Choice between two different integrated tube amps (SET & PP)
I'm interested in two different integrated amps that I can get locally.
One is the Primaluna Dialogue HP and the other is the Willsenton R800i.
The Primaluna is a PP setup with EL34's and the Willsenton is a SET amp with 805 tubes. The Primaluna has upgraded pre-amp tubes but stock EL34's, the Willsenton has all stock tubes and the chifi tubes are trash, so would need to be upgraded. The Primaluna is $3k and the Willsenton is $2k but will need quite a bit spent on new tubes, so they are pretty much the same price.
Anybody have experience with either? Have read great reviews of each of them. I'll take other recommendations too but the requirements are a tube integrated under $3k that has home theater bypass.
I gave a general endorsement of SET above but I think SNS has some great comments about tube choice, heat and power. With your very efficient speakers you don't need 48 wpc. 20 is plenty. LM makes a lot of SET amps with a variety of different tubes that run (at least a little) cooler. I would still avoid the PL push pull design. Jerry |
LM is another option that I'll look into but I've had a Muzishare integrated which most say is just a LM amp. We are all talking Chinese amps, which I have no problem with but I don't get how one would be so much better than the other quality wise other than service domestically. |
Agree that the PL has better service access if needed. I run KT150 power tubes in my PL and this is a massive sonic difference from the EL34. The PL is built like a tank and I am confident of its long term reliability. I Owned an SET amp for many years and the sonic presentation can be very seductive. However, generally speaking, SET amps require very careful speaker matching |
Great comments above! I think SET is something to experience. It can be intoxicating, but as mentioned speaker pairing is key and they can be a bit fickle. What speakers are you using? PL does just about everything really well--design, build, service, reliability, and so on. However, if I had a sonic bone to pick it might be headroom. Everything seemed a bit jammed together sound wise and even though I had the opportunity over 4 years to run it with all types of speakers, everything seemed a bit compressed. Great product though. Let us know what speakers you have when you have a moment. |
@blkwrxwgn They do have similar exterior, LM is point to point wiring vs. circuit boards in Willsenton, here's pic, https://www.phantom-audio.com/product/line-magnetic-integrated-lm-805ia/
I prefer point to point, especially with high heat generating tubes, usually more reliable. LM also more established here.
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