Icon Audio or PrimaLuna?

Thanks for the very nice words, Nick.

When I respond to a question I try to focus as much as possible on the specifics of the questioner’s situation, and sometimes that necessitates getting into considerable detail.  In the process, I sometimes learn things myself.

Thanks again. Best regards,

-- Al

Can't thank you all enough, great response to my question.

I can’t say anything about PL as I have never owned any of their products.

I have had several IA components over the last 5 years.  Stereo 40 Integrated and PS1 Phono Pre most recently.  My experience with IA has been very positive.  Zero issues, great support from the people at Icon (my first venture into tube gear so I had lots of questions), sound quality that exceeded my expectation and beautiful build.    The bias adjustments on the Stereo 40 were extremely easy and quick so for me the auto bias feature didn’t sway my decision.  I’m not a rapid fire tube swapper either.  

If you have the ability, I’d suggest that you demo both in your home.  My purchases were from Music Direct which does offer a 30 or 60 day in home demo.  Needless to say, none of the IA stuff went back.  

I have a PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premier HP amp and couldn't be happier with it, driving either Focal Utopia Diablo III's or Joseph Audio Pulsars.  It has fantastic soundstage and imaging, and is probably the most hassle-free way to own a tube amp, with auto-biasing, tube failure indicator lights, and a host of other great features such as point to point wiring.  Hits way above its price point and if you really want to go nuts, buy two and switch to mono and get 140 watts per channel!

For my two cents, you cannot go wrong with the Prima Luna Dialogue Premiums. I have both the Pre-amp and two HPs as mono blocks. I'm a big fan. I have tried a few others, that shall remain unnamed, and none sound as good as what I am listening to now. You can spend a lot more and not get as satisfying results; if you spend less you will not get the build quality and high end components. Jus' sayin'.

Rollin