What do you guys think about PrimaLuna preamps?

falconcry72
falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
edited September 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
They look like a pretty good value, but I've never heard one.

http://www.primaluna-usa.com/product-main/prologue-premium/pro-prem-pre
2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
Post edited by falconcry72 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited September 2013
    Very good hybrid pre.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited September 2013
    Looks great! Wish they had a MC option for the phono. Beyond that, I like the cage so you can see the tubes on the looks. @ $2000, there is a lot of competition in the new and used market from BAT on down to Audio Research. It would be a hard call without some kind of in home trial.

    I also like they have 2 sets of outputs. Although I wish some audio preamps had built in crossovers for sub but that is just my personal thing I guess.
    You figure you might want to add in another 200+ if you want to tube roll it since they don't say what brand of tubes are in it.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited September 2013
    Good stuff...unfortunately phono pre is considered optional equipment....Tung Sol tubes is what they use.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited September 2013
    Never heard it, but as Earnie said, lots of well known great sounding pre's when you enter the 2000 clams category.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited September 2013
    I looked real hard at a PrimaLuna pre some years ago, never pulled the trigger--but they review well.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited September 2013
    I really miss my PL mono's but I heard the preamp stuff was not very good so I never went for it. Your best bet is to look into the mystere brand as its the same company but its higher end and better sounding for the preamp. Another option by the same company is the melody valve and they make the real good stuff so thats my 2 cents.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited September 2013
    Never heard their pres, but I'm huge fan of their amps. I'm listening to my PL Prologue 4 amp as I type this and it sounds fantastic. Of all the amps I've owned, the PL is my favorite. I know this really doesn't help you out with their pres, but my point is they make great sounding, high quality stuff.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,337
    edited September 2013
    My friend owns an integrated and it sounds great with his Harbeth monitors.
    Carl

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited September 2013
    DSkip wrote: »
    It would scare me off quite a bit that people rave about their power amps. Why? Because when it comes to their pre-amps, all you get is chirps it seems. A company that gets such great press on their amps should have the same people looking hard into their preamps as well, yet you don't see much about them at all.

    They save the preamp for their other lines from mystere and melody
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited September 2013
    DSkip wrote: »
    It would scare me off quite a bit that people rave about their power amps. Why? Because when it comes to their pre-amps, all you get is chirps it seems. A company that gets such great press on their amps should have the same people looking hard into their preamps as well, yet you don't see much about them at all.

    While I can't comment on PL pres sound quality, the thing about them to me that has kept me from not trying them is their higher profile. Most pres don't take up as much room height wise and are easier to fit in a rack. Also they seem to go for a pretty penny, which makes me look towards used stuff from Sonic Frontiers, AR, BAT, Conrad Johnson, Anthem, YS Audio, etc. as my first consideration for another pre.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2013
    Dawgfish wrote: »
    While I can't comment on PL pres sound quality, the thing about them to me that has kept me from not trying them is their higher profile. Most pres don't take up as much room height wise and are easier to fit in a rack. Also they seem to go for a pretty penny, which makes me look towards used stuff from Sonic Frontiers, AR, BAT, Conrad Johnson, Anthem, YS Audio, etc. as my first consideration for another pre.

    I like the high profile, I think they are super cool looking.

    Yea my biggest problem is that my VK500 is balanced input only, so I'd have to use an adapter with a SE only pre, which kind of defeats to the point, but I'd be willing to do it for the right pre.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited September 2013
    The Melodys all have balanced inputs
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,416
    edited September 2013
    Not much of a fan of Prima Luna at all. I have heard their stuff on Maggies and Revels, and did not care for the sound at all.
    It could have been a matter of cheap stock tubes, but for the money , I would lean towards Rogue.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited September 2013
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Not much of a fan of Prima Luna at all. I have heard their stuff on Maggies and Revels, and did not care for the sound at all.
    It could have been a matter of cheap stock tubes, but for the money , I would lean towards Rogue.

    Gotta say it was either tubes or equipment upstream. I own both a PL Prologue 4 and Rogue 88 Magnum. I've played both on the MMGs you sold me and I prefer the PL by a wide, wide margin.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,416
    edited September 2013
    Dawgfish wrote: »
    Gotta say it was either tubes or equipment upstream. I own both a PL Prologue 4 and Rogue 88 Magnum. I've played both on the MMGs you sold me and I prefer the PL by a wide, wide margin.


    How are the old girls doing anyway? I miss them a lot right now.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited September 2013
    They are doing great! I really like the Maggies. I'm thinking of moving them into my bedroom system now I'm back in GA so I can listen to them more. Got to thank you for selling them to me. I've always wanted to try them and I'm really glad I did!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter