2. amps-preamps
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PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Preamplifier. DESTROYS SPEAKERS!!


A few months ago, bought TWO of the above mentioned preamps. ( I have 2 stereo systems)
Within 6 weeks of the purchase, the power supply of my speakers burns out!
I purchase and replace the power supply.
Three days later, the second newly replaced power supply is burnt out!
After much investigative work and heartache, I discover that the Pre amp is the problem.
It is defective and puts out DC. which burns out speakers.
After, testing the second unit, I find that it is defective as well, EXACTLY the same problem.
I return the units to my dealer, who returns them to Prima Lune.

I received a phone call from a Mr. Kevin Deal, big cheese at PrimaLuna.
Told me that the capacitors, on BOTH units had failed and the units were putting out DC.
He even THANKED me, for being a guinea pig, and discovering the flaw in his units.

He offered me a pair of tubes, as "compensation" for my troubles!! What a joker!!

WOW, a pair of tubes for blowing my $30,000. speakers!!

The height of arrogance and total disregard for the consumer of his product.
To all audiophiles, do yourself a favour, STAY AWAY for this brand, unless you want your speakers cooked.

TOTAL lack of quality control, MADE IN CHINA junk, what more needs to be said.


Mr. Deal, WAKE UP, and STOP selling defective products!!


If, you are using PrimaLuna, and your speakers fail, check the amp or pre amp.

George


Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
thorloki
larryi
4,055 posts
 

So, a bit more of the story has been clarified.  Given that the OP is NOT out money on the damage done to the ML, but had to spend a lot of time dealing with the problem, what does he expect from Kevin Deal?  Does he expect Kevin to come to his place and rake leaves for the hours lost? 

I can understand not being happy with the product.  Even if it is a rare happenstance, if you are the unfortunate person, it is understandable that the brand is, for the victim of circumstances, anathema.

This sort of failure, whether it is caused by a bad lot of a certain part (this happens with the best of gear), or some kind of unexpected incompatibility, does not necessarily implicate the product as poorly designed or shoddily built. 

It makes even less sense for someone to point to a single problem as evidence that products of a whole nation or region of the world should be avoided.  When the Chinese build for a foreign company, the product is as well-built as is specified by the customer.  The customer also specifies the parts used.  The customer has some responsibility to oversee how their product is built.  If the Chinese company does not live up to the bargain, it is the customer's responsibility to change manufacturer.  Cheap build is what some buyers want, and what they get, but that is not the case with all Chinese gear.  Note that China is FAR from being the lowest cost manufacturer these days; they compete because they can deliver what the buyer needs in many ways: ease of doing business, flexibility in making design changes, etc.

aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
Im an old manufacturing plant manager. The location of the manufacturing is not an issue. Its the engineering, build -manufacturing expectations and quality enforcement that determines the final product. The US auto industry took a dive because they could not control those three areas. Under each of those three areas are hundreds of things that can cause a nose dive. The Japanese showed American labor can produce the best in the world. However, made in usa is not automatic high quality. Those old, outdated manufacturing cultures are still around us. 
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
W. Edwards Deming and Joseph M. Juran.
thorloki OP
19 posts
 
 Mr. Deal, you say that you replaced the capacitors in all your current stock, "just in case".

Mr. Deal, I ask you this, are you going to recall all the pre amps, THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SOLD and are in customers systems?

Or, are you just going to lay low and hope that clients with blown speakers don't make the connection to your pre amps/amps.

Can we have an answer to this question, Mr Deal, the Audiogon community is waiting for  an answer, what are you going to do?

If, you truly care about your customers and you are honourable, you will
issue a recall of all product sold and is in customers hands to fix the capacitors.

This recall, should be prominently displayed on your website, advising customers to return their product for repair/modification.

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, this is the LEAST you can do!

Mr Deal, we are all anxious to hear your decision on how you intend to handle this.

almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Thorloki 9-24-2017
Mr. Deal, I ask you this, are you going to recall all the pre amps, THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SOLD and are in customers systems?

Or, are you just going to lay low and hope that clients with blown speakers don’t make the connection to your pre amps/amps.

Can we have an answer to this question, Mr Deal, the Audiogon community is waiting for an answer, what are you going to do?
Thorloki, as someone who has participated in this forum just about daily for the past nine years I have read and participated in countless threads involving users of PrimaLuna preamps and other components. Yours is the only instance I have ever seen in which a problem in a PrimaLuna component resulted in damage to another piece of equipment.

And if you have read my previous post in this thread, you will hopefully understand that the damage to your speakers may very well have resulted from a combination of circumstances that approaches being unique.

IMO your demands of Mr. Deal are uncalled for and unreasonable, and I for one am not a member of the community who is "waiting for an answer."

Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever had any affiliation, association, or interaction of any kind with Mr. Deal or PrimaLuna, not even as a user, and not even as a purchaser of the tubes he sells.

Regards,
-- Al


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