This SA 250 MK IV is one of the best amplifiers I ever have heard. I’m very agree with all tests and reviews I have read about this amp. I have a set of Jeff Rowland mod 301 in my own and I’m are very satisfied with them, but this SA 250 have qualities that simply are better in some aspects. The rock solid bass on SA250 is better than I have heard from any other amplifier at near any price. The micro dynamic in the treble is perhaps a small nuance better on JR 301’s but the transparency, clarity and the total musical quality on SA 250 MK IV is so good so you’ll forget the audio and focus total on the music.

Forgive my bad English !

Strength:Smooth Tube like Mids and highs w/out giving up any detail. Great deep controlled Bass. 10 year trans. warranty.

Weakness:To heavy!!

Very Musical w/ such Bass control!! A must if you can get one for the price I paid for it. At the list of 8,000.00.I”m not sure.I”m talking about the MKIII version.This is surely a krell killer!!

Strength:Um, where to start….Immense power reserves (seems capable of comfortably exceeding its 250 wpc rating in Class A operation, and far outstrips such a rating in Class AB); breathtaking resolution of detail and room-physics-defying imaging in Class A operation (it’s more conducive to priapism in this regard than is Viagra, I suspect); warm, luscious, “lathery” sound, approximating that of — sigh — the better tube amps.

Weakness:Monolithic. Weighing in at over 165 lbs., I’ll wager that the SA-250 was used as a model for the original Borg cube by Star Trek the Next Generation’s design team.

One of the finest solid state power amps I’ve ever heard. I own an Aragon 8008BB, and was very happy with it — still am, actually — until I heard a relative’s recently acquired SA-250. Several long listening sessions later, I’m hooked. I hope to pick one up within the next year, actually, budget permitting.

There seems to be *something* to this New Zealand sound, and the Plinius pulls off the philosopher’s stone of audio double-entendres by marrying a lulling, tube-like warmth with an almost rapacious — and decidedly solid state-esque — performative bent. Speaking of Viagra (see my comments above), the SA-250 isn’t likely to suffer from the embarrassment of performance anxiety, and has more than enough potency to mate successfully with just about any loudspeaker complement. Aural pleasure is its specialty par excellence.

I heard it driving a pair of Vandersteen 3A Signatures, and it did wonders for them. I’ve never been particularly fond of the Vandersteen sound, but the SA-250 seemed not only to breathe new life and detail into old recordings (heard as new through the 3As), but squash once and for all the nasty rumours that the Vandys lack a bit in low-end “omphh.” Brother let me tell you, the “omphh” was there and it was orgasmic. I had to check myself, even.

That said, the SA-250 has its finicky streak. It likes clean, well-conditioned power (I suggest feeding it raw oysters to increase its potency), is very sensitive to RF and to other types of interference, and demands the finest in interconnect and speaker cables. It was ecstatic when coupled with a pair of AudioQuest Ruby (RCA) interconnects, but acted like a 165 lb. antenna for all things RF when mated with a poorly shielded pair of Goert Alpha-Core interconnects.

To rate the SA-250 at anything less than five stars is to do a disservice to a remarkable product. I understand that New Zealanders still fight duels over this kind (perceived) insult, so please do be cautious.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom GFA-5802, Aragon 4004 mkII, Aragon 8008BB

As an owner of a SA-250,I can only say “give it a try”.
Excellent amp,concidering it’s value. Having listened to a lot of other ones,called hi-end monsters, the SA-250 is simply one of the leaders in it’s class.It’s a world-perfomer,first class for sure.
One of the best musical hybrids ever made.
If you name yourself as an audiophile ,just find a way to have a listen to this beautifully made “huge amp”.

Associated equipments:
Pre:Passive hand crafted
Analogue:Well Tempered,CLASSIC MKII/ Lyra LYDIANâ
Digital: Theta’s DEVICES
Speakers:Von Schweikert VR-4 GenII
Cables: Who cares about ’em ,when you have a “monster”
called PLINIUS SA-250.

I have always liked big amplifiers. Receivers and integrated amplifiers just didn’t deliver the sound I was looking for. My first big amplifier was a Soundcraftsman 250 wpc unit. I loved it. I remember reading a review in Stereo Review by Julian Hersh back in 1978/79 about the Soundcraftsman. The article said basically “all amplifiers sound the same”.
I now now that this isn’t the truth. Every new amplifier has made a signifigant improvement in my system. For the past five years, I have used a Bedini 250 WPC class A amplifier. This unit was not terribly popular but it was a nice sounding amplifier.

I went through a short period where I discovered tubes. For a while, I was convinced that the tube sound was the best.

Now I am the proud owner of the Plinius SA 250. This is a monster sized amplifire weighing about 75 killograms. The chasis is made from a beautiful brushed aluminium. The unit is very pleasant to look at.

The SA 250 has two modes–class A and class A/B. Class A will draw 2000 watts–making the unit very hot to touch. In class A/B mode, the unit will be cool to touch.

A/B is ideal for non-critical listening periods and to keep the unit running at all times. I generally use the unit in the more effient A/B mode and switch it into class A when I want to listen seriously.

The amplifier captures the detail and texture that I liked from tube amplifiers. Generally speaking, the sound is cleaner than most tube amplifiers. The amplifier never sounds like it is working hard. Bass and dynamics are delivered with the authority that lets the listener know that this amplifier has plenty more to offer.

The SA 250 can be bridged to provide 1,000 WPC.

The SA 100 was reviewed in the buyer’s guide issue of Stereophile. This is the 100 WPC, little brother. It received a class A rating. The SA 250 would then have to be considered a class A+ amplifier.

I believe the Plinius can hold its own against virtually any amplifier. It is priced well under other “high-end” amplifiers. I give it 5 out of 5.

Last week I was invited to listen to the Plinius SA250 in a shop Demo. A Wadia 860 fronted and Proac Response 5’s ended the chain.
We listened to classical, jazz, rock, country, opera – you name it. The Wadia and Proac’s have the credentials to be in any system, and now I have to accept the plinius is at home there too.

Beautiful open sweet tops, with unbeleivable bass control. Mid range was rich and vocals of Holly Cole and Tori Amos were sensational.

I only wish I could have stayed longer than the 6 hours I did. An excellent amp.

This one is an absolute winner ! It combines the best of the world of valves and solid state devices. It can be compared with the best amplifiers costing twice as much. For that reason it is a 5 star rating (I can’t give six).

Fascinating Audio Site. Sad to see people who have never had a Plinius in their system giving one-line inane comments and 1 star ratings.I currently own Plinius SA100 & 8150 amps. I sold my SA250 when I decided to go seriously into home theatre (I will need at least 4 stereo amps).

The SA250 is an extraordinary amp. Large , powerful, dynamic, and everything you would expect from a world class muscle amp. You also get the detail and delicacy associated with smaller (usually tube) designs. It I handles quiet sounds buried in the mix with as much aplomb as the huge musical climaxes.
It does so without any elctronic harshness or brightness that often accompanies other manufacturers products. It really sounds like music not Hi Fi. This lack of hashness does not mean, in any sense, dull – it is “alive”. But it does it like real music. You know when you goe to the orchestra and in a huge climax it does not sound harsh or hurt your ears. The Plinius SA250 does the same, it keeps it naturally dynamic and loud without loosing control.
Sound stage can be cavernous if the information is on the record. Imaging and focus is excellent. real singers with real bodies. The bass is up there with the very best. This amplifier can drive anything!
Exceptional amplifier, beautifully made, and to last. Even though it is remarkable value (compared to the competition) I don’t have the room or money for 4 of them – shame.
Any body who takes the time to listen will have no doubt at all that this is a 5 star product

I have 2 Plinius SA100 MkIIIs’. Plinius makes some of the best quality amps on the planet. I have heard the SA250 on a pair of Maggie MG20. All I can say is WOW!!!
This amps deserves more than 5 stars.

I have 2 Plinius SA-250s feeding Shahinian Diapasons. Each amp taking care of one audio channel, one side for the hi/mid and the other to the woofer.
The setup brings out the best from the best recordings. The sound is musical, totally effortless.

It would be interesting to try different configurations for the hookup, but I am too busy listening to music to fool around with the wires.