PLINIUS COMPANY HISTORY
When the audiophile world discovered PLINIUS with the release of the SA-250 power amplifier in 1992, the company had already established a legacy of outstanding design. Founded in New Zealand in the 1980s, PLINIUS immediately earned respect in the local market and evolved to earn the respect of music connoisseurs the world over. In subsequent years, incremental gains and purposeful development have seen new standards set and the release of a CD player that matches the amplifier range in both build and audio quality.
Today, with a presence and a passionate following across 35 countries around the world, PLINIUS has established a global reputation based on amplification of outstanding quality that represents the very pinnacle of technology's ability to communicate the heart of music.
The period from 1980 to 1987 saw PLINIUS launch and refine its trademark Preamplifiers and Power Amplifiers, ranging in power from 50 to 200W. The clarity and depth that these offerings brought to musical reproductive quality quickly established PLINIUS as the pre-eminent brand for amplifiers among audiophiles in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific.
In 1987 the company merged with Craft Audio Limited and this proved to be a major turning point. The meeting of two sophisticated audio design philosophies resulted in the distillation of the best that both had to offer. This was a marriage of power and refinement that was expressed in the groundbreaking design releases of the 1990s.
In 1990, PLINIUS launched the M5 and M7 amplifiers, the first offerings in its revered M series of Preamplifiers. The immense enthusiasm and goodwill with which the M series was received became the catalyst for the expansion of PLINIUS products into Europe.
The constant search for flawless music reproduction continued, and in 1992 the SA-250 class A power amplifier set a benchmark of PLINIUS performance that was recognised as being amongst the very best available at any price. It was followed in 1994 by the release of the 2100i integrated amplifier. In 1995, the M12 Preamplifier became the first PLINIUS model to appear in a solid aluminium chassis, an outward expression of the elegance and technical sophistication inherent within every PLINIUS product.
In 2002 the introduction of the Odeon multi channel amplifier indicated a further subtle change in the company's development. The solid aluminium wrap of this product is pure artistic expression. It started a design revolution among its peers as they sought to follow the bold rounded corner concept in their products. Through 2003 PLINIUS's integrated amplifiers and the M8 and P10 separates shifted into the elegant chassis design started with the Odeon.
The 2004 release of the CD-101 saw PLINIUS receive many awards for the uncompromising quality of this first venture into a source component.
In 2006 PLINIUS began to apply Maori appellations to new releases. The use of Maori, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand, acknowledges New Zealand's growing international reputation as a source of technical innovation and artistic achievement. It also marks PLINIUS' singularity on the world audio stage, as the company seeks further refinement of its already outstanding products.
The Koru phono stage was released in 2006, and justified replacement of the revered Jarrah through achievement of a new level of refinement. The spiral form of the traditional Maori koru graphic device expresses the unfolding story of PLINIUS' journey to the heart of music.
The name Tautoro, applied to the preamplifier released in 2007, is about extending the story. It communicates the central theme at PLINIUS, that our designs must constantly refine our achievements through elegant and subtle evolution.
This commitment to excellence extends to every aspect of our business. PLINIUS customers experience faultless service and complete satisfaction from initial contact through to delivery and beyond.
The PLINIUS journey continues, with our pursuit of ever clearer, more natural musical delivery applied to modern ways of sourcing and reproducing music. We invite you to join the ranks of audiophiles who express their own pursuit of the ideal of flawless music reproduction through their ownership of PLINIUS audio art.
PLINIUS PRODUCT HISTORY
Approximate time-line of Plinius product releases.
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1980 > PLINIUS 2 Preamplifier launched > PLINIUS 3 Class AB 80 Watt Power Amplifier launched 1983 > PLINIUS Limited Edition Mono 120 Watt Power Amplifier launched > PLINIUS 2B Preamplifier released 1984 > PLINIUS 3C Class AB 150 Watt Power Amplifier launched > PLINIUS 2C Preamplifier released 1985 > PLINIUS M9 & M10 Class AB 200 Watt Mono Amplifiers released > PLINIUS 3100 Class AB 100 Watt Power Amplifier launched > PLINIUS 3200 Class AB 200 Watt Power Amplifier launched 1986 > PLINIUS MA100 Class A 100 Watt Mono Power Amplifier launched > PLINIUS 760 Class AB 60 Watt Power Amplifier released > PLINIUS 2.4 Preamplifier launched 1987 > PLINIUS 3100B Class AB 100 Watt Power Amplifier launched > MA102 Class A 100 Watt Mono Power Amplifier released > SA-50 Class A 50 Watt Power Amplifier launched
> SA-100 Class A 100 Watt Power Amplifier launched > M5 & M7 Preamplifier released 1991 > M12 Preamplifier released > P7 Class AB 100 Watt Power Amplifier launched 1992 > SA-250 Class A 250 Watt Power Amplifier launched > M12 Preamplifier upgraded to Mk2 Specification 1994 > SA-50 and SA-100 Power Amplifiers upgraded to Mk2 Specification > 2100i Class AB 100 Watt Integrated Amplifier launched 1995 > M12 Preamplifier upgraded to solid aluminium chassis > P7 Class AB 100 Watt Power Amplifier redesigned and relaunched 1996 > Jarrah Phono Stage released > SA-250 Power Amplifier upgraded to Mk2 Specification > M14 Phono Stage launched 1997 > M15 Limited Edition Preamplifier launched > M16 Preamplifier released 1998 > All SA series Power Amplifiers upgraded to Mk3 Specification 1999 > 8150 Class AB 150 Watt Integrated Amplifier released > SA-250 Power Amplifier redesigned and relaunched as Mk4 > 2100i/2 Class AB 100 Watt Integrated Amplifier launched
> 8100 Class AB 100 Watt Integrated Amplifier launched > 8200 Class AB 175 Watt Integrated Amplifier launched > CD·LAD Preamplifier released 2001 > 8200P Class AB 175 Watt Power Amplifier released > SA-102 Class A Power Amplifier launched 2002 > ODEON Class AB Multi-Channel Power Amplifier launched > SB-300 Class AB 300 Watt Power Amplifier launched 2003 > 9100 Class AB 120 Watt Integrated Amplifier released > 9200 Class AB 200 Watt Integrated Amplifier released > P8 Class AB 200W Power Amplifier Launched > M8 Preamplifier Launched 2004 > CD-101 Compact Disc Player launched > SA-201 225W Power Amplifier released > SA-Reference 300W Power Amplifier released 2005 > P10 200W Power Amplifier released > 9200 Integrated upgraded to CD XLR input version 2006 > Koru Phono Preamplifier Launched > SA-103 125W Power Amplifier released > SB-301 310W Power Amplifier released 2007 > Tautoro Preamplifier Launched |
