Primaluna Tube System


Hi. I am currently running a Primaluna Prologue 3 preamp into a vintage McIntosh solid state amp (MC-2105). I have been wanting to go all tube for a while, and thinking of two possible options.

I have an opportunity to buy a Primaluna Prologue 5 locally for $800 to pair with my Prologue 3. Alternatively, I've thought of selling all my equipment and waiting for an opportunity to buy a used Dialogue Premium integrated amp. What I am wondering is what are the advantages of each option. I have heard great things about the Prologue 3/5 combo. Would I be getting a huge improvement in performance, to justify selling my amp and preamp and the additional cost, by jumping to the Dialogue integrated?

My speakers are Vienna Acoustics Hadyn Grand bookshelf. Many thanks for your suggestions.
md30

Showing 3 responses by md30

Thanks. I bought the Prologue 5. Sounds pretty good with the Prologue 3. Certainly it throws a huge soundstage. The highs seem perhaps a little harsh. Maybe this is just a matter of break-in. The seller of the Prologue 5 claims he bought it and almost never used it, and it looks absolutely brand new. The other possibility, I think, is that I should change tubes in the PL Prologue 3. Right now I have some cheap JJ tubes for the 12AX7s in the PLP 3. Any recommendations for replacing these tubes?
Thank you for the recommendations. I will pick up a pair of the Mullard tubes this weekend. Someone else recommended the Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 reissue. Might get a pair of them as well and compare them with the Mullards in the preamp.

Now for a bit of a shocker. My mother-in-law heard my stereo a few months ago, and asked me to find her something that would sound "similar," on a minimal budget. So I picked her up a Luxman R-115 a month ago, and tonight I found her some old PSB 400 speakers. Just set up the receiver and speakers for her. Darn the mid-range is wonderfully rich and smooth on this setup, which cost less than $200. Makes me want to replace my Vienna Acoustic Haydn Grand speakers with 3-way, larger bookshelf units. Anyone have recommendations for speakers that match well with the Primaluna? I am seriously tempted to find a more recent version of the PSB 400.