Saki70, A couple of comments regarding small tube amps, especially the Primaluna models of which I have the One and the Three/Five combo.
Low volume dynamic's are far more likely to depend on your speakers that it is your amp when you're dealing with tube integrateds, although tube type choice can be influential. FWIW, in the PL5 which comes stock with KT88's, I have used every type that it can take (except for KT90's which have a signature I'm not particularily fond of). With my associated components I find the KT88 (SED's) to be somewhat fullish in the mid/upper bass, producing a warmish sound, with a slightly airy but uneven upper mids and highs. Actually a lovely, if somewhat non-linear sound. When using EL34's the deep bass takes a vacation (with small speakers no problem there). I found 6l6GC to be similar to the EL34's but they were a bit smoother thru the upper mids and highs - not overly warm though. Didn't leave them in long. Most recently, and surprisingly to me at least, I tried some SED 6550's. At first I just found them tonally too cool but after a while when playing some music with very well defined mids and highs I discovered what I didn't like about the other tubes! With the 6550's the upper frequencies were crystal clear and smooth. The bass was full and deep with out any upper bass bloom. All in all I think a very accurate tube in this amp with my stuff and it will be my tube of choice. BTW I still use the EH12AX7's that came with the unit - I found that they support the bass much better than other available new production tubes.
My point, in case you haven't figured it out by my wanderings, when you're considering tube amps its much more involved than just what brand of amp you buy but its the extent you are willing to go to get the sound you want out of your speakers.
My advise to you at this point of your experimentation, is to get the PL2 and a set of SED EL34's and a set of SED 6550's and then spend some time listening. If you don't like what you get you can sell it at minimal loss. If you do you can then fine tune it with different small tubes.
One last FWIW. In two non-PL amps I use KT88's in one, 6550's in the other, and using different small tubes I get a sound very similar to the PL5 w/6550's, the differences being in power, resolution, and subteranian bass capabilities.
I lied, one more FWIW - If absolute resolution and full bass that is less than tight is not a big deal for you, and you love a big, warm, linear sound, very smooth w/no rought edges, admit it and just buy the PL One. For less than analytical listening it is really a great little amp! Hell even Mr T might like this one. :-)
Low volume dynamic's are far more likely to depend on your speakers that it is your amp when you're dealing with tube integrateds, although tube type choice can be influential. FWIW, in the PL5 which comes stock with KT88's, I have used every type that it can take (except for KT90's which have a signature I'm not particularily fond of). With my associated components I find the KT88 (SED's) to be somewhat fullish in the mid/upper bass, producing a warmish sound, with a slightly airy but uneven upper mids and highs. Actually a lovely, if somewhat non-linear sound. When using EL34's the deep bass takes a vacation (with small speakers no problem there). I found 6l6GC to be similar to the EL34's but they were a bit smoother thru the upper mids and highs - not overly warm though. Didn't leave them in long. Most recently, and surprisingly to me at least, I tried some SED 6550's. At first I just found them tonally too cool but after a while when playing some music with very well defined mids and highs I discovered what I didn't like about the other tubes! With the 6550's the upper frequencies were crystal clear and smooth. The bass was full and deep with out any upper bass bloom. All in all I think a very accurate tube in this amp with my stuff and it will be my tube of choice. BTW I still use the EH12AX7's that came with the unit - I found that they support the bass much better than other available new production tubes.
My point, in case you haven't figured it out by my wanderings, when you're considering tube amps its much more involved than just what brand of amp you buy but its the extent you are willing to go to get the sound you want out of your speakers.
My advise to you at this point of your experimentation, is to get the PL2 and a set of SED EL34's and a set of SED 6550's and then spend some time listening. If you don't like what you get you can sell it at minimal loss. If you do you can then fine tune it with different small tubes.
One last FWIW. In two non-PL amps I use KT88's in one, 6550's in the other, and using different small tubes I get a sound very similar to the PL5 w/6550's, the differences being in power, resolution, and subteranian bass capabilities.
I lied, one more FWIW - If absolute resolution and full bass that is less than tight is not a big deal for you, and you love a big, warm, linear sound, very smooth w/no rought edges, admit it and just buy the PL One. For less than analytical listening it is really a great little amp! Hell even Mr T might like this one. :-)