Plinius SA-103 User manual
The heart of music
www.pliniusaudio.com
SA-103
Power Amplifier
Instruction Manual
1
CONTENTS
Introduction 2
Design Philosophy 3
Unpacking 4
Placement & Ventilation 4
Precautions 5
Amplifier Features – Front Panel 6
Amplifier Features – Rear Panel 8
Installation and Operation 11
SA-103 Features 16
Loudspeaker Selection 18
Specifications 19
Index 20
All operational, technical and descriptive material in this publication
is subject to change at any time without notice. For further product
information or queries, please contact your PLINIUS dealer.
PLINIUS products are designed and manufactured by
Plinius Audio Limited, New Zealand.
www.pliniusaudio.com
2
INTRODUCTION
CONGRATULATIONS on your decision to become the proud owner of this
PLINIUS SA-103 Power Amplifier.
This manual has been prepared to help you understand the operation of your amplier,
and to provide information about its design and the variety of ways it may be used.
We have designed and manufactured this amplier to reproduce faithfully and
accurately, your favourite music. With a little care and a full understanding of the
operating recommendations in this manual, your PLINIUS SA-103 Power Amplier will
provide years of high-quality, trouble-free performance.
SERIAL NUMBER
FINAL TEST CERTIFIED BY
IMPORTANT: PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS MANUAL
THOROUGHLY BEFORE USING YOUR AMPLIFIER.
3
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
From a distance you can see that the design of the Plinius products is more than
an applied styling exercise to the front panel. We have started from the ground up
to produce a casing for our electronics that is unrivalled in its physical strength and
visual simplicity.
Wherever possible we have reduced the number of parts needed and then invested
massively in refining and producing the remaining parts to the highest quality
achievable with state of the art computer controlled machines allied with expert
craftsman. Examples of this approach include the hydraulically formed corners on
the amplifiers giving much greater strength and the one piece housing for the remote
control that looks, feels and genuinely is robust.
As with music that you are not familiar with, truly innovative new designs can take time
to understand and enjoy. How often have you heard music that you were first unsure
of, that over repeated listening, has become a firm favourite?
Our designs are fundamentally different to many other companies, and we hope that
you will take the time to explore their unique character and qualities because we
have not made them different simply to be different. We genuinely believe that their
visual and tactile qualities do improve the experience of listening to music and that
is our design goal!
Ross Stevens
DESIGN DIRECTOR.
4
UNPACKING
Open the box from the top and remove the accessories from the top foam cap. You
may now proceed with the removal of the top foam cap. Once you have removed the
top foam cap you may now proceed to lift the unit from the box, You will require help
with this, as this unit is very heavy.
We suggest retaining the packaging for future transportation of the SA-103.
PLACEMENT & VENTILATION
Your PLINIUS SA-103 may operate at a moderately high temperature, especially
during extended listening sessions. The ideal location is upon a rigid stand, or floor
mounted away from direct contact with any temperature sensitive materials, furniture
or deep pile carpets. Ventilation through and around the amplifier should also be
kept unimpeded. Please ensure that the heat vents (slots in the lid and base) and the
heatsink fins on either side are not covered or restricted in any way.
The PLINIUS SA-103 design incorporates a very high level of mechanical decoupling
of the input and output. It can however still be influenced by acoustical feedback in
the operating environment. The use of acoustic cones or a suitably spiked amplifier
stand or table may further enhance the performance of this amplifier. Consult your
Plinius dealer for further advice if required.
5
PRECAUTIONS
PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS BEFORE
OPERATING YOUR NEW AMPLIFIER.
The PLINIUS SA-103 Power Amplier can be operated in mono mode delivering up to 460
watts into 8 ohms. This amplier is also capable of a very large peak current delivery.
The PLINIUS SA-103 Power Amplier operates in Class A. It is capable of generating
temperatures that could have an adverse effect on other equipment, furniture etc.
DO NOT leave ammable material on the amplier whilst running, as this could pose a
serious re risk.
The PLINIUS SA-103 Power Amplier is of direct-coupled design, and offers no protection
from preampliers that have a high DC component at their outputs.
This amplier operates at hazardous voltage levels. Any work requiring removal of the
lid or base of this amplier must be referred to a suitably qualied and experienced
service technician.
DO NOT attempt to connect any input of this amplier to it’s own outputs.
DO NOT earth any output terminal or connect any of these terminals together without
following the instructions in this manual or seeking qualied assistance.
DO NOT place this amplier in any position where liquids or any foreign material may
accidentally enter it.
DO NOT connect any voltage source, short circuit, earth/ground or appliance (other
than suitable high delity loudspeakers) to the amplier output terminals.
Some preampliers, processors, CD players’ etc. produce large switching pulses when
switched on causing a loud click through the loudspeakers. For this reason, turn on all
other equipment in your system before turning on your PLINIUS SA-103, or ensure that the
amplier is in MUTE. You will not experience this phenomenon with Plinius preampliers.
6
AMPLIFIER FEATURES
– FRONT PANEL
ABOVE: SA-103 front panel layout
Power LeD
An LED in the centre of the front panel indicates the power is on. When first switched
on, the display will vary in brightness until the initialisation sequence is completed,
after which the LED remains lit.
MUTe SwITCH
It is not recommended practice to interfere with the input cables while the amplifier
is switched on and connected to the loudspeakers, so a Mute button is fitted to
interrupt the input signal. This allows you to connect and disconnect the input cables
without the necessity of turning the amplifier off.
When the amplifier powers up from start, it will automatically go into Mute and
disconnect the speaker outputs. In this mode the Mute LED is ON. Press the Mute
switch to take the unit out of Mute and begin listening.
CLASS A SwITCH
This switch on the right of the panel alters the operating bias of the amplifier. Press
once to activate Class A, and again for Class AB. In Class A the LED is ON. Either
mode may be used for listening, with Class A preferred.
CLASS AB: This position reduces the bias on the output stage to operate the
amplifier in Class AB. This is a bias configuration used by the majority of high
fidelity amplifiers. In Class AB your PLINIUS SA-103 produces very high quality sound,
suitable for all occasions where critical listening is not a priority. A dual benefit exists
7
in that this facility provides the user with a much cooler operating temperature, and
a much reduced demand on the mains electricity supply, particularly at idle while
the amplifier is not reproducing music. This feature allows you to leave the PLINIUS
SA-103 switched ON at all times, rendering the amplifier ready for use and requiring
only a few minutes of warm-up in Class A before the very best of the amplifier’s sonic
qualities may be experienced.
CLASS A: This position provides Class A bias to the output stage therefore ensuring
the optimum performance of the amplifier during all listening events. Class A
amplifiers run hotter than Class AB amplifiers, hence our specially designed and
distinctive heat sinks. Operating the amplifier in Class A necessitates two precautions
that should be observed.
1. On switching to Class A, the temperature of the amplifier will quickly increase
and the amplifier will become quite hot. Ensure that you have left adequate
space around the amplifier for ventilation.
2. The power required from the mains supply in Class A is approximately 500
watts, similar to a small electric heater. The amplifier should not be connected
to a wall outlet that is shared with other heavy current appliances such as
heaters or electric motors. If in doubt, check with your Plinius dealer for advice.
wHY CLASS A IS BeTTer
Class A has always been regarded as the perfect operating mode for audio amplifiers.
Many leading amplifier designers and manufacturers world wide recognise that a well
designed Class A circuit has inherently lower distortion than any other design.
Class A circuit topology is one in which the total current the amplier is capable of
delivering, is kept owing in the circuit regardless of demand. In a conventional or Class
AB amplier circuit this current ow varies when demand varies. Furthermore, as current
varies, the voltage on the power supply rails (as seen by the output stage) varies too.
In a Class A circuit, current draw should be constant therefore there is an absence of
the power supply modulation common in Class AB design ampliers. Pinpoint images,
tonal clarication, intertransient silence, more readily dened dynamic shadings, inner
detail and authority are all inherent advantages of good Class A design.
8
AMPLIFIER FEATURES
– REAR PANEL
This panel incorporates all the terminals for connecting the input signals from your
preamplifier, and output to the loudspeakers, and mains supply. A reasonable
understanding of this amplifier’s operation and a logical approach should ensure that
you are able to make all connections with ease.
ABOVE: SA-103 rear panel layout
INPUT TerMINALS
Input terminals for your PLINIUS SA-103 Power Amplifier are easily accessible and fitted
near the top centre area of the rear panel.
RCA INPUTS: These standard RCA terminals are for use with unbalanced signals from
most signal sources such as audio preamplifiers.
XLR BALANCED INPUTS: XLR connectors fitted to this amplifier are for use with
balanced line signals from audio preamplifiers. Balanced signals are carried via a
three way cable that connects all three pins at each end of the interconnect cable.
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