The PLINIUS SB-301 is our answer to the perennial power versus sonic quality debate.

We were approached about 12 months ago by a Californian company engaged in the manufacture of large home theatre speaker systems, and asked to submit an amplifier for their appraisal.

There were two important specifications that had to be adhered to, a, the amplifier had to sound good, and b, the amplifier had to sound good at 120dB!

We sent them an SA-102 and goal one was achieved. The sound quality was better than anything experienced previously however under rigorous testing they found that the SA-102 would deliver 115dB prior to clipping.

We then sent an SA-250/4. Goal a and b surpassed but the SA-250/4 is very large and a little too expensive for the multi-amplifier applications they had in mind.

Back to square one and some head scratching. Our design team decided that we needed a 300-Watt, SA-102 package and this is exactly what the SB-301 is. The basic circuit topology is the same as the SA-102 but with a larger power supply and more rugged output stage. The number of output devices is double that of the SA-102 and the two toroidal transformers are larger.
The SB-301 operates in Class AB bias and as such the standing temperature is lower than that encountered in our SA series designs.

The construction of the SB-300 is to the same extremes of quality as the PLINIUS line and offers the rugged dependability of the SA series designs.

It is widely believed that as amplifier power increases the sonic ability diminishes. Clearly the SB-300 dispels this notion and will deliver all the dynamics, finesse and transparency that PLINIUS is renowned for.

The SB-301 is at home in the most demanding music or theatre applications and will perform flawlessly under the most arduous conditions.

Specifications

Power: 310 Watts continuous per channel into 8 ohms. Both channels driven from 20hz to 20khz.

Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz �0.2dB. -3dB at 1Hz and -3dB at 70kHz.

Distortion: Typically <0.05% THD at rated power. 0.1% THD and IM worst case prior to clipping.

Current Output: 50A short duration peak per channel. Fuse protected.

Rise Time: Typically 5�s.

Phase Response: +0� at 20Hz and -14� at 20kHz.

Hum & Noise: 100dB below rated output 20Hz to 20kHz A-weighted.

Input Impedance: 47,000 ohms.

Gain on RCA Inputs: 32dB.

Gain on Balanced Inputs: 38dB.

Dimensions: Height 220mm (8.75"), Width 500mm (19.75"), Depth 455mm (18"), Weight 38kg (83lb).