http://www.pliniusaudio.nzld.com/products/sareference.asp
SA-REFERENCE POWER AMPLIFIER
In 1992, PLINIUS released the SA-250 Class A Amplifier. This amplifier was to become our reference standard, and one to which we compared all of our other products.
With the development of the PLINIUS Odeon, SB-300 and SA-201 it became apparent that the SA-250 had been eclipsed as our reference product. We therefore set about correcting the imbalance. While we continue to champion our asymmetric approach to circuit design we have refined the operation of our output stage with by far the largest improvement being in the high frequency performance. Along with other refinements we have managed to improve on the SA-250, and exceed the new standard set by our other products. We are proud to announce that a new PLINIUS Reference has been created.
The PLINIUS Reference Amplifier has been designed specifically to work as either a balanced monoblock, or a stereo amplifier. As a balanced monoblock the SA-Reference will exceed 1kW of pure balanced amplification.
In PLINIUS tradition, premium components have been used throughout and Class A operation is maintained to over 100 Watts per Channel while 300 Watts is available in stereo mode to direct and control the most demanding speaker systems.
The PLINIUS SA-Reference amplifier embodies all that we have learned in the past few years and while modelled on the Classic SA look it has been given some aesthetic changes to bring it into line with our present styling.
Sonically the SA-Reference paints a seamless picture from the most tuneful and accurate bass to a sweet, extended and extremely believable top end.
All PLINIUS SA-Reference Amplifiers are hand built and as each is individually engraved on the front panel, we are able to offer some customer selection of the serial number. Some numbers between 101 and 200 are still available. We will endeavour to have your specific choice engraved if that number is still available.
SA-Reference Brochure Information (1,965K)
Check the revision of a particular product
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Power: 300 watts RMS per channel into 8 Ohms, 450 watts RMS per channel into 4 Ohms. 1000 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms in bridged and true balanced mono modes. Both channels driven from 20Hz to 20kHz.
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz ± 0.2dB. 0dB at 0Hz and -3dB at 70kHz
Distortion: Typically < 0.05% THD at rated power. 0.1% THD and IM worst case prior to clipping
Current Output: 100A short duration peak per channel. Fuse protected
Rise Time: Typically < 4µS.
Hum & Noise: 100dB below rated output 20Hz to 20kHz A-weighted
Input Impedance: 47k Ohms
Gain on RCA Inputs: 32dB
Gain on Balanced Inputs: 38dB
Dimensions: Height 275mm (10.75"), Width 510mm (20"), Depth 535mm (21"), Weight 57kg (125lb)
PLINIUS SA-REFERENCE
'WHAT HI-FI' Sound and Vision 2008.
£12,000
If you're flush enough to spend this amount of cash on an amplifier, stick this first-class combo at the top of your list.
Yes, this PLINIUS power amplifier together with the Tautoro preamplifier is very expensive, very heavy and about as environmentally friendly as an oil tanker - however, we can't help but love it.
At £18,500, the combo sits in the highest boughs of the amplifier tree, but it justifies every penny. There are many great high-end pre/powers that cost less, but none comes close to matching this pairing for clarity, dynamics and insight.
Used in a similarly capable and pricey system, the Tautoro/SA-Ref sounds wonderful. It delivers Timbaland's Shock Value with all the brutality it demands while rendering something delicate such as Tracy Chapman's debut album with utmost care.
You'd expect any quality amp to play a wide range of music well, but it's the way this set-up combines force with finesse that really impresses.
POWER AMPLIFICATION OLD-STYLE
The SA-Ref power amp looks at odds with its curvy partner. This is power amplification old-style - masses of heat sinking and not much styling. The SA-Ref can switch between Class A and Class AB operation. To us, Class A mode is so much fuller; we can't imagine anyone using AB.
The problem with Class A (the amp stays in Class A for the first 100 watts and reverts to AB up to 300 Watts for each channel) is that the amp runs hot enough to give a radiator an inferiority complex, so you'll need plenty of ventilation.
If 300 Watts per channel isn't enough you can turn the SA-Ref into a kilowatt monobloc - enough power for anyone.
Yet for all the amplifier's bulk, it's so fuss-free in use. It's common to find similar high-end products that hum or click when swapping inputs, or that have cheap control buttons. The PLINIUS pair suffers from no such shortcomings, which bodes well for long-term use.
We listened to this amp extensively, yet never failed to be sucked in by its excellence. It makes for a hugely enjoyable experience that, in terms of value for money, almost makes sense. Almost.
For: Excellent sound across the board; lovely build; loads of power; nice metal remote handset
Against: Big and heavy, power amp gets very hot in Class A mode