Thanks
for all all the incredible detailed responses , I,m very well informed
about Prima Luna amplifiers!
so helpful !
for all all the incredible detailed responses , I,m very well informed
about Prima Luna amplifiers!
so helpful !
PRIMA LUNA AMPLIFIERS
Hi
I,m thinking of buying a Prima Luna amplifier but worried re reliability, and what you do in the UK if you have problems.
Would like to hear what owners think about reliability, tube changes , tube upgrades, potential problems,
And what happened if you had problems re after sales repair and support.
i,m going to use them with Proac D20 r floorstanders .
Thanks in advance for your help
I,m thinking of buying a Prima Luna amplifier but worried re reliability, and what you do in the UK if you have problems.
Would like to hear what owners think about reliability, tube changes , tube upgrades, potential problems,
And what happened if you had problems re after sales repair and support.
i,m going to use them with Proac D20 r floorstanders .
Thanks in advance for your help
72 responses Add your response
I recently purchased a used Evo 400 and am extremely satisfied. I have been a audiophool since the seventies and have had countless amps. I can't see ever giving up this amp. I have replaced the stock el34's with kt77's and also the two main 12au7's with some nos radiotechnique . Just a heavenly sound. I also agree with other posters that this thing is built like a tank. |
I recently purchased an evo 400 integrated and am currently running it with the stock el34 tubes (happily I might add). I am about to purchase a pair of the Focal Sopra 2s and am considering rolling to the KT150s. Question: With the uptick in tube size, can the Evo’s cage still be closed with 8 x KT150s in there? |
This review with KT150s of the Dialogue Premium says the cage cannot be closed using KT150s. https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/analog-reviews/amplifier-reviews/primaluna-dialogue-premium-tube-rolling-part-1/ |
ksubrama: The 150 draws considerably more heater current than the EL34. Can the amp supply it? The operating point will change which will change the distortion considerably. Do you have the tools / know how to adjust the amplifier to optimize for 150's? Just WHAT do you expect to achieve other than a thinner wallet? |
Thank you @shahram. I don’t think it will fit with the cage on the evo 400 as well. @ieales - appreciate the challenge. Being a Tube Newb, I absolutely do not have the tools or knowledge. However, I purchased the PL evo 400 for its auto bias design and the marketing slogan on it being so easy to use that even a tube newb would be able to roll tubes easily. My only intent is to get more power to my speakers and get increased dynamics/bass response from them. |
There is a switch on the side for low and high output tubes. EL34 being low output, and KT120, KT150 etc. are considered high output. Put the new tubes in, flip the switch and you've got like 30 more watts to play with. But really the watts don't matter much. It's the tighter control on woofers that you will likely notice first. And |
I can't speak to the Cayin, which I have heard is made at the same plant, but the unconfirmed rumors are that Cayin uses differently sourced parts and is not just a PrimaLuna with a different name slapped on it.
Correct, Both are made by Spark Labs,, both look simliar in design,, but that does not at all mean they will present music as equals. I am going with the Cayin SC6 pre vs the PL Evo 100. I have a cayin cd17 Mark 1 past 15 years and had no issues, built like a tank, with nice resolution,,although i did spend $$$ on new Mundorf Caps and Sparksolab Descrete opamps,,I plan to add a new PL cd player next year. |
@ shahram - missed answering your question: |
There is a switch on the side for low and high output tubes. EL34 being low output, and KT120, KT150 etc. are considered high output.The switch is for EL34 or KT-88 bias. The KT-120 & KT-150 are a whole different tube than the KT-88. The 120 & 150 use up to 25% more heater current. Unless the amp has a regulated heater supply capable of supplying the increased load, an un-regulated supply may struggle with the extra current. If the amp can supply the current for 150's with an unregulated supply, then the heater voltage for the EL34 and drivers is way too high. Power is determined by the power supply. Adding a beefier tube does not increase the power. Sonics may change depending on the design and transformers. Additionally, general tube rolling advice is not worth the bits to transmit. Tubes from the same batch vary widely. Tubes change continuously. What is golden in one amp may be less than stellar in another. |
" I can't speak to the Cayin, which I have heard is made at the same plant, but the unconfirmed rumors are that Cayin uses differently sourced parts and is not just a PrimaLuna with a different name slapped on it. One distinction to be made here is that Cayin is completely owned by the Chinese government (part of the the CATIC group), while Prima Luna is only manufactured in factories owned by the Chinese government. So with Prima Luna, you are making less of a contribution to the cause! Not an issue to most probably but something to keep in mind when making a choice between the two. |
Sharing a recent post from the PL Steve Hoffman Forums with some very cool pics of the PL Evo 400 with the KT 150s, as well as an innovative solution for the cage. See page 8. Thanks to @zurv https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/primaluna-evolution-series.824596/page-8#post-24225408 |
The switch is for EL34 or KT-88 bias. The KT-120 & KT-150 are a whole different tube than the KT-88. The 120 & 150 use up to 25% more heater current. Unless the amp has a regulated heater supply capable of supplying the increased load, an un-regulated supply may struggle with the extra current. If the amp can supply the current for 150's with an unregulated supply, then the heater voltage for the EL34 and drivers is way too high.I'm not sure what to tell you from a technical standpoint. But that Primaluna advertise being able to use KT120 and KT150 tubes with their amps and many have success doing so. |
I own Primaluna Dialogue Premium preamp and HP amp. Built like a tank and not one hiccup in all the time I've had them. The A/C offset killer circuit keeps them nice and quite. I removed all the stock Chinese made tubes for NOS (new old stock) vintage tubes. Mullard, Telefunken, Amperex. Much better in my experience. Heft, tone, detail. They sound warm and lush without sacrificing detail. Better bass and midrange. Contact Andy Bowman at Vintage Tube Services. He will steer you in the right direction. |
I have a set of PL Prologue 6 monos driving a pair of MB Quart Vera VS 1F as my second system and I use Blue JJ EL 34s and occasionally KT88s. Right now I have PSVane KT 88 Ty II in there. Both have their benefits and weak spots. Love the PLs, lots and lots of good stuff no doubt about it and I am not knocking them with the below. I also own the Carver Crimson 350s as my 1* system driving Carver Amazing Silvers.Why don"t you look at and seriously consider Carver"s new 275. It's has a 5 yr warranty INC tubes, (nobody else I know of does that), 4 KT 120 power tubes,hand built, with hand wound transformers, made in USA, point to point wiring 75 w/ch and is voiced like the 350s just less power, and $6750 less, At $2750 is less than most PLs and IMO a much better amp in almost all areas. I saw a preowed on AM for $2100 + or - . That would be a great bargain, it's a bargain at $2750. I believe Frank (ceo Carver Corp) would probably transfer the warranty if you asked him. Carver takes care of their customers new or preowned better than any audio corp I've dealt with. It will drive those ProAcs with ease BestMark |
Funny you ask. I have a love hate relationship. I absolutely love the sound. I have been solid state guy for 40+ years. Tried a PL Dialouge Premuim HP Integrated. Loved it. Blew a circuit in 30 days. Sent it back to Upscale, and replaced it w/ an Evo 400 preamp. Stopped working today. Don't know why. I'll be sending it back under the 60 day trial period also ( had it for less than 30 days). Upscale has been more than helpful. Just bad luck I guess. |