Upscale Audio and Primaluna

I don’t care what gear you have.  It looks like you were just trying to vent about one of the unfortunate sales practices in this industry.  That unfortunately takes place .  It’s the approach that is meant to tell you what you can and should change to better your system and knowing what you have is helpful information to the salesman.  Being that many in this Audiophile lifestyle have bottomless check books it’s a sales practice that does in fact build some great systems when the salesperson has some actual knowledge and skill.I find the sales practice is worse when the person is an audio snob.  
I like it when your looking for used audio gear and you just want to see what they have available.  Most places won’t just simply give you a list.  They will start to question you about your system and then try to sell you something that is over your states budget.  Then if and when you find something in their stash that is within your budget they shoot it down.  Like they really don’t want to sell it.  
There is also the sales approach where they question you about what’s important to you such as soundstage or bass and proceed to push something you heard already that you feel does not offer it.  When you tell them that they proceed to crap on the setup or the place you listened to them at.

If I have a good budget I would take the time to answer their questions and listen to their advise if they have a reputation for being trustworthy in their advise. But if I am going to trust their advise I like to grill the salesman about what they listen to when they want to demo a speaker with good base.  If they start walking about string instruments and make vocals I know their interpretation of good bass may be different than mine.  From that point on I know when they say deep bass, I need to take that with a grain of salt.

Yesterday I used Upscale's website to ask for a recommendation for two 6550's, one 12AX7, and two 5AR4 rectifiers for an amp I have under construction (Ampsandsound Nautilus). Sean at Upscale responded courteously that they no longer make recommendations due to some-I gather-customer complaints. I responded by asking for three or so options for each tube and Sean did (though there was only one 5AR4 on offer). Sean immediately responded with options and I selected and paid and minutes later I got notice they were being shipped. Whenever possible, I select from "Kevin's Stash". I like how UA offers tiers of testing results on some tubes-Gold, Platinum, and Kevin's. 
Five years ago I bought a brand new ARC Ref 6 from a local dealer at full MSRP and an ARC Ref 150 SE as a dealer demo model at half-price with something like 20 hours on the tube timer. The amp arrived with a dead KT150. I bought two spare KT150's from Upscale after discussing the amp and it biased within spec and has been serving me well all these years later. 
As to Audio Research, even when McIntosh Group owned it the products were built by hand and under the management of Warren Gehl. One look at the inside of the Ref 6 through the standard plexiglass top cover shows it is built with premium parts. Point to point wiring is not inherently superior to use of circuit boards. A look into the PL gear shows both PtP wiring and circuit boards btw. PtP wiring does allow for easy repairs. My Ref 6 is dual mono, does have tube rectification, but not PtP wiring. Being one of those who believes the preamp is the very heart and single most important choice of any audio system, I love my Ref 6. 
But I also love simple designs done right and that is why I have an Ampsandsound Nautilus coming my way-an 8 watt amp/headphone amp that weighs 65 pounds! Built the way amps used to be built 60 years ago. 

I have a PrimaLuna Dialogue Premier HP amp.  Couldn’t be happier with it.  Sounds great and takes any hassle of tubes out . . . No biasing, can switch between triode and pentode modes, with the stock tubes is 75wpc and two in mono pumps out 170wpc, and a warning light for tube failure that actually works. I can’t say anything about OP’s post other than you should definitely give it a listen.  Ultimately, that is the test.

Well, a lot of comments. Here are the truths about me and my business. I have never wanted to tell people what tube to buy because it is not possible,and people used to grind on me to say SOMETHING and get pissed if I didn’t. Granted this would be the same customer that would want to return it because "You told me to buy it". You audiophiles are here because you’re not all there (grin). Try spending an hour on a $30 tube sale when you are up to your ass. You think it’s easy? Open a tube business.

If any salesperson working for me talks crap about your system I want to know who it is because I’ll fire them. I never hear that from people, most likely because they are on hourly wage and getting paid the same whether it’s selling $100k speakers or helping some old dude get his streamer working. However today people look to get offended sometimes.

We have technical trainings all the time. My sales staff is comprised of people that have upwards of 35 years of experience, many that worked at high levels for manufacturers, a cartridge designer, a full-on bench tech, tube expert, and tweek doing customers support. I’m gathering the best people and paying them well, but never incentifying bad behavior. I don’t get to help customers but instead, teach and make employees experts.

Yes, the company is on a big trajectory. I was going to retire at 55, and I’m 63 now. I have employees that have been here for close to 25 years, and what am I going to do with them? They gave their lives to me. I owe them. Jared’s parents tell me every Christmas how grateful they are that I employ their son. It’s my privilege. I’ll hopefully create something that is so great, with management much smarter than me, and a company that is well-respected and when I croak it will continue and do good things and the core team will be happy they are here. I have no kids. They are my kids.

Since 2003 PrimaLuna has been on fire, experiencing double-digit growth even during the recession. It has zero to do with any other brand, it is made in the best factory in the world, where there were two Japanese brands being manufactured but labeled "made in Japan". There’s a major US brand that makes nothing,but assembles Chinese pre-made kits, and calls them "Made in USA" And they are a better product because of it, sadly. And a certain Austrian brand is mostly Chinese. PrimaLuna has always been transparent, including the most important part: Telling you what’s in the box.

We would not be growing like this if we weren’t doing the right thing. We have told many people don’t buy a PrimaLuna if it’s not right for them. It’s been said here by another member. I just did that this week with a guy who inherited DQ10’s, plays it loud, and has a huge room. He REALLY wants one because his other friend has one and loves it so much.

All my employees love PL. For a reason. I’ll say this and I am happy to prove it: PrimaLuna IS top-shelf in the tube world, and you are welcome to trot down any amp of similar power and we’ll do a level-matched blind A/B. Name a brand. I think VAC is great stuff. I’ve done it already. All you nervous nellies would be surprised how close any good tube amps sound to each other level-matched.

All PrimaLuna was engineered by the former Chief Engineer at Goldmund.in Switzerland. The team has expanded with new projects. Our new Hybrid had the best guys in Europe working on it, and it’s the shit. Parts you would see in a D’Agostino, but without the meters. And price tag.

Our auto-bias design is state of the art. Period. Ayon should show a picture of their auto-bias board. I’ll bet it’s great, but show it. We do. Don’t take anyone’s word for anything. Not even me. I have a video coming showing the Raven Audio "fully auto bias" design. You won’t believe this one.

Anyway, I’ll probably regret crawling out of my hole to post this. I’ll crawl back in now. Whatever you folks get I hope you love it. Hope you are having fun.