2. amps-preamps
  3. 163550-120167

Can the top end of a PrimaLuna Evo integrated be tamed w/tube rolling?

This weekend I have a PrimaLuna Evo 3 as a house guest to compare with my Supernait 3 solid state integrated. Both are about the same price, basically tube vs solid state. I am a big fan of the Naim PRaT but I also find the depth and transparency of tubes very engaging. The Evo integrated on its own lacks the rhythm and pace of the Naim but it does have transparency and imaging in spades.

So the idea is maybe run an Evo 3 preamp instead along with a Naim 250 (or just use the amp section of the Supernait).

But one problem I cannot get over is that there is a very fatiguing high end to the Evo 3. Cymbals, snare drums, top edge of distorted guitars, etc are pretty harsh at any volume higher than background music. To compare, my vintage Luxman valve preamp into the SN3 does not have this quality (but it lacks the refinement of the PrimaLuna).

It would be ideal to do some tube rolling to get the best of all worlds... is there a tube selection that could work with the Evo preamp that would tame the harsher high end and smooth out the sound a little bit on top? Or is this just a part of the PrimaLuna signature?
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decooney
1,973 posts
 

@audiophile168 So, you are saying new reissue GL 12Au7s "tamed it" and yet vintage Brimars did not, before? Did you remove the Telefunkens too? And, Yes, the Mundorfs caps can help even more after they form and settle in past 100-200hrs or more. Is there something else going on here, maybe over time. Did you A) change cables or anything else just before or around the time you added the new GL 12Au7s? Or, B) just removed the Telefunken and removed the Brimar and added GL Au7 tubes only (and that cured it for you)?   IMO, It would be good to share more who’ll follow you on this and the EVO amps, preamps.

I always thought and read the EVO amps were kinda soft to begin with using their stock tubes. Will be good to get your added feedback if there is more to share.  

dbong
20 posts
 

I had prologue and dialog PL gear.  The stock tubes took 100+ hours to break in, and subsequent rolling of the AX/AU small tubes with NOS was well worth it, though more waiting for break in before they too smoothed out.

audiophile168
6 posts
 

@decooney Yes the GL reissue tamed it. The Brimars are already bright before I even bought the GL. So I did not bother putting it in the system. So it was just the Telefunkens, Primaluna stock tubes and GL reissues. I did not put them all together in any mix. Just the two fronts are being replaced at a time. No change in cable as well. Item B above describes what I just did. Just 2 GL infront and the rest are stock PL tubes. 

decooney
1,973 posts
 

@audiophile168 So, it appears what Kevin Deal reported on his video a while back, start with replacing "center / front two tubes first". Worked well for you, very good, and should be helpful to there future PL owners.  

audiophile168
6 posts
 

@decooney  oh yeah.absolutely. here's another experiment I did. 

Scenario 1 = Cornwall IV/Primaluna/Gold Lion 12au7

Like I said above, the highs got tamed. Primaluna Volume at 9 o clock.

Scenario 2 = B&W 683 S2/Primaluna/Gold Lion 12au7.

This set up has zero harshness or brightness to it. Just warm sound and beautiful. I even increased the volume to 11 o clock. I can't do that to the Cornwall IV. It goes bright again. But I lose bass and details on mids and highs in this set up. 

 

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