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
timlub
1,649 posts
 
Tough call on a tough situation, if I had purchased 2 preamps and within a few weeks, one went defective and damaged a very expensive pair of speakers,  then the second unit did the same thing, I would also be beyond aggravated. I would expect the dealer to make an insurance claim or something.  A customer should not be out of pocket for what is admittedly defective goods  and 2 of them no less.
I'm not after a Kevin bash, I don't know what all he offered,  but a set of tubes wouldn't cut it for me..... I would want 2 working preamps, a set of tubes and my speaker repairs at a minimum. Again,  to me this sounds like it should be an insurance claim and the manufacturer, distributor, dealer or combination there of should be taking care of this customer.
I know of PL owners myself that are happy with their product and dealing with Kevin,  but that doesn't excuse this.  Good Luck 
fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
334 posts
 
I find the OP suspicious too. A grand total of two posts, both of which are the same. Why does a guy buy a $2500 preamp to match with 30,000 speakers. What speakers are they that cost that much and have "power supplies"? What the heck is a speaker power supply? Does he mean the amp portion of self-powered speakers? Perhaps a power supply for some type of planars? I realize this is fairly inconsequential, but between the lack of posting history, equipment disparity, and odd nomenclature, I am suspicious. There are thousands of PL owners out there and this guy just so happens to be the first to report not just one but two defective PL preamps. 
Mr. Deal is bound to chime in any moment. If the output caps were truly defective and passed DC, I would be surprised if he did not offer to do something more to assist including offering to pay the cost of the "power supply", whatever it might be-I doubt it was $30,000. 
I will give the OP one thing-he gave me reason to sit back and eat some popcorn. 
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
I'd like to hear the other side of the story.  I've known Kevin for over 30 years.  He can be a little abrupt with some people, but he's a really good guy.

To semi-quote Paul Harvey, "Now for the rest of the story"...
larryi
1,972 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.  
stevecham
3,298 posts
 
If you have $30,000 speakers, it is incumbent upon you to do the diligence required to match upstream components BEFORE putting them in system.

And why are you using PrimaLuna components with $30,000 speakers may I ask? That does not seem like a well balanced system i.e. budget preamp paired with premium speakers. Also, the manufacturer of such powered speakers would WARN against any DC in the system that would damage them.

I don’t see how Kevin Deal is at "fault" in this case, unless he misrepresented that the preamp, or amp, had "0 DC" and it in fact had some.

And, the preamp doesn't provide DC to the speaker, that would be the amp.

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