2. amps-preamps
  3. 185416-8997

Amplifier considerations, PrmaLuna EVO 400 versus ARC Reference 160 S. Is ARC worth it?

Greetings all. I own a pair of PrimaLuna EVO 400’s paired with an a first generation ARC Ref 6 and Ref 3 Phono. This was done because I could not afford a pair of 160 M’s and wanted something to tie me over until I could afford them or another option came along. I have been taking a hard look at the Reference 160 S, However, the performance of the EVO 400 is so damn good. I am not sure I would gain anything. In fact, I would lose a lot of customizability and am not a fan of how the ARC amps are built with mounting the sockets for those big ass kT-150 onto the circuit board.

Here is an overview of how I set up the EVO 400’s. They are set up as Mono-bocks. and retubed with KT-150s. The preamp section are retubed with BLACK SABLE JJ ECC82 / 12AU7. A less colored and cleaner sounding tube over the stock Chinese made one. With this configuration I get a sonic signature that has a bit of bite on the top and tight controlled bass that is snappy and authoritative. Specifications change from 140 watts to 192 watts. The music I listen to is a lot of Classical, Gothic Metal, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Pop, and EDM. A lot of my favorite recording are bass heavy with heavy dynamics. Speaker used are 4 Ohm - 95 db efficient - with a frequency response of 18HZ-30KHZ.

The 160s I am considering is $24K has power rating of 140 watts. It is a cleaner sounding amp that does not have much voicing. Offering a more accurate presentation, with more inner detail. That may prove to have better sysnergy with the ARC gear I already own. Also, the case work and overall appearance of the product is top notch. Hence the interest in it.,

Contrasted to PL what I lose is... some musicality, the EVO 400 has more richness in the mids and vocals are more pronounced and have a greater sense of presence within the listening room. Again, the tube sockets are bolted onto the chassis. They do not use a cooling assist fan. I have the advantage of a Monoblock solution, that is easier to handle weight wise and offers better isolation of the signal between the two channels.

Where the PL Cheaps out, is the finish and the balanced inputs. I am not a fan of the battleship grey paint and hodgepodge just slapped together Chi-Fi look that the components have. Nor do I like the cheap ass balanced connectors they use. There is a big difference in quality between them and the ones on my Ref 6.

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome.

Many thanks for your time and trouble.

walkertm
yesiam_a_pirate's avatar
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yesiam_a_pirate
198 posts
 

Two things:

"not a fan of how the ARC amps are built with mounting the sockets for those big ass kT-150 onto the circuit board."   

This depends on the board's construction. The ARC board is thick and ridged. It feels industrial. ARC's weak link has never been their tube sockets. I've never owned a PL so I don't have personal experience with their boards but I'm told they are thinner than the ARC's boards. 

and;

"The 160s I am considering is $24K has power rating of 140 watts. It is a cleaner sounding amp that does not have much voicing. Offering a more accurate presentation, with more inner detail. That may prove to have better synergy with the ARC gear I already own. Also, the case work and overall appearance of the product is top notch"

I think you've answered your own question :)

If customizing the PL is fun for you by all means tinker away- I find great satisfaction tinkering at my bench- but my ARC gear is my anchor. 

Have you considered waiting for the 320M?  That may be your all-in-all. (If you have a fat wallet)

ARC (for all it's foibles since WZ died) has IMO always been designed to work best with it's own components. ARC is a neutral palate. Many don't like that- they shop for voicing. So:

Listen in your own room and choose based on that. In the end how it sounds is priority #1. 

aewarren
658 posts
 

The question is not which amp will work best in your system, you already know the answer to that. The question is whether or not the upgrade will be worth the added expenditure and only you can answer that.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,752 posts
 

Short and sweet,

I would try to stay with ARC if you can afford.  

8th-note
411 posts
 

There is another factor here you should consider - Pride of Ownership. If you lust for the ARC amps and you will always be a little sad and dissatisfied that you don't own them then go ahead and spend the damn money. There's a good chance that you will keep them for the long term and every time you fire up your system you will look at them and smile.

BTW, they will sound glorious.

jetter
3,033 posts
 

There’s a good chance that you will keep them for the long term and every time you fire up your system you will look at them and smile.

Yes, but then again you may kick yourself for not waiting to buy the new products that will inevitably be introduced by the AR Tube Audio Corporation.

 

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