Best integrated for PSB Imagine T2's

easola01:

I responded earlier discussing my current integrated LM 518ia and T2's. Prior to this, and overlapping for about a year, I had a Primaluna Prologue Premium integrated amp. Primaluna is an excellent integrated. Sonically I preferred the EL34 tube sound but it didn't seem to have quite enough "oomph" for me. Rolling in the TungSol 150s added that oomph with more and tighter bass, but the creamy mids suffered. The LM seems to give me both and I would love to hear the new LM 508 integrated. I sold the Primaluna. 

But the Primaluna is a great amp. I would suggest if you go Primaluna that you should get the Dialogue Premium at a minimum (not the Premium) and if you can swing it the Dialogue HP would make the T2's sing as jbhiller says. 

Edit:  meant to say get the Dialogue level not the "Prologue" which is what I had. Sorry.......

Fantastic. Okay, so the primaluna was your favorite with the T2's? I can swing the HP primaluna....so you had the prologue and it was still your favorite even with inadequate power? Sounds fascinating...can you please tell me why you preferred a lower power amp to the others? My concern is that with my NAD, with all digital circuitry, I am not getting the best sound quality for my T2 speakers out of my analog turntable setup. Also, I would probably get a really good DAC which of course would also provide an excellent analog signal into the amplifier from the streamer and cd transport. Trying to figure this out....I am a bit of a newbie

Not sure if your response above was to me or jbhiller.

The Primaluna HP is his favorite. I had the Prologue Premium and while nice I much prefer my current LM 518.... that's why I sold the PL. I don't suggest the PL Prologue Premium with the T2's but sounds like you can swing the Dialogue HP and that is a better choice in the PL line for your speakers. I haven't listened to the HP but I've heard great things about it.  It has a ton of tubes so tube rolling could get expensive?  Maybe jbhiller can respond as to the stock tubes?  The stock tubes in my Prologue were good but I changed them all out over time which improved the overall sound. 

By the way along with my LM 518ia integrated I also have the Line Magnetic 505 CD player. It also has a great DAC inside and has a USB input so I use it for CDs as well as streaming Tidal from my laptop ... at 192KHz. 

I'm very happy with my digital sources but I listen 90% to albums and that is my priority. I agree with Inna too...at some point an upgrade of your phono preamp would be a good idea (IMHO). 

I am sorry, I do not understand why everyone is suggesting I trade in my phono preamp? All the reviews I have read about the musical surroundings nova phonomena say it is excellent. Not that money is the barometer, but it is a $1000 amp. It is designed by Michael Yee, a renowned phono preamp designer. Can someone enlighten me?