Considering switching from Audio Research to PrimaLuna, troube with VS115 amp


Hello everyone, I have question that I hope some of you either can answer or have an opinion on. Ever since I was 17, I have always wanted to own Audio Research equipment. I’m 56 now, and finally was able to fulfill my life long dream. My first acquisition was an ARC LS15 pre-amp bought here used in mint condition. I paired it with a Vincent 331MK hybrid amp also bought here used in mint condition. The resulting sound was impressive. After that, I started looking for an ARC amp I could afford. The resulting search found me an ARC VS115 amp also here in used, awesome condition. This is where my problems and my doubts started. Upon hooking up the amp to my system, a tube in the left channel arced and blew a resistor. I had to take the amp to an ARC dealer and he installed a new resistor and suggested I buy all new tubes from ARC for the amp. I did and when I got back home, I again hooked up the amp and immediately upon turning the amp on, I started to hear thumping sounds coming from my left speaker, then, two left channel output tubes started to glow a very bright orange, and then white smoke started to rise from one of the tube sockets. I immediately turned the amp off. I called the dealer and he suggested I mail the unit back to ARC. I did and I am now waiting to see what they say.

During this time, I started to search out other brands and came across one called PrimaLuna. I have watched their videos and seen them compared to ARC equipment. Their build quality seems to be superior to ARC and the reviews are over the top. I am looking at their Dialogue Premium HP amp and their Dialogue Premium pre-amp. For what they cost, considering how they are built and supposedly sound compared to units costing 3 to 4 times their price, they almost seem too good to be true. Anyway, my bubble has been burst, and in simple terms, I am considering jumping ship and going with another company instead of ARC, despite all those years of drooling and waiting.

My main question is this, is there anyone out there that either owns PrimaLuna or has had experience with the equipment and can give me their opinion on owning and using it. Then, my second question is how does PrimaLuna really compare to other high end equipment such as ARC. Kevin Deal in his videos on PrimaLuna makes a very compelling case for the equipment. In one video, he compares an ARC LS17SE to the PrimaLuna pre-amp.

My last question is in regards to my ARC VS115 amp problems. Anyone have an opinion on what is going on with my amp or a VS115 in general. For those of you who want to know what else is in my system, I am using KEF 104ab speakers, a Cambridge Azur 752BD Blu-ray player as my CD player, Morrow Audio Cables and I am considering getting the Sony HAP-Z1ES music player for my digital files.

I greatly appreciate all who take the time to comment and give their opinions. I will be glad to answer any questions you may ask or provide additional. Thanks for your help. Steve.


128x128skyhawk51
Other Chinese sourced well reviewed and regarded options would be Audio Space & Line Magnetic (own the latter's 518IA) . Again from US perspective Raven Audio (Texas deisgned and built) have good reviews as well
I owned several solid state amps/pre-amps/integrated amps before moving to tube equipment. My first piece of tube equipment - in 1981 - was ARC. I've stayed with them ever since. I've owned 3 ARC amps and 1 ARC pre-amp. One of the amps required service on 2 occasions - a bad power supply cap when the amp had less than an hour on it and a bad power supply xformer when it was about a year old. Both were repaired under warranty. I had the service performed by ARC and not a dealer. It was fine when it came back both times. (UPS did a number on the exterior box with a forklift. If I have to send something in again, I think I'll use Estes.) The other two amps and the pre-amp have not had any problems. I let ARC put some new caps in when they put new tubes in one of the amps, but I'm not sure it really needed it. I think you might have had a run of bad luck. I know it's a pain to send it to ARC for service, but I think their work is a little more reliable (on average) than dealer service. I never grow tired of the audio quality nor do I ever wished I'd bought another brand.  
I have no experience with the Prima Luna amps, but I do own a Prima Luna CD player (the Classic 8) and pass along my impressions in case they are relevant. For the money (which is a lot less than ARC or other high-end payers cost) the fit and finish and build quality of CD-8 is indeed impressive (a quality that I assume applies to their amps and pre-amps as well.) I did have a problem with the player early on, which turned out to be a real inconvenience because, at the time-- roughly three years ago -- Prima Luna did not have an adequate customer care and servicing operation up and running in the US. Deal first directed me to an "authorized" service center about 30 minutes drive from me, which turned out to be the home of a guy who repaired audio gear out of his living room. He tried twice, but failed both times to diagnose the problem, let alone fix it. I was, at this point, ready to give up on Prima Luna which, although designed in the Netherlands, is manufactured in China. Keep reading, however, because the story has a happy ending... 

Deal subsequently directed me to another repair person, this one based in New Jersey. He found the problem right away, fixed it and  and player has been working flawlessly since then. So my impression is that they have improved their servicing capability. (Quality control in the Chinese manufacturing process has, as far as I understand, also improved significantly, over the period in question.) And the sound? Best and most analogue-like sounding CD player I've ever heard in its price class ($3K). I haven't heard them all, of course, but the lower-end Esoterics (those in the 5-6K class don't hold a candle to it, in terms of the Prima Luna's deep yet well defined bass, its smooth, mellifluous mid-range and pristine treble. So, if the other products in the Prima Luna line are as good as the CD-8 (and if Deal has resolved the servicing department's growing pains... and do question him about this before you buy!), I'd say go for it... And do let me know your experience if you do, as I'm considering replacing both my aging ARC amp and my even older Sonic Frontiers SLF-2 pre-amp. Hope this helps. Bests

Michael         
Spearit Sound has a Conrad Johnson LP125SA Tube Amp at around $4999. Plenty of power at 125wpc. Very quiet and made in the USA.
I know about the mystique of tube equipment, but if you get a well made great sounding solid state it will give you pleasure with no heartache.  I use Ayre....if you can find a used piece you made a great investment.  They never go bad.