2. amps-preamps
  3. 131501-88991

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
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.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
I don't think this event happened. If you look at the original post, you will see that the poster said that the power supply for the speaker failed- not the speaker itself.

If we presume for a minute that the preamp was putting out DC, and that also somehow this got by the amplifier without blowing up the amp and/or tripping its protection circuitry, then it would be the woofer of the speaker that would be at risk, not the 'power supply' (which suggests an ESL, but even then the power supply would be untouched).

So without further information, I'm calling this one a massive troll- and an attack on Kevin Deal. Kevin is a competitor on mine (we make amps and preamps) but he's always been straight with me.
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
At least in my experience of 14 decades of audio stuff (I knew Marconi), a preamp sending DC to a power amp is so rare as to be statistically insignificant. Kevin Deal is one of the few passionately entertaining audio dealers I can think of, and it would be interesting if he chimed in here if only for my personal entertainment (sorry, but it is all about me). The part of the post saying Deal "thanked him" for pointing out the flaws in the preamps is actually weirdly personal, and utterly unlikely…I’d like to think a conspiracy exists where "special" PrimaLuna gear was sent to this guy to intentionally destroy his speakers, thus stopping an attempt at world wide domination by a French Canadian.
inna
5,245 posts
 
He knows it never happened, he is just telling us his nightmare dream. Relax, everyone.
timlub
1,649 posts
 
Well,  I appreciate Ralph chiming in with some reality. I also assumed an ESL and I do know that DC from any component hitting a DC coupled input can cause serious damage in speakers.  I've seen it fry speakers more than once, but I had no idea of its affect to an ESL. If the power supply on the ESL would have simply passed this on and it would have damaged the speaker, then???  I am curious to see how this plays out.  I feel badly for Kevin if this is another somewhat phoney claim... Second time that I've seen that someone joined our forum just to slam Kevin and the first time, Kevin took care of the customer.
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