PRIMA LUNA AMPLIFIERS

goldfish2a

But what’s wrong with people,s ears do they really like a sound that’s totally different to ,say a classical orchestra, or acoustic guitar?

Why the flat harsh dry sound, I feel like I,m on a parallel universe
Listening to some of the modern hi fi

Part of it has to be hardly anyone has ever sat and listened to an actual orchestra performing in a concert hall. I was so fortunate, third grade teacher had a Seattle Symphony violinist play in our classroom. Smart guy, too. Had us close our eyes, listen, how many violins are there? And he would play pure notes that sounded like one, then chords, and the dude could make it sound like any number of violins he wanted! 

Later we went on a field trip to the Symphony. All through jr high and high school I was in band. Lotta time around real acoustic instruments. Much later still, several years ago, we went to several concerts at Benaroya in Seattle. Locations varied from a near ideal center floor maybe 20 rows back to cheap seats way up in the balcony. The balcony seats sounded so nearly identical to my speakers at the time it was spooky. Closer up you hear a lot more detail. Nowhere including with your ear right up to the strings would you hear the hyper-crackle etch the highest of high end systems seem to do so much.

Its so bad that never mind listening, its actually getting painful even coming here to read. Because the crap people recommend and buy, I know what it sounds like, and even just imagining is enough to make my ears hurt. But its like one guy vs the WWZ zombie horde. Time you tell one, a thousand more infected.

Oh, sorry, you were going with the parallel universe metaphor. Well its not like I didn't try. Its just the zombie-like mindlessness seems a better fit.

Thanks that’s a vote of confidence for Prima Luna!

I have a Primaluna Integrated for over 16 months and have not had any problem.  It is idiot proof with auto bias and bad tube indicator. I am trading it in this week for a Primaluna Preamp and Amp.

Thanks 

so so true I really didn’t want a tube amplifier, due to it being 
out of my comfort zone, but now I,ve heard one there’s no comparison, thanks for your Prima Luna recommendation.

But what’s wrong with people,s ears do they really like a sound that’s totally different to ,say a classical orchestra, or acoustic guitar?

Why the flat harsh dry sound, I feel like I,m on a parallel universe 
Listening to some of the modern hi fi 

just got to save up now , and try not to annoy wife with costs !

I can’t believe how bad ( to my ears)
modern hi fi sounds regardless of cost.

So sad, so true. I was in Definitive Audio recently. Listened to Brubeck's Time Out on their premier system. Very dynamic, tons of detail, nothing the least bit organic about it. I remember thinking on the way out, and that was probably a million dollar system.

Wrong. As if. A few quick internet searches turned up the sad truth: $1.3M.

At this rate, not much longer, hi fi gonna be a four-letter word.

I rolled the supplied el34’s to KT 120’s to power sonus faber’s that needed more to drive them.

Installing KT-120s would not change the power appreciably as B+ does not change. Sound and life could change.

I've had my Prologue Classic only a couple months, so I can't speak on their reliability. I will say, I'm very happy with mine. The build quality is very good. Much has already been covered by other responses. I'm running the OEM EL34s and driving a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 10s. The sound is wonderful, next up will be Gold Lion KT88s. I thought long and hard and asked on other boards about tube amps. I was about to get a Yaquin amp, glad I got the PL. After lots of online research if I were going to get a chinese made tube amp it would be PrimaLuna. 

Hi 

new to audiogon so so hope I,m posting ok and everyone can read this thanks for the detailed replies and photos, I feel most assured by your responses and faith in Prima Luna .

The valve tube sound is perfect to my ears , it’s a big investment but only hi fi fans understand, I,m noting your advice and experiences and look forward to auditioning a Prima Luna with Proac D20r speakers soon and will report back to you all

Thanks Trev 

I’ve only just joined Audiogon so hopefully my reply reaches you all

Thanks for all contributions photos very detailed and this is inspiring for Prima Luna ownership and musical abilities.

Because they are expensive ( and heavy ) I want an amplifier for life hopefully, I must say tube amplifiers are essential to my ears compared with anything, and I can’t believe how bad ( to my ears) 
modern hi fi sounds regardless of cost.

I've had my 2 PrimaLuna Evo 400 poweramps and Evo 400 Preamp running for about 10 days, and they are everything I could ever want in an amp. Driving Martin Logan CLX with Gotham sub to room shaking levels, or listening late at night at low levels. Either way, its pure bliss. 

I would not worry too much about these things needing repair too often, if ever. Here's a photo I took showing the build quality of my preamp with the bottom cover taken off. It's really beautifully made, and the power amps are just the same.

http://www.g45central.com/posts/PLx.jpg

I have a pair of Prologue Mono's, powered by a Dialogue Preamp.
Build quality is amazing, sound quality is great, and the auto-balancing feature should keep your tubes healthy for a long time.
Also powering a pair of Sonus Faber's, quite happy with the setup!

Okay Prima is primo but is Line Magnetic Supremo?

I also have a PL tube CD player. I can’t say if it’s better/worse than others. I like it but didn’t try anything else.

I had Dialogue integrated and traded it for a Dialogue HP integrated. (Had a tube Mac prior then a Hegel). I rolled the supplied el34’s to KT 120’s to power sonus faber’s that needed more to drive them. It’s around four years old now. No problems. The integrated comes with a proper thick gauge power cord. (I did upgrade that as I have a bit of the bug). I moved that to a sub.

My hifi friends also dig it and a fancy mono block friend was “stunned”.

I put anther HP in my office and kept the 34’s as the speakers on that set up don’t need more power.

On the KT120 rig I also put in a fancy fuse. Ok on that I think it mattered but I’m not sure.

On both I run 10G Off the spool OFC wire. The 4ohm taps made a large difference. It also has 8's.

I like the look of 34’s because they glow more than 120’s. I’m a visual artist.

I run a sub on both.

The remote control is made of metal and is solid/heavy as are the very well built PL’s.

If you want that warm tube sound you’ll get it. Mostly my listening is Jazz but Rock/Coffeehouse/Classical and Reggie all sound great.

Do believe the hype. Or believe my wife who as I was typing this said to turn it up (Kurt Elling then onto Ben Peterson).

Love my Prologue 5. Beautifully built. Zero problems.

Any competent tube amp tech could fix one in the unlikely event that something went wrong.

They have a 'gorgeous, romantic' sound.

I have owned a Primaluna Dialogue HP loaded with KT150s integrated for over a year now and can’t say enough good things about this amp. I had my neighbor help me paint my house and what did I pay him with? Yes a Primaluna Dialogue HP! We both love this amp. I run a speaker company and do listening parties all the time and lug my Primaluna with me to drive any of my speaker line. These things  are amazing. High quality components with point to point wiring and never had an issue. Awesome amp! 

I own a Dialogue integrated. You almost never see this stuff for re-sale. What does that tell you?? (not being sarcastic)

FWIW I have owned both the PL integrateds and the Cayin integrateds. I found that the PL's (with the tubes I used at least) were warmer than the Cayins which was a good thing. I also found the PL's far more reliable than the Cayins. I still have versions of each in the house and I use the PL's. I've had them for about 5 years with no issues at all. Heavy use.

Service for them in GB is unknown to me. I'm amazed that it cost so much to just send over the channel. :-(

Thanks that’s a great detailed reply, I,m going to contact uk dealers and ask about support. 
I just imagined a nightmare scenario of a 65 pound amp being sent to the Netherlands!
At owners cost !
Blown away I know what you mean I have been listening to a Rogue chronos magnum, and the Proac D20rs moon cd and Van den hul interconnects!
This sounds better than anything so far , better than ordinary systems cost £ 0000,s , better than solid State amplifiers,
musical notes delivered by a fairy onto a velvet duvet !
all the best Trev 

I do not have Primaluna but I do have a Cayin,made in the same factory by the exact same technicians that build the P.L. stuff.Build quality if off the charts,automotive grade lacquer finish,Japanese Steel for transformers and only the best electronic components just as in the P.L.I have no doubt with regular tube changes it will last a lifetime...P.L has a solid reputation,email them about UK support.Make sure your dealer runs the amp in a day or two  as most likely any problems will occur out of box..Ease of use is a P.L. strongpoint and I’m sure some KT120’s or 150’s will make those speakers sing.Oh and one more thing.If your new to tubes be prepared to have everything you thought you knew turned upside down.