PrimaLuna owners - What are your thoughts?

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amigo30

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Primaluna seems to have a LOT of very interesting products out right now. I'd love to hear from Primaluna owners and hear what they think of their systems after having had them for a bit.

Do you still feel it was a good value for the money? Any service issues? What speakers are you driving with it?

I'm especially interested in hearing about the Dialogue Premium Preamplifier and the Dialogue Premium Integrated.

Has anyone seen the Dialogue Premium Integrated HP version yet, or the HP Amp?

Thanks.
 
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A few years back I owned a prologue 5 and then later a pair of prologue 7 monoblocks. I thought they were fine amps, built well and they had a good look to them. I never had any service issues. I ended up deciding my speakers sounded better with a decent SS amp so sold the prologues. I think a used set with a decent price would be a good value. At the retail price I think I could have done better.

A friend of mine had a prologue 3 preamplifier and it seemed like a fine unit but I would skip the optional phono stage as it was nothing special.

The Dialogue is said to be a step up from the prologue but they are priced even higher.
 
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I own a ProLogue Four stereo amp, which I use to drive the high pass of my biamplified Infinity RS 2.5 speakers. I replaced the stock PrimaLuna branded EL34 tubes with new Genalex Gold Lion KT88's, and it became a superb amplifier. I was skeptical that it could handle the task, and it has completely won me over. I love the thing, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy more of their products. The one I own is a gem.
 
kneeOhFight said:
I own a ProLogue Four stereo amp, which I use to drive the high pass of my biamplified Infinity RS 2.5 speakers. I replaced the stock PrimaLuna branded EL34 tubes with new Genalex Gold Lion KT88's, and it became a superb amplifier. I was skeptical that it could handle the task, and it has completely won me over. I love the thing, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy more of their products. The one I own is a gem.
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That's a nice looking amp. I always seem to hear good things about PrimaLuna amps. Love to hear one someday.

cubdog
 
I've heard the Dialogue Premium integrated once on a pair of Paradigm Studio series speakers and I thought it was incredible. It had great tone and imaging and a MASSIVE sound-stage for it's price, but I wasn't sure it had enough power to keep me satisfied when I wanted turn up some Black sabbath - so I'm thinking mono-amps or the "High Power" version they recently released. I'd love to make the jump to some new McIntosh - but I'd have to double the budget and that's a stretch at the moment.
 
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No, this one is showing off. A few minutes ago, I purchased a matched quad of Tung Sol KT150's, which will arrive next week. I'm excited.
 

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Isn't PL just re-badged Cayin? Improved QA, QC, after-sales service for sure, but are the circuits and the components used that much different? I do not know, just asking...
 
A lot of tube brands are rebadged from Chinese makers - but to be fair some are original designs made by a Chinese manufacturing company for the Western company and has no "Chinese" version available.

For example Line Magnetic Audio makes their own amplifiers and are utterly superb - they also make amplifiers for other companies like Triode and Co. in Japan but there is no Line Magnetic version of the amps they make for Triode. The tube amp world isn't exactly original - most of the designs are inspired by old circuit schematics - I think it's more about building it with quality parts and getting the transformers right. Line Magnetic was in the Western Electric Restoration business for many years before re-introducing them (with upgrades).

Unless it clearly states that the parts are designed in house then chances are they're not. If it says Manufacturerd in Britain or whatever then you have a "chance" that it is.
 
Amigo

Most of the brands that have been around awhile will be solid enough from a reliability perspective or they would not last.

When it comes to sound quality what I have found is that specific brands often do some things better but not everything better. For example company A may make a better EL34 amp than company B but company B may make a better sounding KT88 than company A. If you prefer EL34s then you buy from company A.

What I would do is determine which specific tube type you generally prefer and the power you absolutely need - The PLs and KT120s from Rogue and many other KT88 and KT120 really do nothing for me. I like that they get rave reviews because more people will get into tubes and all but personally the sound is somewhat compromised in attempt to drive speakers not designed for tubes. The whole thing is a bit counterproductive. Which isn't to say they sound poor it's just that the sound to me isn't something I personally find as lasting as lower powered and Single Ended varieties.

I'd be hard pressed not to look at something like the Line Magnetic 518IA a 22 watt per channel 845 SET for ~$4000 US. The Rogues and PLs and the PP amps from LM don't really compete IMO. http://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/index....tic-lm-518ia-integrated-set-amplifier-review/

If it must be PL - I would at least explore their most powerful SET amps. If you have modestly efficient speakers this may be your best bet - regardless of TAS or Stereophile Hype.
 
I'm convinced that Line Magnetic has its hands in RGA's pockets. He obviously has no experience with PrimaLuna nor knowledge of Herman van den Dungen.

I have great respect for Herman and the products he designs in The Netherlands.
 
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cubdog said:
That's a nice looking amp. I always seem to hear good things about PrimaLuna amps. Love to hear one someday.

cubdog
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I heard one at Upscale Audio in Upland. The auto-bias feature is the feature I liked best. I played the raffle to win one, and would have bought a second if I'd won. :yes:
 
Urizen said:
I'm convinced that Line Magnetic has its hands in RGA's pockets. He obviously has no experience with PrimaLuna nor knowledge of Herman van den Dungen.

I have great respect for Herman and the products he designs in The Netherlands.
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Convinced by what? Care to back up the libel?

I have heard a number of Prima Luna amps - ArtK has owned it and also wasn't much of a fan. The point I made was for SET - Line Magnetic SET is better than Line Magnetic PP just as Audio Note SET is better than Audio Note Push Pull.
 
Just got my KT150's today, cryo'd and matched from Upscale Audio (good bunch to do business with) replacing KT120's in PL Dialogue Premium and got to say very happy with the sound, seems to be a lot more midrange, do a bit more testing tomorrow, only got an hour in before work.
Only gripe is can't lock down the cage over them now
 
The ones in my sig I've had for about a year and a half. They are running some diy horns and I absolutely recommend them.
 
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