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Anyone own or heard of PrimaLuna?

Hi. First of all, I am not an audiophile but simply love music and like it certain way but not overly crazy. I started out with solid state Mcintosh for couple years. I recently listen to few tube amps like audio research, t+a, cary audio and prima luna. I can afford all those big expensive brands but I thought primaluna sounded as good if not better and it cost fraction of other big names.  Just curious if anyone has experience with it? What you like the most? What you feel need improvement? Any issue with customer service? How's the company? Is quality really that better as they claim against other competitors? Thank you for your feedback. 

gr8av4life
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,361 posts
 
I own the Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP. I love it. Here are my Pros and Cons.

Pros: Excellent build quality matches sound quality--it’s built like a tank. Autobiasing circuits make entering and staying in the tube world much easier, and better sounding. Gobs of power and beautiful sound. Customer service, vis-a-vis Kevin Deal, is superb. Great value for the money. The thing is not cheap but you could easily spend double or triple to get the same level of performance. The remote is well made with an intuitive layout. Fit and finish are top notch.

Cons: Replacing batteries in the beautifully milled remote could be made to be a faster task. Also, I think the remote could be a touch more sensitive.

Yes, on the ’cons’, that’s all I could think of. Maybe I could say that some competitors’ products have more eye candy appeal--not that the Primaluna is ugly or cheap in anyway. Its design is understated and smooth.

Call Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio. He’ll talk your ear off about them. Granted he’s the distributor and part owner, I think. Nonetheless, he supply you with endless facts and stories to help you.
tablejockey
3,768 posts
 
"Wondering those who bought a $35,000 amps just because they can afford and it's more of lifestyle or the $35k gears truly that great?"

Generally, those REALLY expensive amps ARE NOT an apple to apples comparison to the PL line. They are designed for Class A
operarion within their power specification. The PL is A/B. Big Difference. Not that you would necessarily hear it,  but you would feel the greater heat coming off the amp for sure.

Lookup electronics 101 amplifier design. Class A by default is highly inefficient, 
 Build wise, they are tied. The uber gear may also have higher end components.


http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/amplifier/amp_5.html

facten
2,720 posts
 
Check out Raven Audio andd Line Magnetic.

Believe Kevin Deal started up PrimaLuna with a guy from Netherlands ; he is more than its importer ; keep it in mind when getting direct input
aolmrd1241
1,010 posts
 
I bought the Primaluna Dialogue Premium preamp and think very,very highly of it...with zero buyers remorse. With that being said,I never heard any other PL product.
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
Geez mgreen27,
Just because the guy is new to audio and has the funds to spend doesn't make a particular statement at all. Would I own a $35,000.00 amp? Hell yeah, if I had the money to spend. The guy likes good music and wants the best, I see nothing wrong with that. There are price points for everyone. Besides, how many of us keep trading up to better equipment? Rather than own several pieces over many years it may be more cost effective to go right to the best and be done with it. It is not for us to judge IMO.
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