“Most excellent tubes. Sound great”

Posted 1 year ago

Baron Wohler

“Wanted to try a tube preamp for some time to see what a difference it would make. After reading quite a bit on different amps, and their reviews I decided on the PrimaLuna Evo, 300 tube preamplifier. Even though I had no way of listening to it before I purchased it, and it's cost was quite expensive to me. I thought if I don't like it, I can return it. Well, it was shipped quick quickly and as you've probably already read, it was packaged extremely well. Got it out and hooked it up to my system and I must admit I heard a very noticeable difference right from the beginning. Everything I had heard about and hoped for was there. Especially the separation of instruments and vocals, and not only a wide soundstage but a deep one also. The very highs of my existing system could be a little tiring for me and I hoped this would also change that. It did without eliminating the highs. I still get beautiful highs but have eliminated what I'll call a screechyness about it. Of course, my subwoofer no longer was powered so I sent an email asking if I could plug my subwoofer into the other output of the preamp. I received a quick response stating that I could. Sounds great. After just two or three weeks I had a tube go bad making a very loud hum. Again, I sent an email explaining my problem to upscale audio. To my amazement within just a few minutes, I received a phone call from them to resolve the problem. Which they did and very quickly. Yes, it was a lot of money, but there is no way I would return this preamp. Very happy with everything. Not only the quality of the prima Luna and the sound I am getting from it but also the service I have received from Upscale Audio.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

Kevin Willis

Verified Reviewer

Author didn't leave any comments.

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Posted 2 years ago

Robert Piggott

Verified Reviewer

Author didn't leave any comments.

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Posted 2 years ago

Curtis Hayes

Verified Reviewer

“Works”

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Posted 3 years ago

“One of my tubes had a freyed insulator spacer board inside of it, which overall reflects poorly on the quality control or what they think of me as a customer. The pins were rough on the tips, showing the character of side cutters, not dome-rounded like my Mullards. The Paint style does not match my other stock Primluna tubes in my Dialogue and the wiring inside is noticeably of another series. It is quite simply not the same run of tubes, which raises some concern as there is whole industry that thrives on mislabeled counterfeits, but I suspect the tube styling may simply be from the more recent EVO line, the heaters noticeable extend below the bottom spacer while my others don’t, almost everything in the tube is different, maybe an upgrade, maybe not, I don’t have tube testers, but my system exhibits a higher noise floor when I swapped in this pair. I kinda feel like I got B stock with the rough pins and frayed spacer. I had Mullards before, which would flash on startup, these Primaluna Tubes don’t flash, and that makes me feel like the system was designed for them. But noticeably better noise floor and juicier bass with the Mullards. Their glass isn't as shiny it almost looks dirty next to the Primalunas which glisten, but the Mullard pins are clearly of a much higher quality like little torpedoes so room for improvement for the new production tubes. I know historically allot of tubes were discarded as they wouldn’t meet spec, a very high rejection rate, which tube shortages during the pandemic, I wonder if I got the scrapings off the bottom of the barrel, or if the rejects are making their way onto the shelves, when in previous times they wouldn’t have.”

9 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

We want to thank you for your detailed and honest review of the PrimaLuna -12AU7- tube. New production tubes are a challenge. This tube is now being sourced from a different factory than the original tube that was in this amp when it was sold new. This is the result of a fire in the manufacturing facility that closed the plant that made the original tube. We go to great lengths to source the best of the best tubes and then retest them when we get them. We look for 2 things in this process, Sound performance, and electrical performance. The tubes are carefully matched so that when 2 or more tubes are ordered they will work well together. It is a continuous choice to prioritize the tube sonic and electrical performance over the cosmetics of the tube. This is why you get a "noticeably better noise floor and juicier bass " . For us, the clarity of the glass and other cosmetics are all secondary.

Posted 3 years ago

“I have been using these tubes in my Prima Luna Premium integrated amp for almost six years. They have never failed to impress me with their sound. Also, good value for the money.”

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Posted 3 years ago

Greg Landesman

Verified Reviewer

“Excellent tube well packed. Upscale is the place for tubes”

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Posted 3 years ago

PrimaLuna -12AU7- Reviews