Plinius or Mark Levinson for Grand Pianos?

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.

I bought the McIntosh MA6900 Integrated amplifier for my Sonus Faber Grand Piano speakers and the overall sound quality is excellent. The extra power plus the tube like quality of the MA6900 really make these speakers stand out. SF Grand Piano speakers require clean power to make them sound good. I was very suprised at how good they sound (and so were my friends). If you are considering either the Plinius or Mark Levinson units, you need to listen to them in your system before you decide. cheers..

try an active preamp with the arc piece, you may find you have enough power.

You may want to consider using two Plinius SA-102s in mono. They actually sound very nice in "bridged" mode and would have plenty of power.