Need tube help!

Meaningful answers will be in short supply pending your comments about your system, set up, and sonic desires. Especially the latter. Matching tubes with your integrated has as much to do with your speakers and set up as anything. You have a lot to choose from in both the power tubes (most important) and small tubes (used for fine tuning of sound). Doesn't your unit accept 6550's, as well as EL34's, 6l6gc's, and variants? Many folks prefer the EL34/6l6 tubes for a difference in sonic presentation.  

try the tubes that are in it.  I wouldn't put a lot of money into tubes for that amp.

Newbie, thanks for the prompt!

This is for a second system in my house, relatively a minimalist system.

Vintage Sony direct drive turntable, fed to a QHW Audio, “The Vinyl” solid state phono pre-amp (recommended by Mike Fremer).

Older Kavent CD731 tube buffered CD player.

All fed to a pair of stand-mounted Von Schweikert VR1 monitors.

In terms of what “sound” I am looking for?  I would have to say that I am a believer in neutrality.  I don’t want to over emphasize any portion of the frequency spectrum EXCEPT, I do like tightness, speed and slam.  Maybe that sounds conflicted.

My musical preferences are jazz fusion, funk, some rock and R and B.  And, yes, some classical, but mostly all instrumental arrangements, not a lot of vocals.

I hope that this helps somewhat in selecting tubes for this amps.

Thank you all again!

Good luck with your PL2.

About 18 years ago, I wrote a member review of the PL2.

Without knowing what tubes came with your unit, as well as what the rest of your system is like, and what you like to listen for, it would be hard to give you anything more than some general observations.  I do prefer KT 88's & 6550's as the power tubes.  I have a PL5 which is still my main amp today.  

Rich 

Just saw your response to Newbie.  Excellent guy to get to know, btw.

The KT88's will give you the extra oomph that you like.  New production Mullards or Gold Lions would work out nicely.

I went with NOS GE's for the 12AU7s.  New production Mullards have worked out well, as well.

Rich  

Thanks Rich!

I did follow up with a description of my system, as well as some music preferences. (See above).  

Can’t wait to read your review.

Rich, you are not going to believe this, but that review you wrote years ago?  I had recently dug it up and read it!  It was very well written and gave me the nudge to buy this integrated amp in discussion.

Thank you!!!

use NOS tubes for the small signal tubes- research by searching the tube type in various forums- here, steve hoffmann and audiokarma.  also ask Brent from audiotubes.com.  

for the power tubes just buy replacements or ask someone from Upscale Audio, the primaluna importer.  

NOS are $$$.   For preamp tubes the JJ 12ax7 and 12au7 sound great and are reasonably priced.  My only KT88 were Gold Lion.  Pricey but they have thousands of hours on them and not only do they still test strong but they are still tightly matched.  One of the better new production tubes made 

Contact Craig Ness at Ness Tone.  They sound good and are not very expensive.

Tell him Peter from Vu Jade Audio sent you.

Happy Listening  

As @oddiofyl mentioned - NOS are $$$. But once you experience them, it is painful to imagine life without them. And this is coming from a person who resisted tubes for couple of decades.

You can try the Gold Lions or Psvanes. In the "current production" lines, the Psvanes are couple of steps above the Gold Lions or anything else. I speak only for 12AU7s since I do not have experience with KT88 or 12AX7.

Lots of folks like the Gold Lion KT88. I don't see how you could go wrong, but I've never listened to them. If they are available they do cost about $100 apiece. I've used and still do Tung sol 6550 in my Dialogue 2. I suspect from what I've heard folks say about the Gold Lions is that the Tung sols might be a bit darker in tone. They are selling for about $85 apiece now. Any darkness can be compensated for by selection of the 12ax7. I'm presently using EL 12ax7's and 12au7's with them but they are hard to find if you even can and somewhat expensive if you do. I've used Mullards and JJ's 12AX7. The former is on the bright side but does open up the Tung-sol's, the JJ's are an underrated tube I think, but they are mid-range centric and will tame a bright power tube (or system) some.

If your unit will accept smaller power tubes you should consider the 6L6GC. It is a very neutral tube (in general) and tonally is similar to a good 6550 or KT88. Linear, clear, and not thin or bright. Just less power. I've used SED 6l6gc's in my Dialogue One and just loved the clarity. But as with many of my tube stash they are no longer in production, ergo hard to find and costly if you do. 

I tried the Mullard KT88's - they didn't appeal to my ear much. Bass was fulsome - I like tighter bass (on my system).   

Presently new production tubes are hard to find and prices certainly have gone up!

BTW, FWIW, if you feel desperate to experiment, and are willing to give up a bit of bass power, you can play with a set of JJ E34Ls and some of their small tubes. The power tubes cost a bit over $25 each and believe it or not their small tubes cost as much or more. The power tubes can light up a dull system with out being aggressive. :-) 

BTW, personally speaking, I would not invest my money or yours  on "NOS" tubes for our Primaluna integrateds. 

As this might really apply to you with your stuff it really is not much more than a WAG! :-)

I would definitely listen for a long time to the tubes that came with it. You want to know your system… this is your reference. Then think about changing things, 

Study the PL website resources. Acclimate your ears to "the sound"

Otherwise, you're just going to waste money, not knowing why you're changing tubes. The stock tube set will sound good if the rest of your setup is solid.

Maybe three months ago, I phoned Upscale Audio and asked for some fresh power tubes for my several year old Primaluna Prologue Integrated. The guy at the other end of the phone grunted and asked me what kind of music I like. I said classical and he recommended 6550's. I've probably had my Prologue for better than half a decade. I like the guys at Upscale and just said yes. The 6550's showed up surprisingly quickly. I plugged them in. After a couple days or so of break-in, they're now making me very happy, indeed.

For your 12au7's, Amperex 7316 pq's are the benchmark, the gold standard, the apex, the one to rule them all!

They sound really good too...

I have just replaced the tubes in my amp (2 weeks ago, cost $2100) I used the same tubes as the  amplifier builder used. I reckon he made the amp and new what was best. I would recommend to stick with the originals.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I made notes from every single entry.

Have a great day and enjoy your music!!!

Judsauce listen to what is in the unit? Familiarize the sound, Once you familiarize the unit, call upscale audio, they are very familiar on primaluna products.

Thanks, jayctoy.

The unit came with no tubes.  I'm starting from scratch.