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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
upscaleaudio's avatar
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upscaleaudio
258 posts
 
"But PrimaLuna wanted the best sound and I think what they have supplied is pretty damn nice "

Isn't "they"  you & your partner, Kevin?

Of course!  Why do you think I'm answering?  I don't own the company.  Let's make that clear.  But I'm ecstatic to be involved because I love tube gear so much and if I can help somebody make that leap...even if it's not with my company...I'm happy!  People need to try a tube amp once in their life.  
andysf
268 posts
 
Is the plant where these are made (a "subsidiary of an large areospace company")   owned by the Chinese government or the PLA?  I ask since most of the aerospace firms in China are state owned.
upscaleaudio's avatar
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upscaleaudio
258 posts
 
Look inside the Oyster case of an ARC Ref 6 and tell me that you're not impressed.



By the way...congrats on a bad-ass preamp.  I would also guess you will get the matching amp at some point and it will look and sound beautiful.  Every time I get something a little nicer I'm always happy years later.  That's for sure!!
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sqlsavior
46 posts
 
I have owned and used a PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium power amp for about a year and a half now. I can't comment on ARC stuff, but the PrimaLuna replaced several vintage Luxman MB3045 monoblocks (designed by Tim de Paravicini), one pair converted to KT-88s, and one pair still using the NLA sweep tubes. I also had a pair of A3000 100V domestic-market equivalents, which I ran on a Variac. All of the Luxmans sounded absolutely glorious - when they were working. I threw so much good money after bad with those amps, and in the end, was thoroughly disgusted by their lack of reliability even when repaired by a competent tech who knew of their quirks.

I almost gave up on tubes, but while debating with myself I saw Art Dudley's review of the Dialogue Premium power amp, in which he explained the various features, including automatic biasing, failed tube protection, switchable ultralinear/triode, long tube life, etc. It sounded like exactly the kind of robustness that would make my Luxman experiences a distant memory. At the conclusion, he wrote:

"I tried to find fault with the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium. I failed. In particular, I tried to detect some mechanical or otherwise non-natural, non-organic quality to its sound, given the preponderance of switches and silicon inside its good-looking casework. I failed at that, too.
I've had the pleasure of reviewing some remarkable amplifiers in the past few years. In many respects, the DiaLogue Premium, though far from the most expensive, is among the four or five most enjoyable."

Since I trust Art's ears and value his opinion, I ordered mine in late October of 2015, and am delighted with it, both sonically, and with its reliability, flexibility, and ease of use.

The Dialogue Premium provides 48 combinations of sound to try if desired:

four tube types - EL-34, KT-88, KT-120, KT-150
two tube-type settings - EL, KT ("wrong" won't hurt)
three taps - 4, 8, 16 ohms
two modes - ultralinear or triode

You can even run a mix of different power tubes without hurting anything. Talk about robust! It has already lasted at least six times longer than I could keep any of the Luxman pairs going between failures.

I run mine with KT-120s, in triode, on the 16 ohm tap, powering my original Quad ESLs. They sound every bit as delicious as the Luxmans did. I am one super-satisfied customer, and would recommend the PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium power amp to anyone, without any reservations.

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