Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP Driving PSB Imagine T2s

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?

I went to my local dealer today and here my takeaways. 

• He only had the PSB Imagine T3s on the floor and a Primaluna Prologue integrated to test.  Recall I have the T2s and was looking at the Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated or amplifier. 
  
• In a smallish room (about 15 x 12), the 40 w per channel Prologue was enough to drive the T3s to nice listening levels.  I felt the amp was starting to strain around 11 o'clock.  
• Mid level listening was superb.  The mid bass was glorious and I really liked the liquid, warmth to the sound.  
• Unless there is something I don't know, I would expect the Diaglogue HP to be just fine at driving my T2s in my room (about 13 x 21). Both the T3 and T2 are of the same efficiency, make, and have some similarities in sonic signature.  

I'm really leaning toward the Primaluna Dialogue HP.  I love my Creek Evolution 100, but matched with the PSBs they can sound a bit polite and dry.  

I went with the Primaluna Dialogue HP.  I mated it with an NAD M51, sold one of my Creeks, and moved the Evolution 100A to the TV room to run LS50s. 

The Primaluna sound is to die for.  Even better than my audition of the smaller model with T3s. I will do a formal review on here shortly. It's so wonderful to get the sound you are chasing.  This will keep me from upgrading and bouncing around from product to product.  I'd change loudspeakers before this amp indeed.  

I highly recommend checking out Primaluna--especially this product. 

One cavaet:  Your back may hurt given it is 69 lbs.  UGH.