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Plinius SA201 compared with the Plinius SA102

Would be interested to know if anyone has made the comparison between these two amps. Is the class A mode on the SA102
worth the heat. Plinius states they have built the SA 201
that comes frightingly close to the sound of the class A SA100
series. What do you think. Is Class A worth the heat?
The SA201 cosmetics design clearly wins over the old work hourse look of the SA102. Any insight would be appreciated.
Lets face it when one sits and listens to music one can not
help but stare at the amp but if the class A modality of the SA102 puts out that much better sound then I guess I can turn the lights off and crank up the airconditioning.
Currently running Totom Forest. (great speakers)
jajmyers
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,208 posts
 
The SA-102 has bolts with transparent plastic housing.... very sturdy... and yes it takes spades.

I've owned solid state amps from BAT & Sim Audio... and in my experience, neither came close to the SA-102 in regards to musicality, warmth, build quality, value and listener satisfaction.
lak's avatar
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lak
4,626 posts
 
With the Plinius line of amps in general (to my ears) running in class A always sounds better. The class AB is no slouch either!
jajmyers OP
7 posts
 
So true Lak My 9100 sounds good but even better when its warmed up. Hey Pdreher thanks for your response. Do you take the plastic housings off to hook up the spades. When I unscrew the plastic housings on the 9100 there is a small round hole that looks only big enough to place bare wires not spades. Am I missing something here. For the Sa102 do you simple unscrew the plastic housing and place the whole spade inside the hole or do you remove the plastic housing altogether.Wanted to use some stealth cables. Maybe the sa102 has bigger holes when one unscrews the plastic houseing.
By the way amazing system you have. The room is to die for.
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,208 posts
 
Jajmyers - The plastic housing stays on... no problem accepting spades from my experience (currently using Harmonic Tech Pro 9's, but replacing with Stealth Hybrid MLT's currently in transit). I'm confident the SA 102 (paired with a nice tubed preamp) will outshine your 9100 integrated, as it should considering the outlay of $$$ required.
youngstown1969
9 posts
 
Had an SA102 ,SA50k3(monoblocks), and sa100mk3.
The sa50 series is the sweetest sounding plinius amp.I did not care @al for the 102.thought that both the sa50 and sa100 sounded better to me.
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