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12AX7 use in EVO 100 line

Does anyone know the rationale as to why the Prima Luna 100 series uses both 12ax7 and 12au7  (2 each) tubes in the pre section whereas all of the other series (200, 300, 400) use just the 12au7?  I would have thought it would have been simpler to keep it all the same - is it just a cost savings?

128x128dhparker
piebaldpython
31 posts
 

About 1/4 the price for the good ones!!

tablejockey
3,769 posts
 

The 100 being the entry level is from the original lineup (12ax7/12AU7) which was used in the entire PL line before the 3 12AU7's per channel. The 3 12 AU7's implemented about 7-8 years ago.

Cost savings is probably PL keeping the original form factor of the case in manufacturing.

dhparker's avatar
dhparker OP
4 posts
 

Cool - thanks for the clarifications.

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,532 posts
 

A few years ago all the PL products used a mixture of 12AX7s and 12AU7s. Kevin Deal, PL importer in the US, talked the designer into using all 12AU7s because there were more available and many vintage12AU7s were cheaper than comparable 12AX7s.

Someone at Upscale Audio, Kevin's store, could probably tell you why your 100 has a 12AX7 and which brands you might want to try to change the sound a little, if you want to do that.

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