Prologue One. I'm still playing with tubes - I'm using current production. I haven't settled on which I prefer yet. Today, I'm listening to Svet EL34's, EH 12AX7A's, and Tesla 12AU7's. The sound is very warm and rich, almost too warm and rich. The Tesla's 12AU7's are responsible for most of this. With EI's its much cooler. I tried NOS Tesla E34L's & the EH/Tesla small tubes. It reduced the richness a tad, increased the upper mid and high detail quite a bit, and I think it is a combo many would prefer. As I said this is a work in progress. Of one thing you can be sure, if you have a revealing speaker system you will easily hear any change you make and you get to take your pick. Your choice will probably depend on your speakers and room/set up.
Curious about the PrimaLuna
I've been reading all I can about the PrimaLuna, found a bunch of reviews by Dutch listeners here: www.hifi-notes.com. I currently am using a Heathkit AA-32 with Meadowlark Osprey speakers. I am surprised at how well the Heathkit drives the Ospreys with its low power(15wpc max). I really like the sound on jazz recordings, Prestige and Blue Note from the late 50's and early 60's. So I am hoping an amp such as the PrimaLuna would really open up the sound. I am using a Rotel RCD-1070 and a Project Perspective table with a Garrot Brothers cartridge. The phono channel on the Heathkit is definitely anemic, but the cd player has sufficient level to where the volume knob is about 1/3 to 1/2 up, where as lps require 2/3-3/4. The price on Asian gear is going up, low dollar, there has been one price hike already on the Prima Luna models in the last 2 months, $100. So I'm considering taking the leap.
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