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Primaluna or not Primaluna

Hej

I have been hesitated some time now between buying new speakers or a new amplifier and have decided I will buy a new amplifier.

My list of demands:
It will take EL34, KT77, KT88 and 6550. Bonus if it takes KT120.
It will give at least 35 w with EL34 and 45 w with KT88.
It will have easy biasing using a screwdriver and with somekind of build in meter. In worst case autobiase will do.
It will use tube rectification and not solid state rectification (because I have heard solid state rectification takes away the tube sound).
It will not cost more than aprox $4000.

I have had a Line Magnetic LM-34IA once but had to much problems with the quality (bad solderings and bad balance between left and right).
First I thought it sounded quite good, but after have heard a Audion Audio Stirling EL34 SET amplifier I changed my mind. Now the LM-34AI sounded just OK.
I was told that Stirling EL34, with 12 w should be enough for listening at normal volumes with my 89dB speakers. But it was not. So here I am…
(And yes I know; a push-pull amp will never sound as a SET amp).

I have read about several amplifiers but none of them seems to fit my demands.

Here are my notes:
Line Magnetic LM-88IA   -   Just KT88. Bad experience with LM, both quality and sound.
Audio Research I/50   -   Just 6550 tubes. Too much hassle when adjusting bias.
Rogue Cronus Magnum III   -   Very mixed opinions. Solid state rectification.
Raven Blackhawk Mk 3.1   -   Just 6L6 tubes. Have to be imported from the US.
Tsakiridis Aelos Plus   -  Just KT88 tubes.
Fezz Silver Luna Prestige   -   Just EL34 tubes.
Fezz Titania   -   Just KT120 tubes (and maybe KT150 and KT170 too).
Cary SLI-80HS   -   Many bad opinions. Solid state rectification.
Jadis   -   Either too weak or too expencive.
Primaluna   -   ???

What makes me a little ”worried” is that Primaluna has so many build in features which are supposed to make my life as a tube amplifier owner easier.
I mean, doesn’t these fetures affect the sound? ”Less is more”?

 

If you have any thoughts or experience about this, please let me know.

simna

Showing 1 response by sandthemall

sandthemall
544 posts
 

I had a Primaluna Dialogue Premium. It did not have the detail I was accustomed to hearing. I gave the brand one last chance and traded it in for a Primaluna Evo 400...there was a big difference in detail.

However, it is not the last word in detail retrieval. But it’s got other things going for it. I had a tube make a loud pop and one channel was gone. The protection system indicated a bad tube. I got the tubeset from a non qualified vendor. I was afraid the incident blew one of my new Tannoy speakers. I switched speaker cable and luckily the speaker was saved.

The Evo 400 has a protection fuse for each of the autobias channels. And they're conveniently located in the side of the amp...no need to open it up.

The amp also came with extra fuses. I popped one in and replaced the tubeset and all is good. In my 3rd year and this was the first incident.

They are bulletproof. They run the tubes gently. That will come at a sonic cost. But it is still a great sounding amp in the romantic sense. It’s just a very flattering sound.

 

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