2. amps-preamps
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PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Preamplifier. DESTROYS SPEAKERS!!


A few months ago, bought TWO of the above mentioned preamps. ( I have 2 stereo systems)
Within 6 weeks of the purchase, the power supply of my speakers burns out!
I purchase and replace the power supply.
Three days later, the second newly replaced power supply is burnt out!
After much investigative work and heartache, I discover that the Pre amp is the problem.
It is defective and puts out DC. which burns out speakers.
After, testing the second unit, I find that it is defective as well, EXACTLY the same problem.
I return the units to my dealer, who returns them to Prima Lune.

I received a phone call from a Mr. Kevin Deal, big cheese at PrimaLuna.
Told me that the capacitors, on BOTH units had failed and the units were putting out DC.
He even THANKED me, for being a guinea pig, and discovering the flaw in his units.

He offered me a pair of tubes, as "compensation" for my troubles!! What a joker!!

WOW, a pair of tubes for blowing my $30,000. speakers!!

The height of arrogance and total disregard for the consumer of his product.
To all audiophiles, do yourself a favour, STAY AWAY for this brand, unless you want your speakers cooked.

TOTAL lack of quality control, MADE IN CHINA junk, what more needs to be said.


Mr. Deal, WAKE UP, and STOP selling defective products!!


If, you are using PrimaLuna, and your speakers fail, check the amp or pre amp.

George


Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
thorloki

Showing 3 responses by larryi

larryi
3,718 posts
 
Whether it is a self-powered speaker or an amp connected to a speaker, it is a bit troubling that the amp would allow dc at its input to cause high level dc at its output which would destroy the speaker.  
larryi
3,718 posts
 
A 1,000 w/ch amp that does not have protection from DC at the input?  To me, that would be a concern.

As to what happened with the PrimaLuna, it is something that can happen to even the best and most expensive equipment.  Perhaps a bad batch of capacitors got through to the manufacturer.  Sometimes the parts supplier changes the product without telling the buyers with bad results that the manufacturer only becomes aware of after several failures in the field.  I had a Basis turntable power supply that failed very early and was told by Basis that a part was changed by the manufacturer without notice.  Fortunately, they took care of things very promptly and with minimal hassle.

I don't know about how responsible PrimaLuna, or its distributor or retailers, is for the downstream damage caused by their product.  Ideally, someone would step up and do something to make things right.  But, given the circumstances, and the possibility of litigation, I can see why Kevin Deal and anyone else involved with PrimaLuna has stayed out of this conversation.
larryi
3,718 posts
 

So, a bit more of the story has been clarified.  Given that the OP is NOT out money on the damage done to the ML, but had to spend a lot of time dealing with the problem, what does he expect from Kevin Deal?  Does he expect Kevin to come to his place and rake leaves for the hours lost? 

I can understand not being happy with the product.  Even if it is a rare happenstance, if you are the unfortunate person, it is understandable that the brand is, for the victim of circumstances, anathema.

This sort of failure, whether it is caused by a bad lot of a certain part (this happens with the best of gear), or some kind of unexpected incompatibility, does not necessarily implicate the product as poorly designed or shoddily built. 

It makes even less sense for someone to point to a single problem as evidence that products of a whole nation or region of the world should be avoided.  When the Chinese build for a foreign company, the product is as well-built as is specified by the customer.  The customer also specifies the parts used.  The customer has some responsibility to oversee how their product is built.  If the Chinese company does not live up to the bargain, it is the customer's responsibility to change manufacturer.  Cheap build is what some buyers want, and what they get, but that is not the case with all Chinese gear.  Note that China is FAR from being the lowest cost manufacturer these days; they compete because they can deliver what the buyer needs in many ways: ease of doing business, flexibility in making design changes, etc.

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