851 + a Guinness :-). If you live in Russia or Finland don't hesitate to contact me regarding details.

Similar Products Used:

Mark Levinson No. 380

Transparency, Customer service, Simplicity

nope

There’s not much I can add to the reviews already posted. The ELAD is everything it is cracked up to be. It is a simple unit that passes the signal from the source to your amp/speakers without coloration. That is all I can ask for, and the ELAD flat out does it. You’d probably expect to pay thousands for this kind of performance, but Morrison offers it at an unbeatable price. Those of you lucky enough to own the ELAD know exactly what I’m talking about. You also know that Don Morrison is probably like no other manufacturer you’ve ever dealt with. Morrison goes way beyond mere customer service. He’s with you every step of the way, and insists that everything is perfect. He’s a great guy, and makes the whole purchasing process a unique, enjoyable one. Call him up and this will be immediately obvious.

A good deal of the music I listen to I record live on to DAT. Everything from jazz to bluegrass, reggae to rock and roll, in venues that hold 30 people to venues that hold thousands. The ELAD brings me back to the concert hall every time. The sound at the microphone capsules is the sound I get at my speakers. I’ve found that with the ELAD, I can locate the source of sounds with greater accuracy than with any other preamp I’ve used. This is due to the outstanding channel separation and lack of distortion of the ELAD. The chatter of the audience is all over my room now; recordings are undoubtedly more “open.”
These kinds of improvements are heard as soon as you plug the ELAD in. And after that, the music will get better and better as you listen to your favorites and enjoy them more than ever.

I also bought the headphone output, a must have at around $35, and the outboard switchbox which gives me four additional inputs. All of these components are over-built. Don puts tremendous dedication and expertise into everything he builds. There are no magic cables, elixirs or anti-vibration airbags that will suddenly transform your system into a clear pathway for the music. An “invisible” preamp will get you on your way, though. Thank you Don!

Highest Recommendation

Equipment:
Morrison ELAD
Meadowlark Audio Kestrel
Hsu Research 1220/500W
Sony PCM R500 / Tascam DA20 DATs
Sony 515 CD / 3 Head Cass. deck
Schoeps M222 mk4v/41 > Apogee AD1000 -for live (Rossiter)

has improved the ability to resolve detail in my system enormously

no remote....if you consider this a problem. Just order some great quality 20 foot interconnects from Don. Problem solved! Requires some faith to buy over the phone with no guarantees.

The improvement in the system is noticeable and immediate. Thus far, I have nothing but positve things to say about Don Morrison and his products ( I ordered the headphone jack and switch box). All of the reviews below are accurate and justified.

Compared to the previous three preamps I have tried, this line stage is first, at least equal if not better sounding, and second, is an astonishing value. Furthermore, despite a plethora of features offered by other manufacturers, I have not encountered any other product which I would rather have in my system. My needs are modest. I already have a great surround reciever and wanted the best two channel line stage I could get. I found it and the leap of faith was justified.

When he has the time, I can't wait for Don Morrison to produce a fully biamplified system. For anyone buying this pre amp, it isn't fancy. There are no bells and whistles. It may not be for everyone. However, as a line stage, it is extrodinarily well executed and is, as the previous reviews stated, amazing in all respects!!!

Similar Products Used:

bryston bp-20, Onkyo SV909Pro as preamp, Krell (don't remember which one)

Sonically transparent, open, accurate, superbly engineered and built.

Non-existent. ("Weaknesses? We don't have no stinkin' weaknesses")

Spending any more money than this on a preamp will NOT get you any improvement in sound. Sending this much or less on any other preamp will NOT get you this level of engineering, quality of build, or sonic excellence.
This is an outstanding piece of audio equipment. The circuitry has no "sound" of its own. You will be brought closer to the space in which the recording you are listening to took place. It is scary how accurate this preamp is and, sorry for the cliche, but you WILL hear details on your recordings that you haven't heard before. This preamp is a completely clear window into the music. You will hear what is on the recording and nothing else, nothing added or lost. The electonic circuity is just not there, audibly or measurably. In my opinion, there is no question that this is one of the best preamp designs in the whole world, and you will discover much additional musical detail in your recordings.
Finally, the creator, engineer, and manufacturer, Don Morrison, is one of the most intelligent, witty, and music-loving people you'll ever meet. The preamp, the buying experience, and the resulting State of the Art Sound are way beyond Five stars in Quality and Value rating.

Similar Products Used:

Am familiar with most other preamps on the planet.