Has Anyone Uesed A PrimaLuna Amp With Harbeth Speaker's


Hi guys, I will be on the market soon for a new amp and I keep looking at the Primaluna Amps, has anyone heard the Primaluna Dialogue Premium amp driving a pair of Harbeth's 30.1 speakers? these are 87d/b and I am not sure how this will work out?
128x128bigred71
I am not sure about quality control issues, but I did have an issue with my Primaluna HP integrated leaking noise between inputs, which made me wonder if the input relay was in fact doing anything. Kevin assured me this was not an issue but it bothered me enough to sell it. The prologue 3 preamp / prologue 5 amp had no such issue and I didn’t think upgrading to the HP integrated would leave me feeling regretful. But sometimes we just get the short straw. I since upgraded to a Backert Rhumba 1.2 preamp and Paradox Pulse Monoblocks and I will say the dynamics and noise floor alone, are in another league.

We should all remember there is no brand that lacks competition.

After reading what clarinetmonster2 was told from one current dealer and another former dealer,

(  I've now heard from one current dealer and another former dealer that say PL sound nice but the QC is not the greatest. One said he sells both Rogue and PL and the Rogue is built more consistently. They both said that there are a high number, relatively speaking, of PL warranty claims compared to others like Rogue.)

I decided to call my dealer to make an appointment to try out the PrimaLuna amps & pre amps, but  also to ask him about any problems that he has had, or knowns off, with the PrimaLuna product’s and of there QC.

I have been using this dealer for many years now and he does seem to known his product’s that he  sells, I trust in what he says, and he always seems to point you in the right direction. He said the same, that PrimaLuna are built as well as any and far better than most and that he wished all of his products that he kept, were as well made as the PrimaLuna.

I then called a 2nd dealer who sell’s PrimaLuna, I have never used them but they are well knoing here in the UK, and asked them the same question, they told me much the same as my own dealer did.    

Just buy it used and you can’t go wrong in my book. I got a prologue 3 preamp for $850 and prologue 5 amp for $900 both brand new, just by staying a mode behind the current line up. I do feel the quality control was much better so that’s worth it alone IMO. Even a dialogue 2 integrated would be my choice over the current dialogue “premium” integrated. 
I have owned and used a PL Dialogue Premium preamp for almost three years on a daily basis and have had nothing..(nil,nought,zero,zilch,zip) issues of any sort with this unit.
And the fact that I like rolling tubes a lot [eight total] has done zero harm to the integrity [bolted.. not soldered to a board] of the preamps tube sockets is a h-u-g-e bonus. Its a tank.

I can not give this product a better rating for its quality of build and sound across the board. The only thing that is missing from this pre.. to me at least.. would be a 'special edition' version of this unit that could maybe take it to the next higher musical level...if that is even at all possible... 8)
I left CJ ss  for PrimaLuna and never looked back.  Running PL Prologue Premium tube-rectified pre-amp w/Prologue Premium mono-amps EL-34s  to Compact 7ES-3s. 2yrs no desire to upgrade. 
   Just considering KT-77s for experiment. 
I am very glad to hear from owners that have had no issues. PL is still not my cup of tea, but I respect what they do. I honestly had no agenda and just thought it was odd and perhaps more than coincidence that the 2 dealers I spoke to both mentioned the same thing, but maybe not.
@clarintmonster2 - Damn I hate that you had a bad experience but you’re really missing out on a high end gem in PL. I have replaced my Audio Research amp and preamp with PL and haven’t looked back. My Magnepans have never ever sounded so good. I got to hear some Harbeth’s as i was auditioning a turntable and they are good sounding speakers that I believe PL’s with the right tubes (amp) would provide you with a fantastic listening enjoyment. Get you pair of PL Dialogue Premium HP amps and take the saving and buy your significant other something nice...LOL

Cheers
Perhaps if I decide to go back the full tube route I will take a listen again. I have not had very positive experiences talking to Kevin Deal in the past. Not the nicest person to me on the phone. 
I'd go mcintosh mc275 if you go with tubes. Mcintosh holds its value!  Or you go with 2 mc75 with a C52 pre.  I think that would also be a winning combination imo.     

  
I just honestly don't think Harbbies need tubes, they have kind of a tubey sound already built in IMO. 
I just heard the m30.1 and shl5 today powered by a Blue Circle SS integrated and the combo was fantastic. My preference would be ss or hybrid.
I'm using SS with my harbeth c7es3.   mc452 > c52.  This combination is amazing imo!  
well, he may be in terms of a designer but Kevin is really the face and voice of Primaluna, unfortunately for some of us.

Kevin is a good honest, no nonsense type of guy. You should really give him another chance. One of the few straight shooters I've dealt with in audio.

Cheers

We get it !!!  You do not like Kevin Deal and that is OK...time to give it a break and move on. 
Post removed 
You might want to read Herb Reichert's review of the Monitor 30.2 40th Anniversary Edition in the current issue of Stereophile. 
I've heard all three and the PrimaLuna on Focal expensive speakers several years ago and it sounded very nice. Unlike the MC275 which I've heard many times and am totally unimpressed (flat soundstage, tonally thin for a tube amp and bland/no dynamics).  My friend has a pair of ARC75s but our mutual friend prefers the ARC Classic 60, which sounds more like a PrimaLuna amp.  VAC is an upgraded version (and the original autobias feature) of a PrimaLuna.  One can purchase 3 to 4 pairs of PrimaLuna monoblocks for the price of one VAC200IQ.  I strongly do not recommend the MC275 in any version.  The best sounding Macs are the 240, 225 and 30. Plus, they probably would drive the Harbeth nicely with their current supply.  The 30 sounds like 60 watts and has great transformers..   
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Kevin, upscale audio and have experienced only good clean sounds from my PL system. My dealer has only extolled virtue. Great amp knowledgeable gentleman.