Prima Luna Premium Pre

I wouldn't worry so much about the parts as the sound. My Jadis preamps had parts in them that may not have been the most expensive, but the end result was stunning.

If your dealer has both brands, can't you listen to them there and compare? Or better yet, borrow them to try at home in your system? That way you'll know if it sounds better to the only ears that matter, yours. Look at the above posts--there are two people who have differing opinions of the Prima Luna vs. McIntosh. I would say they are both correct, as far as their own hearing and personal preferences in what they want out of their audio systems go. You need to make your decision based on what you hear, not what someone else says.

Pkelly, I'm wondering if with your present CJ ET3SE you are having to operate the volume control undesirably close to the bottom of its range, especially with digital sources if you are using any.

The reason I ask is that your ET3SE, and also the ET5 you mentioned as a possibility, are spec'd as having unusually high gain (25 db). And I see in another of your recent threads that you are using Sonus Faber Elipsa SE speakers, rated at 91 db/2.83V/1m and 4 ohms, and Cary CAD 500MB amplifiers rated at 1000 watts into 4 ohms, with 1.42 volt sensitivity for full output power. That all suggests to me that you may have too much gain in your system to be optimal, and the same would be true if you went to an ET5.

The 12 db gain of the PrimaLuna preamp, which is more typical of the gain of most line stages, seems much more reasonable in the context of your particular system. To be sure it's clear, however, in saying that I am not expressing any opinion about the PrimaLuna's sonics, having no experience with it.

FWIW. Regards,
-- Al

My main source is now a turntable. A project extension 12 with a Sumiko Celebration 2 cartridge and an Audio Research PH 7 as the phono pre.

Thank You all for the responses.

The 57.5 db gain of your phono stage will raise the output of your cartridge by a factor of 750, so the 0.5 mv rated output of your cartridge under the standard cartridge test conditions will be raised to 0.375 volts. The peak levels of some recordings will be several times greater than those standard test conditions, but still the maximum output levels of many digital sources are likely to be significantly greater than that. So if you go to a different preamp, and you envision the possibility of eventually using a digital source as one of your main sources, the possibility of issues arising from the unusually high gain of the ET5 and perhaps other CJ preamps (in combination with your particular speakers and amplifier) is a factor that should be considered.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

I read this thread and could not resist.

For what it is worth, I have had in home preamp auditions with ARC, Rogue, and BAT products in the $3,000 to $5,000 range.

None could top my $2000 W4S STP SE in my system (Maggie 3.6, W4S ST 1000, Ric Schultz modified Oppo 105, Technics 1200 table, Jolida preamp with upgraded capacitors and op amps, Cullen innerconnects).

Because I still thought that I wanted the "tube" sound, I bought a used Prima Luna Prologue 3 preamp. I liked the sound but it was not as resolving on detail as the W4S and it did not have strong bass.

I just purchased a new Prima Luna Dialogue Premium that has maybe 20 hours on it. Tube rectified and hand wired among other attributes and a beast at 53 pounds.

The sound is not there yet but is improving. Lots of texture across the audio range and a more live presence to the sound to my ears than the STP SE. Still not positive about the bass ("maybe" not as much as the STP SE....) but do think I am hearing a more holographic imaging of the instruments in the mix.

Kevin (Upscale)could have sold me a Cary SLP 98 for about twice the price but said the Dialogue was better. I trusted his judgement and I think that he is going to be right.