2. amps-preamps
  3. 131501-88991

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
tablejockey
4,081 posts
 
"Back in the day (and maybe still), rockers would intentionally take various sharp or blunt instruments to their speaker cones, too. Don’t know of many audio geeks who are doing that to their speakers. Although too many seem to allow their kids and guests to vintagify their tweeters."

stfoth- was it Link Wray who did "Rumble" that did the slitting of the cones?
https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrTSXd5wM9ZSyAA5im5mWRH;_ylu=X3oDMTBzaWY2azluBHNlYwN...

I may be getting my R&R history mixed up. Anyhow, as a geetar player, I thought the idea was a little odd.During that period guys were still experimenting with how to get that "dirty" sound. Cranking the gain and playing with feedback was just around the corner, or some Blues cat(Johnny "Guitar" Watson or Ike Turner..)
were already doing it and America wasn’t ready yet.

Surprising to find this thread still going. I dig my made in China PL. It sounds just as good(subjectively BETTER, by a group during a blind test) as an equivalent ARC piece that’s "Made in America"
The build comparison is obvious- equal or maybe the PL wins by a notch.

I would love to have a rack full of USA gear, but the reality(value) doesn’t justify it. I do have a VPI(99%-Chinese wall wart for inverter circuit feeding my Classic) and Mac tuner, which is good o USA.



rotarius
431 posts
 
Chinese stuff is junk.  Please throw away your commie Iphones.
fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
987 posts
 
btw how picky on placement do you find the 0/93s -- how far out from the wall -- how far apart - anything between
I should check my Monroney sticker, but yes I think so. It replaced a 2014 Golf TDI built in Germany and other than the windshield and the poor design of the mirror (which should be the same as yours-they now fold in an upwards direction and it is the crevice/joint slanted upwards that causes the unintended windnoise), I have yet to notice any difference except that my GTI is far more fun to drive than the TDI. I have owned six VW's and have never had anything but great luck. My wife still drives our 2004 Touareg which is built like a Panzer. 
My turntable, preamp, amp, and speakers are all built by hand in the USA, a VPI Prime, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 150se, and DeVore Orangutans. But I have no idea where my AMR DP777 DAC is built, my Aurender N100H was built in S. Korea, and my Thorens TD124 was built in Switzerland. If I had my way, ALL my gear would be built in Switzerland. But ARC is close with middle aged women from Minnesota doing the hand-assembly. Lets face it-no country is immune from hung-over workers assembling stuff on Monday mornings. China has workers from the remote villages out in the country who live in dorms without their families desperate to make money much like US chicken factories that recruit poor Somali workers from all over this country to live in their dorms and do dangerous work in crappy conditions. Impose all the QC you want, without good workers who are happy (enough) and of clear mind, you get sloppy work. Chicken nuggets anyone?
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,174 posts
 
The OP said specifically it was DC and that he damaged his speaker, not his amp.

<< shrug >>

Not a big deal.
Right on both counts- but we sorted out pretty quickly that it wasn't DC- his amp blocks DC, so it had to be something else.
bruce_philly
31 posts
 
Years ago (I am in my late 50s), Japan was known for crap... guess what happend.. DR Deming etc.....

Chit happens... it just does.  Even Toyota can get a bad run of subcomponents... what matters is that the company takes care of it fast... and doesn't try to hide it.

I purchased, new, a 2000 Porsche Boxster S... it blew two engines.. yes, you read that correctly.  Porsche denied they had a problem and lost a class action suite ... they had a defective design .. not parts ... but a bad design with multiple failure modes (just Google " PorscheIntermediate Shaft")... now that is a bad company.

Regarding PrimaLuna, I am not worried... I just purchased their HP integrated amp new.... love it.... moved from a pair of VTL 300 Deluxes... very happy.... actually it is a better built product than the VTLs that soldered tube sockets directly to circuit boards.

Peace
Bruce in Philly
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