Perfection. Transparency. Ulimate definition, three-dimensionality, soundstaging.

Purist pre-amp. Hence, no remote, and no tape out. Limited inputs is not a problem really, because it can be overcome by a separate switchbox. In fact, Don's intent (Don Morrison - the manufacturer) is to have one input used for direct connection to your CD/DAC, and the second input for a switchbox for connection to other, lower fidelity sources such as a tuner or tapedeck.

Quite simply the best line stage I have heard, and an unbelievable bargain to boot. Words don't suffice - you have to hear it - the liquidity, soundstaging, detail, purity, and three-dimensionality caused me to delightfully phone Morrison and paraphrase George Szell's words about Glenn Gould - 'that nut is probably a genius'. Don is a nut to sell this thing for the pitiful pittance of $600. But he is also a genius for making a product that exposes how much smoke and mirrors there is in the world of high-priced hi-fi. Instead of spending $5,000, $10,000 or more on some ridiculously over-priced/over-designed name-brand product, give this 24-karat gold product a try.

Similar Products Used:

Spectral and Bryston preamps. Have also heard a Jadis preamp in a very hi-end system - Jadis pre/power with Wilson Watts and Entech subs. The Morrison ELAD beats them all on sound quality, never mind price.

Details... price... quality construction.
I have not found anything to complaint about.
I have to say, I'm not a professional review...
I have no fancy wolds...
I however,can say that the ELAD is an awesome line stage preamp.
I heard details that I had never heard before from my silver discs or black discs.
If you need to buy a preamp soon...
Do your self a favor hold off on your purhase and
look into the ELAD.
The service and follow up Don has provided is another 1/2
star.

Similar Products Used:

Haven't found any considered of cost.

Natural, unchanged sound.

None.

I have listened to this product at friends house, as I am investigating getting one for myself.

I really liked the ELAD, because it does not do anything to the sound. What is on the input is what gets to the output (after level adjustment, of course). The headphone thingie is nice, too.

So far, I have not seen any weaknesses in the product... it does exactly what a pre-amp should do: switch inputs and adjust volume with no change to the sound.

Similar Products Used:

Macintosh C-10, various Japanese integrateds

Nice looks. Solid feeling. Simple design.

Sound. Only two inputs.

I didn’t like this preamp at all. I originally had an audio research sp7 (solid state with phono and line stage from the early ‘80s) but wanted to upgrade. I saw the glowing reviews here and even though I was suspicious I ordered the ELAD. It would take 3 months to arrive. In the meantime I sold my sp7 to a friend who then lent me some old pioneer elite receiver. I hated the sound and longed for the sp7 back but held my breath until the ELAD arrived. When it did I put it into my system and although there was a slight increase in sound quality it wasn’t nearly what I had hoped. You had to really listen for it. Immediately my first reaction was “Oh, no. What have I done?” I called my friend, a true audiophile, and asked him to pick up the receiver and bring back the SP7 for a comparison. The SP7 beat the Morrison w/o question. And with the SP7 I got a phono stage as well. For the comparison there were three people in the room besides me and only one I would call an audiophile. All but one picked the sp7 right off the bat. One guy wanted me to keep going back and forth and finally picked the sp7.

Next I bought an Audio Research sp9 mkII locally. This is a hybrid ss with a tube phono. I really didn’t like this piece and the Morrison somewhat beat it but I really had to go back and forth for about an hour to decide. I sold the arc sp9 gladly (someone offered me what I paid for it) and kept the Morrison.

Disappointed I then ordered a Space-Tech-Lab tube preamp for $300 (new) because that was all I could afford at that time. The Space-Tech-Lab blew the Morrison out of the water and I immediately sold the ELAD. Perhaps the comparison isn’t a fair one because the Space-Tech is all handmade and hard wired. Plus, of course, it’s tubes and not solid state. But I knew what sounded better. There are two CDs I use for reference. On is Serkin doing Moonlight sonata and on a great preamp I can hear Serkin moaning and his chair creek. This wasn’t present with the ELAD. The music was muffled and constrained.

This comparison was done using excellent components, all Stereophile recommended Class A except the speakers which were vintage Acoustats. I love these speakers, by the way. Wow! You want to talk about an audio bargain?!

I recently bought an Audio Research Ref-1 preamp and it showed me, finally, what a true reference quality preamp can do. Suddenly the entire room was filled with music and the detail was out-of-this-world. I can’t see how anyone would say the ELAD is the best preamp at any price. It doesn’t make any sense to me. With the ELAD the music was small, with the lowest-end Space-Tech-Lab model the music was broad and detailed. With the ARC the music was breathing, alive and HUGE. My soundstage moved five feet to each side of my speaker. I knew then what HI-FI was all about.

I’m very surprise to hear people blaming their CDs when the don’t like what they hear while using the ELAD. The ELAD didn’t have any detail and if anything covered up flaws in the recording. This is not due to my equipment. How can my equipment be covering detail from the source and therefore not sending the information thru the ELAD but when I use other preamps suddenly the detail is there. The preamps aren’t “creating” the detail of Serkin moaning or Tom Waits’ fingers sliding up and down the neck of his guitar.

I’m not a ‘tube person’ and was really hoping the Morrison was the answer. It wasn’t. My father told me (as yours probably also did) that if something seems too good to be true then it probably is. Dad was a smart guy.

Similar Products Used:

Arc sp7, Space-Tech-Lab, ARC Ref-1, Pioneer Elite receiver, ARC Sp9

Transparency, neutrality, dynamics and price!

None that matters to an audiophile

After a week of listening at both the Sonic Frontiers Line 1 ($2145) and the Classé CP47.5 ($2275) on my home system, I had my mind set on buying the Classé. It was at that point that I checked this web site and started reading the ecstatic reviews of the ELAD. I ordered one immediately and received it three months later. At first the sound wasn’t quite as good as the Classé but after a 24 hours of continuous playing (I put the cd player on repeat and connected a pair of headphones through the Morrison headphone box), the sound was more open and detailed, piano and voices were more natural. To make sure that I had made the right choice, I borrowed once more the Classé and spent two days making comparisons. The final verdict was that the ELAD was slightly better in every respect: bass extension and control, soundstage and micro dynamics. Both were equally dead silent. The ELAD is also more neutral. I doubt very much that you can find a better preamp under $2500 and possibly even at any cost!
Last but not least, Don Morrison sincerely cares about you and wants you to be satisfied with your purchase.

My current system:
CD Player: Classé CDP 0.5
Preamp: Morrison ELAD
Amp: Classé CA 200
Speakers: Martin Logan SL 3 biwired with Cardas Hexlink 5-C

Good bang for the buck preamp. Very good build quality.

Only 2 inputs.

While this is a nice purist type preamp it definetly is not the last name in preamps which some suggest. It is very smooth and does take some of the digital edge off, and will reveal weak components in your system, I just didnt find that it had enough drive like my Plinius CD-LAD has. The Plinius sounds much better and has much more dynamics than the ELAD.

THe ELAD is not a bad preamp by any means but you have to remember what its price point is. I definetly say for $500 used and $790 new it is worth every penny but I dont think it can compare to higher dollar preamps. I know there are bad high dollar preamps out there but I have to say the Plinius pre is much better and it should be as it costs $2995 new.

I purchased the ELAD based on reviews here and was not totally dissappointed with it. I think a few people here need to listen to other preamps before saying it is the best preamp in the world which it is not by a long shot. For its price point it might be.

My system:

Mark Levinson #27.5 amp
Plinius CD LAD preamp
Tyler Acoustics Reference Monitors
Sony DVD 7700 and Audio Refinement CDP
Cardas Quadlink 5C interconnects
Kimber 8TC speaker cable
Analysis Plus power cords

Similar Products Used:

Conrad Johnson, Bryston, Audio Research, Sonic Frontiers, Plinius

Transparency, high construction quality, smooth operation

None

I'd never expected the audible difference between pieces of electronics could be dramatic. But the ELAD's ability to simply "lift the veil" makes a difference just like that: quite dramatic!

The operation is also silky smooth -no glitch, pop or noise- reminds me of a McIntosh, just without the often redundant bells & whistles and the archaic look (and of course, the price tag). Buy the ELAD, and the preamp selection part of your audiophile life is pretty much taken care of, so you can move on to tackle the tough part, such as speakers and room acoustics.

I just wish Don Morrison also makes other stuff, like "Don Morrison PC", "Don Morrison Dish Washer", "Don Morrison Lawn Mower", etc.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh MAC4280

Transparency, silence & accuracy. Don's child.

Had to wait 9 weeks.

YES, It is all true!
I can not explain any better then the previous reviews how wonderful the ELAD is.
If you are music lover and/or audiophile, you should buy the ELAD and try it yourself.
I thought, I was crazy buying an audio equipment without any auditioning but, after reviewing the web site and reviews below, I took the calculated risk and I am happy that I did took the risk.
I mated the ELAD with the Bryston Amp and B&W N805 speaker.
It sound wonderful!

Thanks, Don.

Similar Products Used:

PreAmp portion of Harman Kardon receiver.

Transparent sound, great value

9 week wait.

I recently purchased a SONY SACD player and needed a soul mate.

I read all the stuff in Stereophile and all the other related mags. Got sticker shock worse then a new car dealership.

Found audio review and did my homework. Hell, nobody gets straight 5's unless the manufacturer is writing all the reviews or the product is so compelling.

Took the proverbially "leap of faith" and was rewarded with a "match made in heaven". If it gets any better than SACD/ELAD, I probably could not hear or appreciate it. Next challenge will be to upgrade the amps and/or speakers.

You can study all the other over-hyped, over-priced stuff (if you have the time, money and product to audition locally) 'tiill you are studied out and swimming in specs or you can make the call, send Don a very fair amount of "green paper" and start enjoying the ultimate musical experience.

Life is too short. Thanks, Don!

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Adcom 565

Customer interaction! Quality of shipping/packing. Build quality of the unit and simplicity of aescetics, in a Bauhasian manner! (Imagine the look next to your Corbusier chaise!) THE PRICE!! (I didn't have to breathe in one bit of solder flux, to get it at this price!) The 'cool' hand drawing, carricature of Don on his letterhead!! The (non)sound of the E.L.A.D.!!!

The lack of a (monogram) 'M' on the felt bags the E.L.A.D. and E.R.P.S. come in. The color of the interconnects! Still waiting for the Newsletter!! (Sorely needed) (smile)

The Man:
It is very rare to have the priviledge to meet and get to know an iconoclast/sage of a man in one's lifetime! It tends to be a bit unnerving in feeling that you are not worthy of his time/attention. Feeling somewhat inadequate, regardless of the years/knowledge you think you possess in audio, and asking him questions about general topics and his products in particular. Fortunately, enough, Don reassures you that you are important, not just as a customer, but as a friend. It is refreshing when he does call to check up on his creation and his ceaseless desire in accomodating your needs and gaining your satisfaction for his 'work of art'. Quite the character, to say the least. (The brain teasers, he sent w/ the unit are beyond my scope of comprehension! I think it's a test for a his customers)
The product:
The reviews previous to this one, sums up pretty much what can/has been said! I feel that the issue of tubes v. transistors is a moot point, after having this unit in my system. I disagree with some of the commentary that has been mentioned. There is really no need for a remote! Just (as I will do) hook up the unit next to your chair and run your interconnect to your amps! The unit's strength is that it can run long interconnects is major! The fact that it doesn't take up much space, in my view is tremendous! In my set-up I am currently using it as a linestage and bypassing the attenuators on my amp. (47Labs Gaincard-25 watts per channel.) It has enhanced the ability to make gradual volume adjustments. It seems to allow a bit more of the finer details to emerge and textures to be more evident w/o any hardness or sonic artifacts! Pure and clean, are the buzz words. In playing back the Mapleshade sampler 'Art of...' for instance, hearing the sax on some numbers reminded me of the very rare times (2) my Dad pulled out his dusty tenor sax (from high school) and honked a few times in the house. The loud otherworldly tone he got reminded me of some of the sounds Bluiett gets and hearing the 'metal' of the horn vibrating sounded so... realistic! (I was upstairs listening!) The person, who is a music lover shouldn't hesitate in getting one! After buying it, you can move on to other sublime audio issues! It is a no brainer! In fact, the E.L.A.D. is so good, I wonder why everyone doesn't own the rest of his gear! I plan to buy all that he can produce, phono stage, mono amps and his speakers! The synergy must be scary, to say the least!! (If the speakers were good enough for HP at one time or another, surely I should own a pair!!) Just one problem...it may take him awhile to get around to making them all! I have more time than money...but then Morrison tends to bridge that gap, too! Truly remarkable product!!!
Components:
47Labs Flatfish/Progression DAC -Digital Front End
*Morrison E.L.A.D.* Morrison interconnect to:
47Labs Gaincard amplifier (attenuators bypassed)
Coincedent Conquest speakers
47Labs Stratos interconnect/speaker wire

Similar Products Used:

Have heard all manner of tube/transistor pre/linestages. Retail/custom, various configurations. From handmade to megabucks!!$$$$