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Looking for great tube integrated for Martin Logan Summit X speakers

I've had upgrade fever every since I added bass traps and acoustic panels to my listening room and wondered why I didn't do that years ago.  So I've decided to change my Plinius Hautonga integrated and make the plunge to tubes. I want that sound, and the thought of tube rolling appeals to me.  I was leaning toward the Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated, but after doing more reading, I'm concerned that it won't have adequate power due to the Summit's impedance needs.  I'm admittedly a novice with tubes, so seeking help from the forum.   My room is about 12x15, with the area behind my listening position open for an additional eight feet.  I don't listen at high volumes at all, and my favorite music is female jazz, smooth jazz, Nora Jones type vocals.  Music comes from SACDs and Tidal exclusively - I have no analogue gear.

The rest of my gear:
  • Gustard x20u DAC modified by Rick Schultz
  • Oppo 103D for SACDs modified by Rick Schultz
  • Bryston BDP-1 music streamer
Will I be happy with the Primaluna, or do you have other suggestions in the $5,000 range?  Or should I stay away from tubes for these speakers?

Appreciate your opinions!

Steve
smills59
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
I'm loving it!  The Plinius was nice, but this is just a HUGE step up in my system.  Listening to Domnerus Antiphone Blues right now and it's just amazing.  I have no speakers that I can point to, just beautiful noise.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I’m loving it! The Plinius was nice, but this is just a HUGE step up in my system.

What happened to the sibilance ( "T" "C" "S" sounds) problem you had after 100hrs of break in with the Prima Luna, which was better with the Sanders amps? Strange you’ve said nothing more about it.

Cheers George
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
Oh it's still there.  Primarily on one SACD: The Absence by Melody Gardot, and primarily on only two tracts.  I do notice it in a small way on other pieces and I'm trying to find out if I'm just really listening for it, it's a recording issue, or an issue with the speaker/amplifier combination.  I did read that this can be tamed a bit with different preamp tubes (2), but before I do that, I want to make sure of what I'm hearing.  Overall though, this is really minor; most of what I listed to is jazz instrumentals, chamber music, and more easy listening POP, and other than a few tracks, these all sound great.  More time will narrow this down.  As I said above, the Sanders had it too, just not as directed.  Could be it was always there and I just didn't notice it before.  Or it wasn't because the Plinius was not up to the task.
bsimpson
167 posts
 
Rogue Apollo could be a great match
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
I have a close friend who has Macintosh gear (no tubes) and Maggie speakers.  He has many of the same SACDs as I do, and as luck would have it, he has the same SACD by Melody Gardot  (Absence) that started me concentrating on sibilance as a potential problem.   He is a true audiophile for many years and owns well over 1,000 albums and CDs.  Tonight he listened to this SACD with his system and says that he thinks the recording is poor because he hears the same issues with "SH" and "T" especially.   I'm thinking I heard that and it was more apparent than in the past because of the higher quality of the Plinius.  Once focused on it, I heard it with other music as well.  We'll see; I'm going to keep listening ,and not to that SACD,  to see if the sibilance I was hearing was real.  

Right now I'm sitting back and listening to Grover Washington Jr.--just wonderful!!!

Stay tuned George!
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