Prima Luna Dialogue series, is it worth the money?

I have two Prima Luna amps in service since 2005. The PL 5 power amp in one system and the PL 2 integrated amp in another system. For the last few years, I have been using either EL 34 or 6CA7 power tubes, new production from Electro Harmonix or Mullard. I prefer these tube types to 6550 or KT 88. For preamp tubes, I have been using NOS Mullard.

I enjoy these amps tremendously. I have never wanted to upgrade. When I need to replace them, I will buy Prima Luna.

Until the last year or two, it was pretty difficult to do comparative auditions of the different amps in the PL line. There were not that many dealers. I purchased my PL amps directly from one of the founding PL fathers, Kevin Deal of Upscale Audio.

And that would be my advice ... read the reviews as there are many of them out there and then call Kevin and ask him. He is a straight shooter.

Rich

One interesting thing about the tubes - the stock ones are not necessarily low quality. I did replace the KT-88's in my Dialogue 2 with some EH EL-34's, and greatly preferred this. However, I had a stock AU7 go out on me and bought a relatively inexpensive replacement, and these do not sound quite as good as the stock ones did. The AU7's have the least effect on the sound, though. I have never experimented with the AX7's as of yet.

i am using a prologue II with Harbeth PL3s and love it . Did some tube rolling and using Mullard el34s. Power to spare and wonderful mids. The MM phono is fantastic BTW.

Do not replace the AX7's. I replaced all of the tubes, but quickly put the AX7's back in; that was on my Prologue 6.

I have the Prima Luna Prologue premium... reviews on it are pretty accurate... plays best at moderate to loud volumes and a little bass shy at the bottom if you use the integrated pre section. These go away if you use a better pre with the home theater input (pre bypass) and subbing 12AT7 for 12AU7 in front socket does help improve dynamic separation. Reviews on the Dialogue all talk to deeper bass and black space... if you have source and speakers of equal quality I wouldn't hesitate. Do upgrade to NOS tubes and better power tubes... the stock PL tubes are pleasant but a little grainy in sound and not detailed.