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Help figuring out tube branding on a Primaluna Prologue Classic

Pentotark

Pentotark

Active Member
Hi everyone,

Few weeks ago I bought an used Primaluna Prologue Classic from a local dealer and enjoying it since.
The amplifier came with non stock tubes, they all look from different brands and I wanted to ask if you people could help me figure out the brands and if these are good matching.

The EL34 are:
IMG_20190906_114316.jpg
A: I have 2 of these JJ Electronics EL34, they are located one next to the other.
B: The branding on this one is completely gone, I have no idea what that tube is.
C: These I suppose are Shuguang EL34-B.

Below are located two pairs of 12AU7 and 12AX7:
IMG_20190906_114330.jpg
I can't tell the branding on the first, while the second is a TUNG-SOL 12AX7 ACC803S.

Can you help me figure out the branding or maybe let me know some insights about these? Do you think it is a good selection for a Primaluna?

Thank you!
 
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Regarding the EL34 tubes, you would be best served to simply purchase a new matched quad of good quality tubes. You have no way of knowing what the condition of the existing tubes are (unless you have a tester) and you most likely aren't getting all the sonic benefits that the Primaluna can deliver. The Tung Sol EL34B is quite good replacement and not very expensive.

The 12AU7 in the picture looks like a Chinese brand. That Tung Sol 12AX7 is a good tube as long as it tests well.
 
x3workshop said:
Regarding the EL34 tubes, you would be best served to simply purchase a new matched quad of good quality tubes. You have no way of knowing what the condition of the existing tubes are (unless you have a tester) and you most likely aren't getting all the sonic benefits that the Primaluna can deliver. The Tung Sol EL34B is quite good replacement and not very expensive.

The 12AU7 in the picture looks like a Chinese brand. That Tung Sol 12AX7 is a good tube as long as it tests well.
Click to expand...
Please correct me if I am wrong but the primaluna should feature an auto bias function that alerts you when one ore more tubes do not test well, right?
Tho I would definitely grab a quartet of tubes once these starts to fail. This unit has a switch that allows to put KT88 but I don't know still what to expect sound wise.
 
Last edited:
Outside if how the amp performs auto bias, the tubes will sound different. One’s from the Slovak republic, one is likely from China, and the other likely from the Russian federation. JJ’s are warm and accentuate the mids, electro harmonix are cool sounding and Chinese tubes are ???. Each with different tooling and quality control.

My recommendation is to get a matched quad and of same brand/date codes.
 
Pentotark said:
Please correct me if I am wrong but the primaluna should feature an auto bias function that alerts you when one ore more tubes do not test well, right?
Click to expand...
Thak you
kward said:
Outside if how the amp performs auto bias, the tubes will sound different. One’s from the Slovak republic, one is likely from China, and the other likely from the Russian federation. JJ’s are warm and accentuate the mids, electro harmonix are cool sounding and Chinese tubes are ???. Each with different tooling and quality control.

My recommendation is to get a matched quad and of same brand/date codes.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for your feedback. Same for x3workshop, your opinions are much appreciated.
Which brand would you recommend for this case? I am not a fan of too bright sound. JJ seems like more of what I like to hear maybe.
 
First choice: Winged C EL34. Not in production, so more expensive now. Second choice: Electro Harmonix 6CA7. Third choice Tung Sol EL34B. Fourth choice JJ.

My opinion of course. :)
 
The consensus in the PL face book page and I would concur is that either Gold Lions for power tubes and Mullards for the pre side of the amp. Thats what I am running as well in my PL amp, after many tubes rolled.
 
I think I am gonna keep the Tung-Sol in center of the pre amplifier section and replace the the rest,.

Gold Lions/Mullard combo is also recommended on the Primaluna website on the page dedicated to tube rolling. I am very tempted but it is gonna be costly compared to just replacing with Tung-Sol EL34b and Tung-Sol 12AU7, just half the price actually. Around the internet tho people seems to favor EL34 sound to KT77.
 
I owned a Cayin TA-30 with Bizzy Bee mods - essentially the same amp/Output Transformers. I ran Winged C EL34s until they died and replaced them with the Tung Sol EL34B. Sounded really great! Front end 12AX7 tubes will have more impact in that amp though.
 
x3workshop said:
I owned a Cayin TA-30 with Bizzy Bee mods - essentially the same amp/Output Transformers. I ran Winged C EL34s until they died and replaced them with the Tung Sol EL34B.
Click to expand...
I will probably go with the tung sols as first and eventually try the gold lions in the future.

Front end 12AX7 tubes will have more impact in that amp though.
Click to expand...
That is what I read from primaluna tube rolling guide. My pre amp fronts are tung sol gold pin already, I was thinking of changing the chinese ones on the sides (the two 12AU7). Any recommendations?
 
Pentotark said:
Hi everyone,

Few weeks ago I bought an used Primaluna Prologue Classic from a local dealer and enjoying it since.
The amplifier came with non stock tubes, they all look from different brands and I wanted to ask if you people could help me figure out the brands and if these are good matching.

The EL34 are:
View attachment 1610632
A: I have 2 of these JJ Electronics EL34, they are located one next to the other.
B: The branding on this one is completely gone, I have no idea what that tube is.
C: These I suppose are Shuguang EL34-B.

Below are located two pairs of 12AU7 and 12AX7:
View attachment 1610634
I can't tell the branding on the first, while the second is a TUNG-SOL 12AX7 ACC803S.

Can you help me figure out the branding or maybe let me know some insights about these? Do you think it is a good selection for a Primaluna?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Middle tube looks a lot like an old Sovtek.

In any case- agree with the sentiment toward just getting a matched set. Matching disparate tubes like this is usually futile...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
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