Primaluna Prologue One power tube rolling


I've tried some EH 6CA7s as well as the stock tubes and JJs. I was curious about trying KT77s since they're another EL34 variant ... and then I got to thinking, what about KT88s.

It has adaptive auto bias so I figured it should work just like the Prologue two, correct? I konw the extra cost of the 2 buys you the upgraded caps, diodes, and KT88s ... but does that mean you CAN'T use KT88s with the 1??
gnugear
I didn't like the EH 6CA7s. They were grainy and sterile sounding. They lost the liquid tone of the Svetlanas.

For 12ax7s I've tried JJs (too bloated), EH (pretty decent), Groove Tube Mullard clones (my favorite current production tube so far), NOS Brimars (very nice), NOS Phillips branded Mullards (even nicer), and NOS Amperex Bugle Boys (my favorite).
I was going to suggest you try Telefunken 12AX7's but the Amperex are very similar (BTW, you don't HAVE to buy "Bugle Boys". All the Amperex/Holland tubes are the same, and they made them for a multitude of other brands/manufacturers: Hewlett Packard, Eico, Fisher, Electrohome, even Mullard -- if you look on Ebay, you'll see what I mean)

If you really want a big (and pleasant) surprise get some NOS (ca. 1958) RCA longplate, blackplates. The best 12AX7 I've heard, and maybe the best 12AX7 ever made (see discussions on AA.)
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FWIW, I use EI 12AX7A Elites w/grey plates very similar to Tele's and combined with SED EL34's produces a very smooth, reasonably detailed sound. Personally I'd save my long green type NOS's for more critical applications. But, if you've got extra dough, what the heck! :-)
I have the Prima Luna 2 integrated and Prima Luna 5 power amps. When I upgraded preamp tubes, Kevin Deal (Upscale owners) suggested NOS 12AU7 Sylvanias and 12AX7 Mullards. Excellent upgrade.

As for the power tubes, it is recommended to only use the EL-34 with the P1 (look at Upscale Audio's web-site). The P2 supports tube rolling.

Regards, Rich