Morrison ELAD Preamplifiers

Morrison ELAD Preamplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

Electronic Line Amplification Device

USER REVIEWS

Showing 31-40 of 95  
[Mar 03, 2000]
Daniel
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Everything that you would hope for in a preamp: transparency, detailed imaging, vast soundstage. Build quality. The best preamp available at ANY price.

Weakness:

None

This will be a rather inadequate review since no amount of words can effectively describe the pure ethereal listening experience conferred by this ELAD. Folks, all the positives that you've read on this site are true. The ELAD is built like a tank and though I'm not an electrical engineer, the guts of ELAD is as good as it looks from the outside. The ELAD does not have a sound of its own and you will be amazed at the clarity of sound emanating from your speakers as if the performers are right in your living room. Of course this is dependent on the source. You will become more aware of the musicality of the performance and be blown away by the techniques of Itzhak Perlman or Miles Davis; but the converse is true as well, the bad recording will become even worse, though not to the fault of the ELAD.

I was skeptical to purchase an audio equipment sound unheard and break the golden rule of audio equipment purchasing. However, Morrison's integrity and honesty far exceeds those in the audio retail business. And he will make sure that you will be richly rewarded by this blind leap of faith or if you're not, he's willing to buy it back. (Probably not a stupid decision since there are perhaps a dozen people waiting in line for every ELAD currently produced.) Over the course of my purchase, I've probably spoken with Morrison about a dozen times (lasting as long as half-an-hour; imagine the phone bill that he paid) and corresponded via email twice as frequently. Through these conversations, I've saved countless bucks--he revealed some of the smoke and mirrors out there in the "mainstream" audio retail world. I've come to realize that profit is not what it's all about for this interesting individual. He could surely sell this unit for ten times the cost and people would still buy it. But it's not about the money. (Sadly we view people like him today in our materialistic world as insane or quarky.) He is true to the sound and would like to make available the highest level of musical enjoyment to all segments of the listening population. I am certainly indebted to him for that since my salary is non-existent as a medical student.

Buy this unit, it'll be the best purchase decision you'll ever make in your life.

(Drop me a line if you would like more of info or listen to it if you're in the area.)

System Info:

Morrison ELAD Pre Amp
Bryston 3BST Amp
Vandersteen 2Ce Signature Speakers
Rotel RCD 971 CD Player

Contact Info:

Don Morrison
Morrison Audio
334 King St E
Toronto M5A 1K8
Canada

Phone #: (416) 362-0523 (He'll personally answer the phone.)
Email: "mildred c. moss"
Website: http://www.donmorrisonaudio.com/

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 28, 2000]
Huan
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

simplicity, transparency, clarity, outstanding performance and incredible value

Weakness:

NONE

I recently received the Morrison E.L.A.D. (Electronic Line Amplification Device). I was amazed of the care that Mr. Morrison took in packaging and shipping the ELAD. The ELAD is a solidly built and well-constructed piece of equipment. The clarity of the music is unbelievable because this pre-amp is dead quiet and transparent. The Morrison ELAD is a fantastic preamp at an unbelievable price.

p.s. I can’t wait to check out his speakers.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 27, 2000]
Vadim
Audiophile

Strength:

Outstanding performance, absolute transparency, highest possible definition, three dimensionality, and soundstaging, no noise at any level, elegance, appearance and build quality.

Weakness:

None

Review summary:

ELAD (Electronic Line Amplification Device)

The only way to appreciate the performance of the ELAD is to compare it with other preamps.I still think that all of the preamps I used are very good but under no circumstances they can be compared with the ELAD. Regardless of price this is the best line stage preamp that can be bought for a very simple reason: it DOESN’T EXIST in the system. One can see it but it remains sonically transparent.

I must say here that the ELAD is very dangerous and merciless for recording engineers. It shows immediately how many of the so called "audiophile quality" discs are junk and nothing more. On the other hand it reveals the genuine qualities of a good recording job. I have almost all of the CD’s produced by Mapleshade and always thought that they were very good but only with the ELAD do I realize that this studio produces really outstanding recordings.

A few words about associated equipment. I love my speakers (Magnepan 1.6 QR) but as anyone who is familiar with planar speakers knows you must sit dead center to enjoy all of the benefits. 5 or 6 inches to the left or right is about the limit. With the ELAD this limit increased up to 2 feet! My headphones (Sennheiser 600) sound better with the ELAD than with a headphone amplifier costing twice the price. And what is most important – after many hours of listening (CD’s, LP’s and FM) I don't feel any listening fatigue.

Before I got the ELAD I was afraid that two volume controls would be a big inconvenience and thought about rubber bands etc. It took about 2 minutes to realize that two volume controls is an extremely beneficial feature.

Don Morrison

Dealing with Mr. Morrison is a great pleasure. He is an outstanding engineer with a great sense of humor. Besides that he is an outstanding educator who was able to explain to me the scientific basis of his design in 15 minutes. I wouldn’t call his relationship with his customers ‘customer service’. It should be called ‘customer care’. This gentleman belongs to a very rare group of people who really care and take pride in what they do. He puts his name on the ELAD but I know that there is a piece of his soul inside every unit.

And last but not least. He is crazy. Really crazy. No one in his right mind would sell the ELAD at less than ten times the asking price.

Related equipment:

Amplifier ATI 1502

CD transport CEC TL 2X

DAC Sonic Frontiers

Turntable Rega Planar 25

Phono preamp Black Cube

FM tuner Fanfare FT 1A

Speakers Magnepan 1.6 QR

Similar Products Used:

Threshold FET 9, Mcintosh C 15, Audioanalog, Bryston, NAD.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 21, 2000]
Bob
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Transparency, simplicity, value for dollar

Weakness:

Some finish problems, power-supply hum

It's inevitable that when a guy makes a better mousetrap, everybody beats a path, etc., and there is some danger of overextension.

First, kudos: Everything written about the sonic superiority of this unit is true. I had no idea my speakers (Phase Technology 7Ts) were capable of the detail the ELAD shows. You hear immediate and very perceptible improvements as soon as you click it on...warm-up or no. I had been using an NAD 1020 preamp and NAD 2140 amp. I switched to a Myryad MA120 amp, and highs and lows improved in clarity (midrange was always solid). Everything changed dramatically when I swapped the 1020 with the ELAD: massed vocals were suddenly more crisp and intelligible; bass was smooth and extended, not a note of hootiness. It's like looking through a limpid mountain stream to the bottom; every pebble is visible.

However, despite the care with which this was packaged to ship (Don measures and cuts each foam padding to fit--and lots of it), the brushed-aluminum power-supply faceplate had come off in transit. The glue hadn't quite dried, apparently. Not a calamity, but I have to put the PS in the back where it's not seen; however, it's heard--a slight 60hz hum is ever-present. Will it go away?

On the whole, the unit is simple and superb at what it does. Don even tests your unit after 48-hour burn-in and gives you the measured specs (which are, by the way, superb). There are no controls besides the volume knobs and on-off toggle switches. You need no more; you wouldn't want to muddy the waters. If, however, you seek the best sound at any price, this is the Grail. I hope Don, perfectionist that he is, can give himself a rest now and again. No one else in audio seems otherwise to take such care with the product and the customer as individual.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing resembling it

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 03, 2000]
yuon tai bak
Audiophile

Strength:

absolutely transparent

Weakness:

i get a transformer buzz,especially at night,but am using a transformer to 220 and havn't put a meter on it yet.

Just plug it in and literally forget it. I've given up looking for any other preamp and look forward to the day when I can get some Morrison speakers. Transparent almost doesn't do the ELAD justice; nor revealing. It simply is absolutely truthful. Something that is close to impossible to find in this plasto-hype commercialized (hi-fi) world. It has made me rethink my whole 'audiophile philosophy'.

Thank-you Don and I'll solve all those mind benders by the end of the millenium.

System: Bryston 4bNRB, Mission 770 speakers, Lehmann Black Cube Phono, Marantz CD63KI CD, Michell Gyrodec w/SME V and Cartridge Man Grado, Audiomecca Obcession CD, Kimber PBJ,Goertz Veracity 2

Similar Products Used:

mcintosh c26

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 16, 2000]
WALTER D. NAPOLITAN
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE WITH NO ADDED COLORATION OR DISTORTION.
GREAT BUILD QUALITY
GREAT CUSTOMER ATTENTION
VERY RESONABLY PRICED
SIMLPE, STAIGHT FORWARD DESIGN

Weakness:

NONE

I PURCHASED THE MORRISON E.L.A.D. RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 99. (I HAVE THE LAST ONE OF THE MILLENIUM!) I HAVE ONLY POSSATIVES TO SAY ABOUT THIS UNIT.

THE MACHINE;

FIRST (MAYBE LEAST IMPORTANT) IS BUILD QUALITY AND APPEARANCE. THIS UNIT IS BEAUTIFULLY OVER BUILT AND COMES PACKED WELL ENOUGH TO LAUNCH IN THE PAYLOAD OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE. THIS IS ONE SOLID PIECE! I HAVE A NICE SALAMANDER ENCLOSED SHELF UNIT. I CAN VIRTUALLY HIDE ALL OF MY EQUIPMENT INTO ITS’ FURNITURE GRADE STUCTURE. I PUT THE E.L.A.D. ON TOP WHERE IT CAN BE SEEN FOREVER.IT IS A SIMPLE TWO PIECE UNIT (SEPARATE POWER SUPPLY) AND HAS A REFRESHING SIMPLE DESIGN IN CONTRAST TO THE HIGH END RACE TOWARDS “BELLS AND WHISTLES” FACEPLATES. IT HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CONVERSATION PIECE.

THE MUSIC;

NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT ISSUES; PERFORMANCE. EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT. IT DOES EXACTLY WHAT THE IDEAL LINE LEVELER PRE-AMP IS SUPPOSED TO DO; GIVE YOU CLEAR MEDIUM BETWEEN YOUR SOURCE AND YOUR SPEAKERS WITH NO AUDIBLE EDITORIAL ADDITIVES. THE MORRISON UNIT WILL NOT ADD TO OR TAKE OUT ANYTHING FROM THE RECORDING BUT INSTEAD GIVE YOU EXACTLY WHAT THE SOUND ENGINEERS HAD IN MIND FOR YOU TO HEAR.
I HAVE NOTICED A RELAXED, OPEN AND MORE DETAILED OVER ALL SOUND FROM MY SOURCES. I AM A SINATRA FAN BUT I RARLY PLAYED HIS RECORDINGS BECAUSE I CONSIDERED THEM TO BE SUB-PAR IN QUALITY; LOUD BUT FLAT. WITH THE MORRISON, HIS VOICE IS OUT IN FRONT AND THE ORCHASTRA SOUNDS CLEAN AND LIVE. MY CASSANDRA WILSON CDS (WHICH I ALREADY CONSIDERED TO HAVE GREAT SOUND), ARE NOW REFINED AND REVEAL SOME OF THE INSTUMENTS TO BE LESS EXAGERATED AND CLEANLY DEFINED. I FIND MYSELF SAYING; OH, THAT SOUNDS DIFFERENT. I CAN’T PEAL MYSELF AWAY FROM MY LISTENING SPOT.


THE MAN (-DON MORRISON.)

I, FOR ONE, WILL ONLY PURCHASE A NEW PRODUCT IF TWO THINGS LINE UP; THE PRODUCT ITSELF MUST BE REAL GOOD. SECONDLY, THE COMPANY MUST BE GOOD AND PLEASANT TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN I FIRST CALLED ABOUT THIS ITEM I EXPECTED THE USUAL RECORDINGS, OR AT THE VERY BEST, A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. I CAN’T TELL YOU THE SURPRISE I HAD WHEN DON MORRISON HIMSELF ANSWERED THE PHONE. I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG HE CAN KEEP UP THIS PERSONAL ATTENTION TO HIS CUSTOMERS, BUT IN MY MIND HE HAS REDIFINED THE TERM “CUSTOMER SERVICE.” IF IT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE TO READ THE INTEGRITY AND KNOWLEDGE OF A PERSON OVER THE PHONE, YOU CAN IN THIS CASE. HE EVEN RETURNED MY CALL ON CHRISTMAS EVE TO ANSWER A QUESTION I HAD IN HOOKING IT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME. WOW!

ONE FINAL WORD; IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TECHNICAL MEASURMENTS OF THIS UNIT, CHECK OUT THE REVIEW IN THE “AUDIO CRITIC” QUARTERY PUBLICATION ISSUE #25. YOU CAN GET BACK ISSUES VIA PHONE (215) 538-9555.

Similar Products Used:

B&K AVR 202

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 16, 2001]
Chris Ma
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Build like a tank. Excellent Price tag.

Weakness:

None so far

The fact that I like the pre-amp most is that it can give me peace of mind and trust. It is there but then it is like not there. This is one link of the chain in my system that I will never have to worry about upgrading or have doubts to think that there may be room for improvement or something. The sad part this means I've got one toy less to pursue. But that also means good news to my bank account.
Way to Don!!!
Thanks a lot

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 100, 101 monos

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 31, 2001]
stu_ pidaso
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Asdic roots. Superior build quality. Seperate volume controls for increased separation. Separate power supply for silent background. Matches any decor. Small footprint. Large knobs. IMHO, best preamp available at any price. Packaged/shipped in fasion rendering it indestructable. Will last you and your decendants a lifetime.

Weakness:

Aseptic and asexual. Not designed to pick up free satelite porno movies. Your heirs will fight over who get the ELAD.

This preamp is a giant killer! I am 6 foot 2 inches u.s. and over 250 lbs u.s. and it knocks me down almost every time I get right on Guinness. It is far better than you can imagine! I have the greatest sense of well being listening to music over the Elad. It has that certain, in French, I don't know what! I have several systems in same auralex treated room, including a Citation 5.1 system (7.0 preamp/processor and 2 x 7.1 amps) with bag end subs and elf system and 5 Kef 2's and also a Sony SACD to Krell FPB 200c to Kef 3's via Sonic Frontiers preamp and I still find the Elad based system preferable for all the frequently cited reasons. My current ELAD configuration is a $200.00 Toshiba CD/DVD player to ELAD to a 10 year old Krell KST 100 and 2 Kef 2's with rebuilt Velodyne USD 12 for sub. It rules! I swear under oath. If you only have 2 EARS and whether you have a limited budget or can have anything you want, it,imho, just doesn't get any better than ELAD. Buy the damn thing! It is a steal! It tests better than anyother preamp on the market. People all over the world agree. Mine is serial #370. Email me if you have any questions or comments.

Similar Products Used:

In candor, at one extreme, the ELAD is overwhelmingly very much somewhat similar to other products I have used. Particularly in terms of ease of ability to almost imperceptibly turn the volume up and down, with countless stoping points and graduations, in between the wide extremes of silence and perforated eardrum. But, OTOH, at the other extreme, I find the ELAD much more distinctly more so dissimilar to many other preamps I have owned. It has never disappionted me and is the first piece iI show off. My previous preamps include, but are not limited to, stuff from Radio Shack and Lloyds to Harmon Kardon and Bang'n'elf son and Bose to Mark (but not Kim Cantrell) Levinson; also Krell KRC-2 and 3, and also JVC,Rotel,BAT, etc.,etc.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 13, 2000]
C
Audio Enthusiast

The ELAD made an immediate and clear improvement in my system. Most notably, the system now yields more realistic timber and significantly more detail (including artifacts from poor recordings that may have been better left unheard). If there is a better active pre at 3X the price of the ELAD, I don't know what it is. The service and follow up Don has provided is better than that I have received after any other purchase (audio or non-audio), exemplary.

Don, thanks for a great pre-amp, the book recommendations, and lively banter!

Associated Equipment
DVD Player
Bel Canto Dac1
Morrison ELAD Pre
Pass Aleph 3
Dunlavy SM1 Speaker
Harmonic Tech, Aural Symphonics, and Dunlavy wires

Similar Products Used:

Many, many.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 11, 2001]
Darryl Zimmer
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Transparency, Build Quality, No Hum, No Coloration, No Nonsense. It works and it works extremely well.

Weakness:

NONE

This pre-amp is a masterpiece and Don Morrison is its creator.. Don is some sort of a genius, could you or I or anyone Design, Manufacture and Sell an product of this magnitude for $790 ???? Don is one of the very few individuals in business who will talk sense to the buyer and actually returns phone calls out of his county - Canada.

I received my unit almost a month ago. Finally a pre-amp that is so good at what it does, with out looking at it, I would think that it was just not there.. Adds nothing subtracts nothing - it is just neutral..... very, very neutral.

What surprises me the most is that I do not hear my speakers, all I hear is the music coming from between them. Sound stage is incredible..

Buy one from Don, try it, then sell your old pre-amp on e-bay.

Try it !!! You'll lke it...

5 Stars for the pre-amp and 5 Stars to Don...

Similar Products Used:

Too many pre-amps in the past.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 31-40 of 95  

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