I ended up purchasing a Primaluna Dialogue Premium preamp and power amp. It’s been an interesting experience so far with my Harbeth C7es3 xd speakers. It’s been both very satisfying and also a bit frustrating. Really everything other than the bass I think is incredible. The bass is just to loose and undefined, although it is very powerful. I do think it’s making more bass than my McIntosh mc302 was at equal volumes, and this is part of the issue. I’m guessing this is equal parts the amp and the speakers at fault. I switched the output tubes to kt150s and that was a noticeable improvement throughout the frequency range. The bass is now closer to what I desire but not quite there. I’m debating what my best approach is at this point. I really like the sound I’m getting outside of the bass so I’m willing to throw some money at it if it will get me where I want to be. Part of me wonders if it will be a wasted effort and I should really just sell the power amp and go back to solid state. Other ideas I have would be trying some different signal tubes in the preamp and amp. Another idea is to buy a Schiit Lokius and just turn down the bass. I did have a c46 previously and I did use the tone controls to tame the bass. I could live without with the Mc gear but not sure I can with this tube amp. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.
Primaluna?
I’m thinking about giving a full tube setup a go and Primaluna in particular. Looking to hear people’s experiences with Primaluna in general. My main draw to them outside of tubes is there auto bias and protective features. Wondering if people generally replace a single bad tube or if people are replacing all tubes of that type when there’s a failure. Also would be interested if there were any other companies with at least a similar protective feature. The auto bias sounds great but the protective features are a bigger deal to me.
- ...
- 156 posts total
Looking forward to reviews by consumers ( there has been 1 amazing review so far by Jeff Dorgay ) on the new Prima Luna EVO 300 Floyd Design Integrated. Tube preamp stage, ss output stage. For my own wants, desires and needs, with my music listening, I cannot live with a tube power amp any longer ( no attacks please ). But I do like tube preamps mated with ss amps ( although I run a passive pre at this time ). I have spoken to Kevin many many years ago ( he likely does not remember me, as it was in a crowded room at a show, and before PL ), but I found him to be an extremely passionate guy, about the equipment, and, the music. Enjoy, and be well ! Always, MrD. |
@brylandgoodman if you’ve exhausted speaker positioning and still can’t get the bass you desire, you could try adding 2x subwoofers in the two opposite corners of the rooms, this can work magic according to people who use this setup. I had a lot of issues with low frequencies and it wasn’t the amp, rather the speaker and room interaction. My first breakthrough came when I changed the room layout so the speakers would fire down the long walls. Then I tried several speakers, like Tannoy Cheviot, Klipsch forte IV, Piega coax, ended up buying a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV. The bass was very nice with the Klipsch, and the overall music listening, but now I’m back to the Joseph Audio Pulsar 2. They just have much more detail and a 3d soundstage. Overall amazing, but at times still slightly untamed bass. So when my means allows it will add 2x svs subs :-) |
Until last weekend I owned a Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium Integrated amp. Last Thursday my Audio Dealer, www.OlsonHiFi.com, lent me a Krell K300i to test against my PL. I really liked the PL. I had rolled tubes, SR Orange fuse, etc. In my system, the Krell was totally superior in almost every aspect. I traded in my PL… I’ve been a diehard tube guy until last weekend. Dynaco, Audio Research, Audio Labs, Primaluna, and a few others along the way. Now, I’m a SS believer in my specific setup. Your setup is different. To be fair, the PL can be had used (like mine) for about $3k whereas the Krell is 2x that. Depending on your setup, the PL may be an excellent fit. I do like the PL a lot. The detail, control (particularly of the lower frequencies), and effortless presentation really won me over. My system: Innuos Zen Mini Mk3 running Roon, through Silnote USB cable, now into the Krell K300i with the integrated DAC, through GR-Research 24pr cables, into my XStatic full range electrostatic speakers. |
- 156 posts total