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Primaluna Dialogue poremium, Rogue Cronus Magnum II or Jolida 801...who can advise me?

So good morning all..
I am a novice to tubes and an old guy as far as Solid State goes. I am taking the plunge into tubes and planning on an integrated amp.
Currently I have a close to 30 year old set of Paradigm Export Monitors that I bought new many years ago and still are in awesome shape, with a sensitivity around 89dB, but am planning on a set of Tekton Design Lore speakers at 98 dB....I listen primarily to vinyl and although I have heard the PL recently in southern NH at Audio Video Therapy, I like the pricing of the Rogue better and the fact it has both a headphone amp and a Phono stage built in. Who has experience with both and what are our thoughts? And just for entertainment purposes, I also am considering the Jolida 801 Integrated....
Thanks!

128x128eag618
ericsch
180 posts
 
I have a Cayin A-88T Mk.II that is built like a tank and sounds great. It's the same quality as PL and costs a little less. Biasing is easy, all done from the top, no need to move the amp. I use KT-88's and EL34's as well as NOS preamp tubes
jphabc54
11 posts
 
I recently did an in shop A/B between the CMII and the PL Prologue (not DiaLogue). For me, the Rogue won hands down, but obviously both have their benefits.

I think personal taste is a huge part of selecting between the two. Some folks criticize the rogue as “clinical” but I’ve found with careful tube rolling that you can maintain Rogue’s detail while getting a warmer sound. 

My my buddy came to the A/B with me and he thought his much cheaper Jolida was on par with the Prologue. Again, not the Dialogue, but that’s what we thought. We aren’t deep experts in this stuff, but we know what we like.

I did buy the Rogue. It’s matched with LS50 speakers, which I think is a decent combo with the right tubes and cabling. Biasing the Rogue is a snap too. 
brianmoriarty
48 posts
 
Jphanc54 is of course correct. At a certain point with this level of equipment It ultimately comes down to personal taste. What you like and what sounds good in your room etc. For me, a relative tube novice, the auto bias was a big deal also tube sound as well as reliability. Maybe a hybrid has more bass extension in your system and that’s your thing or price point. Everyone has a thing beyond the reviews, measurements and what is supposed to sound good.
eag618's avatar
eag618 OP
32 posts
 
I like what everyone has to add as meaningful input.

I am starting to agree that the PL is probably the more intelligent decision, cost aside. That said... The decision here now is that the HP is probably the amp to go with and be done with it for years. 

Bruce I agree with you, and the HP that you use makes
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
1,457 posts
 
The one possible concern seems to be QC and reliability with PL.  While the great majority of owners report no problems whatsoever, there are some others who've had to return theirs for repair more than once.  Whether this percentage is above or below overall industry norms is impossible to say.  But I don't get the same sense with Rogue.
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