As tube-amp.: PrimaLuna isn’t à “wohw”-amp. , not bad but more An amp for “beginners”. :sound is à little bit sharp, not so detailfull, is very open. I prefer: Ear 509, VAC phi 300.1 , Wavac 805m , Audio Aero Prestige , Mal Valve 2 ,…( Less: Macintosh, Audio Research, Jadis,…)
Primaluna or not Primaluna
Hej
I have been hesitated some time now between buying new speakers or a new amplifier and have decided I will buy a new amplifier.
My list of demands:
It will take EL34, KT77, KT88 and 6550. Bonus if it takes KT120.
It will give at least 35 w with EL34 and 45 w with KT88.
It will have easy biasing using a screwdriver and with somekind of build in meter. In worst case autobiase will do.
It will use tube rectification and not solid state rectification (because I have heard solid state rectification takes away the tube sound).
It will not cost more than aprox $4000.
I have had a Line Magnetic LM-34IA once but had to much problems with the quality (bad solderings and bad balance between left and right).
First I thought it sounded quite good, but after have heard a Audion Audio Stirling EL34 SET amplifier I changed my mind. Now the LM-34AI sounded just OK.
I was told that Stirling EL34, with 12 w should be enough for listening at normal volumes with my 89dB speakers. But it was not. So here I am…
(And yes I know; a push-pull amp will never sound as a SET amp).
I have read about several amplifiers but none of them seems to fit my demands.
Here are my notes:
Line Magnetic LM-88IA - Just KT88. Bad experience with LM, both quality and sound.
Audio Research I/50 - Just 6550 tubes. Too much hassle when adjusting bias.
Rogue Cronus Magnum III - Very mixed opinions. Solid state rectification.
Raven Blackhawk Mk 3.1 - Just 6L6 tubes. Have to be imported from the US.
Tsakiridis Aelos Plus - Just KT88 tubes.
Fezz Silver Luna Prestige - Just EL34 tubes.
Fezz Titania - Just KT120 tubes (and maybe KT150 and KT170 too).
Cary SLI-80HS - Many bad opinions. Solid state rectification.
Jadis - Either too weak or too expencive.
Primaluna - ???
What makes me a little ”worried” is that Primaluna has so many build in features which are supposed to make my life as a tube amplifier owner easier.
I mean, doesn’t these fetures affect the sound? ”Less is more”?
If you have any thoughts or experience about this, please let me know.
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- 87 posts total
I am not sure what:
Mine, on “Triode”, seems less full of harmonic distortion than on Utra-linear, but UL is nice for some gendres like rock. Vocals and piano seem better in Triode to my ear. Personally I would not want it to be more tubey, but many people like that sound.
I dislike sibilance, and most tube amps do not grate on me, just some are more tubey and harmonically rich and other are “less exciting” and seem cleaner. When I am sort of “meh” on an amp, that is usually a sign that it is doing what it does and not adding a lot. It might compress, or something like that, in the higher dynamic range bursts… but it does not tend to get the grainy treble when the music gets loud, like some older SS amps did. If the OP likes a tube sound then they will likely prefer to run it in UltraLinear (UL). Hence my earlier comment on Class-D (and just using a tube pre)… that seems like it is another viable option, and after having had the PL power amp *(Dialogue Premium HP) for a year+ I like it, but am not wedded to it… which means that I guess it is good. I would suggest that the OP may want to listen to one in a shop and see if they like UL or triode… as that is akin to some of the difference when moving up and down the tubey sound spectrum of amps.
^THIS^ Seems like it may be very useful @lukaske |
Holmz :PrimaLuna : open , i ment very acoustic, the high-range is sharp . Not “Whow“ , means :not An amp i would buy again :à normal mid-class tube amp.. in triode hé plays , as you said , and not tiring . Jadis have à Nice sound but too woolly . The amps , i do like are very neutral , natural sound , Nice placement : specially : Audio Earo , Mal Valve and VAC. ( I do like The sound of Ear too!) |
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