Prima Luna EVO series amps/preamps now available...

Interesting post, aolmrd, because the 300 preamp and 400 should be the same, except no balanced section. I asked Upscale today if there is any difference between the balanced and unbalanced outs on the 400 and got two answers from two different people: negligible unless if everything from source to output is balanced, and probably little even then (Jared); and no, not unless the power and/or IC run is long (someone else). The latter is the same answer I got from Lampi when I asked about the difference between their balanced and unbalanced outs. 

Geez, I looked at the original thread date. Time marches on.....

aolmrd1241-

Are you a lucky new owner of EVO setup? Great loooking Akita. Massive! Grew up with Akitas in the early 70's. Only breed I would bother to have if I were a dog owner today.

It's interesting to hear what other PL owners are reporting. As a long time user, I've heard the PL line in many different setups. What I hear is equipment that's  able to support substantial source investments. I "get" anyone into the balanced cable thing from the gear enthusiast perspective. For my ears, other areas are my concern.  PL sounds pretty convincing with either generic cable or Odin 2 unbalanced RCA's.

The move to balanced outputs was purely borne from marketing.  I could tell from past videos how frustrated Kevin was that many consumers simply need to see XLR connections to justify the purchase, regardless if they could ever tell the difference sonically.  He's playing to the market and I don't blame him...he's a businessman, not an audio purist.

Hi tablejockey... No EVO setup,just the Dialogue Premium preamp... which I love!
I owned 2 Akitas in the early 80's and they are a great breed for sure. I snatched the photo online...mine had similar markings.

Well there is an ocean of difference In sound quality between The Dialogue Premium power amp and the Evo 400.

I bought the Dialogue Premium (DP) 2 weeks ago and put about 150 hours on it. Day one: It sounded good...great bass, good dynamics and lush. But my previous 2 amps had much better detail/resolution. Still I gave it a chance rolled some tubes in there. Today and 150 hours later...I drove it down to Upscale Audio and traded up to the Evo 400.

I looked online to see the internals of the DP and DP/HP. There’s a lot more ’pink’ in the HP...meaning way more Takman resistors in the HP and slightly better coupling caps. I also compared the insides of the HP to the Evo 400. There are only subtle upgrades. The Evo 300 shows the biggest upgrade from the DP. Still, I didn’t want to make this trip again...so I decided to go up to 8 power tubes.

From the very first note, the Evo 400 had much better resolution...micro details. My previous amp was a Don Sachs Kootenay...and the DP just couldn’t cut it. The Evo 400, I can live with it. I may decide to upgrade the coupling caps after I break this amp in. But right now, there’s enough there there.
My system:
2 dedicated audio lines>Technics 1200G>Audio Technica VM740ML>Project RS Phono Preamp>Don Sachs Model 2 Preamp>PrimaLuna Evo 400>Salk Songtowers

The only weak link in the PL preamps is the slightly-better-than-average volume attenuator.
While not bad...it would be better to have a high end stepped attenuator.

@sandthemall What preamp would you say has a better volume attenuator thatn the Primaluna? PS Audio BHK, or Rogue audio RP-7?

Sorry for the late reply! But that answer I don’t know. I do know that my Don Sachs Preamp has a very nice stepped attenuator. I have no experience with PS Audio or Rogue. I did own a NAD preamp with an Alps Blue Velvet attenuator as in the Primaluna...they’re fine and completely analogue. But at this level, a nice stepped attenuator is what you want.

I had a PL Dialogue Premium HP integrated with Focal Aria 948’s for a while. The speakers didn’t do it for me (i rolled lots of different tubes, but eventually could not overcome persistent brightness)...

Hi @dpac996,
I am new to tubes and am considering pairing some new Focal 948s with a PL EVO 300. One of my concerns with the pairing is the brightness you mentioned. Unfortunately none of the shops near me have this set up, so I am really putting a lot of through/consideration into the potential purchase.

Anyway, I recall hearing that ultra high end wiring (i.e., platinum and silver) can sometime accentuate that bright characteristic in the Focals. Would you mind sharing what wiring you were using in your set up and if you think that could have been a factor? Sounds like you test a lot of different solutions.

Primaluna and Focal go great together. If you call Upscale Audio they will tell you their Focal Sopra 2s in the demo room are setup to an EVO 400 Integrated. The Primaluna's are detailed and airy, not bright.