Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP Driving PSB Imagine T2s

"The new issue Mullard EL34 sounded glorious as does the Gold Lion KT77 however, the overall dynamics and and soundstaging goto the KT150."

samzx12-  comments like that get me wondering about those KT150's in my PL HP. When I think about the $800 it requires, the curiosity goes away!

The KT77's do sound amazing, but I prefer the old RCA 6L6G coke bottles
in mine. Not drastically different, but a touch more "real" to my ears.
If I wasn't planning a speaker upgrade, I would like to try the KT150.

It will drive them but that doesn't translate into "you're going to love how it sounds".  Don't buy it until you hear the combination. Been there, done that (not with the Primaluna).  You bet everyone who owns one loves it. If you asked me the same question about an Accuphase class A amp, I'd tell you the same thing. Are the PSB's your end all be all dream speaker?

Good points Donjr.  

One of the hardest things to do, though, is to hear things in perfect combination before you buy.  I suppose I can see if a local dealer will let me bring in my loudspeakers.  

I'm not so fond of the closest primaluna dealer in my area--I've had a pattern of odd run ins with the staff.  About 16 years ago, the dealer tried to get me to pay $750 for a replacement woofer in a Monitor Audio bookshelf monitor.  When I called the company in the UK, their staff sent a new woofer out free of charge to my home.  The other issues dealt with staff that was clearly out to push certain product, regardless of the customer's view.  

There is a dealer about 200 miles north, so I'd be looking at a good day trip. 

I am curious as to whether folks are test driving equipment with their systems. With the lack of brick and mortar stores these days, it seems more difficult to do.  I wonder if there is validity to my impression.  

+1 to Donjr’s comment. It is entirely possible that a great speaker used in combination with a great amp that has adequate power and drive capability will result in mediocre sonics, or worse. Per my earlier comment, that is especially possible if the amp has particularly high output impedance (which would also mean it has particularly low damping factor), as appears likely to be the case here based on Stereophile’s measurements of the non-HP version, and the speaker’s impedance ranges from low values to high values at various frequencies (as is the case here, even just within the midrange region).

At the same time, it is entirely possible that the result would be wonderful. But there’s no way to be sure without trying the specific combo.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

Yes to retube your HP to KT150 is expensive and only you can decide whether its worth it. Keep your eyes out for gently used to tubes which may help the billfold lol. I will eventually roll back in my other power tubes as it is fun to experiment with different combinations. The stock tubes aren't bad but as usual we like to wonder if there is better out there. The EL34 and KT77 seem to have more midbass than the KT150 but the 150's are more dynamic and the soundstage is larger. They only have about 30 hours so I am hoping they get better and better. Not sure how long it takes for power tubes to actually start sounding their best?