Which integrated amp for better musicality - Parasound Hint vs Primaluna vs ???

I have a Primaluna Dialogue One, which is an older version of the Dialogue Premium (not HP), so it's a notch down, but above their Prologue line. I'm using it with Salk Song3's (RAAL tweeter like your Ascends) and an Exogal Comet dac. I wanted the PS Audio Directstream Jr., but got such a good deal on the Exogal I couldn't pass it up.

I absolutely love the sound I'm getting from my system. I can't say anything about the Parasound or Line Magnetic products as I haven't heard them. However, once I went to a tube amp I haven't heard a solid state system that I love. I'd like to hear Line Magnetic and some other tube products, but I love how simple the Primaluna is, and I think the look of it is great as some tube products look like mad scientist science fair garage workshop creations -- which I like, but my wife not so much. She does like the PL though.

I'm not sure why people say they don't have a lot of bass slam and dynamics because I get better slam and dynamics with my PL and EL-34 tubes than with a solid state amps ranging from 80-200 wpc that I've tried -- at normal volumes. Yes, the solid state amps hold their composure better at over 95db, but I never listen that loud. The combo of the tube "texture" (likely even harmonic distortion) and the delicate, airy RAAL tweeter is an amazing combo. Its intoxicating at times for me.

The past few months I've been experimenting with different tubes. The stock PL EL-34's are pretty good. Tons of bass, maybe a touch bloated, but when its winter and I want some really lush warm sound they are great. I also have some current production Mullard EL-34's which also sound amazing and tighten up the bass a bit. My overall favorite is the Gold Lion KT-88's, which to me are almost a perfect blend of the tube texture while getting fantastic bass slam and dynamics. I had KT120's and thought they just sounded thin, even after 200 hours, and too solid state like for me. Everytime I put them in, with my Salks, I feel like I lost the tube sound so I just sold them. I just put in some Shuagang Black Treasure 6ca7-z tubes last week. So far so good. They might dethrone the Gold Lions as my favorite all around tube but they need a lot more play time. I also replaced the 12au7 and 12ax7 driver tubes for all Gold Lion and that made a big improvement in soundstage and imaging. That would be the first move I'd make in upgrading tubes.

 I love how I can adjust the sound of my system with different tubes and switching between ultralinear and triode modes on the fly. I demo'd the Dialogue HP at a local dealer a few weeks ago and was impressed but not enough to upgrade from my Dialogue One right now.  Bottom line is there are so many great options and really this shouldn't be a comparison of one product "beating" another. It's really about which you prefer in your system with your ears in your room with your music. Enjoy the journey, it's part of the fun.

Another bump for the the Rogue.  I don't own the integrated But I do own the pre.  I really like the product and company.

I’ve had the PL Dial Prem HP, great piece but too hot for my non-AC place in CA. So I’ve gone Class D with the Bel Canto DAC/Pre 3.7 into the BC Ref600 monos.

BC made tube amps for 20 years, and started switching over to Class D in the 90s. The point is that they make Class D that sounds tube-like, with all the benefits of Class A/B. Clean and clear, musical, fast, detailed and textured, dynamic, etc. so consider that.

Also Freesole, and I’m sorry, you won’t like this, but if I was you, the first thing I would do is replace the OPPO. Oppos aren’t bad, I had one. They do A LOT OF functions- the jack of all trades, b ut in my opinion, the master of none. There are serious limitations to the OPPO, particularly power supplies and circuits.

Remember, the sound you hear will only be as good as your weakest link. And buying new Pre/amp is awesome, but that means your DAC will be your weakest link, and that is where the sound originates. Sound does NOT GET BETTER after it leaves your DAC, it only changes or gets worse.

Many folks rightly invest more into their DAC and Pre than their amp and speakers. Why? B/c you start with the cleanest and clearest signal possible from the beginning, rather than an inferior signal.

I just saw saw an OPPO 95 with the Modwright mods last weak for a paltry $1500. I would’ve bought it, but I have too much gear already. That is the one you want my friend. Perfect for you since I see you have anAnthem AVR and likely do HT. In the OPPO for sale, all the HT op-amps were replaced with discrete transistors. So it is not just a stereo mod.

First things first, invest in a proper DAC, then update the Pre/amp.

Best

@1graber2 Thanks for the response! I have started to move away from the Oppo now. I found it to be a great piece of hardware and I don't have an issue with it at all however I got a PS Audio Directstream Junior streamer/DAC and that has been fantastic for me. No itch to upgrade at all now. 

Cool.
The PS Audio should rock and rhyme with many amps out there!