2. amps-preamps
  3. 1384214208

Which would you pick? PrimaLuna

I currently have a PrimaLuna Dialogue 1 that was upgraded a bit to almost be a Dialogue two. I'm using it with KT120s and I'm very happy with it powering my B&W N805s. But I recently hot a great deal on a set of 803s that I've always wanted. I'm thinking a bit more power may wake them up even more. Now I have a shot to move up to PrimaLuna Prologue three and Prologue sevens for a thousand bucks difference.

If you've heard both, what do you think? It's a step down from Dialogue to Prologue series. But it's a step up to separates and more power. Overall is it a step up? And is it enough of a step up to justify a thousand bucks?

By the way-- I went to a local dealer today and listened to the prologue premium compared to the Mcintosh 6300. The difference wasn't nearly as much as expected. The PL had a sweeter midrange with its EL34 tubes and handled the speakers really well. The Mc was very nice too and had a touch more control in the lower bass, but it wasn't as dramatic as I expected. It was not worth the extra $1000 (the Mc was a demo model listed at $3k) IMO.
128x128soundermn
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Please look at the Cayin line, it is made by the same people who make the PrimaLuna. IMO, Cayin has better sound, better value.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
I have a Prologue 3/5 combo as well as a Dialogue 2. The Dialogue 2 is better in all respects, except power output than the Prologue 3/5 in my system.

Don't consider Cayin! The distributor's service sucks big time (details available to those interested) and I suspect that perhaps Cayin no longer has a North American Distributor, or so it seems. Too bad though, I have big Cayin amps and their sound WAS fine before they died prematurely.
soundermn's avatar
soundermn OP
344 posts
 
Newbee, this is exactly what I was looking for. So, if I read you correctly, making the swap will give me more power, but generally lower sound quality? I suspected that... this must be the big difference from Prologue to Dialogue. Thank you!
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Yep! And, FWIW, I found the Dialogue 2 has better bass and a warmer tone than I could ever get with the 3/5 combo. I also found the transparency of the PL3 wasn't exactly SOTA either, not that the Dialogue 2 is exceptional in that respect either. Overall I found the Dialogue to be just more 'musical', i.e. it was much easier to get lost in the music. FWIW, I use Tung-sol 6550's and EI 12AX7's and 12AU7's.
soundermn's avatar
soundermn OP
344 posts
 
Thanks so much! Exactly what I was wondering. I've been using Gold Lions and thought the bass was lacking. So I got the kt120s to try. I haven't had enough listening time yet, but can report back later. It just so happened that the dealer where I got the tubes has this 3/7 setup he wants to sell. It's in like new condition. But if it's not a step up, i will keep saving my beans for the future.

It was really eye opening, both for me and the Mcintosh dealer to listen to the prologue and the 6300 next to each other. We both expected a big difference and it just wasn't there. The Mac sounded a bit fuller in the low midrange, but overall the sound was really similar. We were using a Mac CD player, so maybe that's part of it. But either way, for half the price the prologue premium really held its own. I think prologue premium is very similar to dialogue 1/2 in overall build, but perhaps with smaller transformers. Is that correct? Or at least close?
More to discover