Plinius or Mark Levinson for Grand Pianos?


Which one will yield better results with the Sonus Faber Grand Piano Concerto, the Plinius SA-100 MKIII or the Mark Levinson No. 27?

Currently running ARC D130 and found it lacked power to drive the GP's. Looking for more a more detailed and dynamic sound. I personally lean towards the Plinius but was afraid the 100W wouldn't be too sufficient to drive the GP's to optimum since the 130W ARC D130 didn't have the power either.

Any comments appreciated.
ryder

Showing 1 response by sdcampbell

If power output is your main concern, remember that you have to double the power for each 3db gain in SPL. Hence, if 130 wpc wasn't enough, you'll need to get a replacement amp that has output of at least 250 wpc if you are going to hear any appreciable difference in volume (without distortion).

Generally speaking, tube amps are more "forgiving" in their power ratings than solid state units. So, a tube amp with 200 wpc might subjectively sound more powerful than a solid state amp with 250 wpc, but tube amps with high power output tend to be pretty expensive.

When choosing a high-power solid state amp, your subjective taste will be a significant factor. Both Plinius and Mark Levinson make excellent amps, but of the two, I think the Mark Levinson amps, as a family, tend to sound subjectively more powerful than the Plinius family of amps. The Mark Levinson amps that are rated at 250 wpc or more, however, carry higher price tags than the Plinius amps, so price may be the other factor that will dictate your final choice.

The best solution is to determine which ML amp and which Plinius amp will meet your needs, and then audition them in your system. In this price range, I'd certainly want to hear the amps before I plunk my money down.