Primaluna amp with Sonus Faber?

Looks like I have some more reading and thinking to do.

I know many people look at frequency response as the end all be all of audio, but in the end I will try to go with what sounds good to me.

I guess the best way for me to answer this question is to audition each piece of gear and see what I think.

Thanks everyone who chimed in. It really does help with the whole decision process. I have a feeling that I might end up with the MC601's and just get a tube pre-amp in the end :)

I know many people look at frequency response as the end all be all of audio

Tests/measurements should be looked at, as well as listened to, that's how amps are built and designed.
  
Here in Australia we had a PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP owner who was complaining about hardness in the top end.

I showed him and explained the peaking in the top end of the stereophile frequency response and square wave tests, he then put it up for sale on the same forum.
I was castigated by other PL owners for doing this, all they could say was to listen to it, graphs/tests are meaningless, and buried their head in the sand.

I then proceeded to explain how this peaking problem could be fixed, and other techs agreed that the HF peak could be eliminated, with about 1hrs work that involved the feedback network and HF filters.
  
The ones that castigated me, suddenly wanted to know what and how to do this themselves, but knowing they would be incompetent without the necessary tools, I just gave them names of very capable tube techs that were able to do it for them, because they didn't have the frequency generators and oscilloscopes needed to do the job properly and then to check what was done.

They quickly went back into castigation mode.  

Cheers George   

Will your dealer let you audition in your home? That’s how I ended up buying my PL HP integrated.

Hi George, 
just read your last post. The graphs from Stereophile are revealing. I’ll admit I’m not the best at interpreting the all data. I do know my PL HP intergrated sounds great in my system. A HUGE upgrade from my NAD m3.

As I recall didn’t the Stereophile review give the power amp a very high recommendation overall? 

I can only imagine the SFGM must very revealing speakers having never heard them, that’s why I suggest trying out components in your system at home before buying, if at all possible, in addition to diligence in research. I agree with you. look at tests and listen as well. Good advice.

I do plan on doing some sort of auditioning in the end. Not going to make a purchase like this without doing my due diligence.

As always, thanks for all the opinions and information.