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Looking for great tube integrated for Martin Logan Summit X speakers

I've had upgrade fever every since I added bass traps and acoustic panels to my listening room and wondered why I didn't do that years ago.  So I've decided to change my Plinius Hautonga integrated and make the plunge to tubes. I want that sound, and the thought of tube rolling appeals to me.  I was leaning toward the Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated, but after doing more reading, I'm concerned that it won't have adequate power due to the Summit's impedance needs.  I'm admittedly a novice with tubes, so seeking help from the forum.   My room is about 12x15, with the area behind my listening position open for an additional eight feet.  I don't listen at high volumes at all, and my favorite music is female jazz, smooth jazz, Nora Jones type vocals.  Music comes from SACDs and Tidal exclusively - I have no analogue gear.

The rest of my gear:
  • Gustard x20u DAC modified by Rick Schultz
  • Oppo 103D for SACDs modified by Rick Schultz
  • Bryston BDP-1 music streamer
Will I be happy with the Primaluna, or do you have other suggestions in the $5,000 range?  Or should I stay away from tubes for these speakers?

Appreciate your opinions!

Steve
smills59
smills59 OP
24 posts
 
The amp now has about 50 hours of break in and I have listened now for about 15 hours.  I have to say, it's still amazing.  I'm pretty new at this, but I'm not hearing what George is referring to.  Not saying he is incorrect, just that I'm thoroughly enjoying this amp.  Break in for this is about 100 hours, so it should be in it's prime Monday night.

I have the Sanders and my old Plinius action as preamp ready to power up mid-week.  Question: should I plug in the Sanders to let it begin breaking in?  Do I have to have speakers attached if it's on?

Steve
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Do I have to have speakers attached if it's on?
Solid state amps can be powered without any load on them.
But tube amps need to see a load, as there is the possibility without a load they can damage the output transformers if they go into oscillation.

Cheers George  
smills59 OP
24 posts
 
George, I hate to say it, but I'm really liking the PL HP integrated.  But you have me concerned about what I may be missing due to the impedance of my speakers.  I actually had a hearing test done recently and I can hear as slow as 133 HZ, and as high as 8400 Hz.  I'm not sure I'm reading the charts you referenced above correctly, but it appears the PL will work fine for these frequencies.  Am I reading this right?

Also, does the high power transformers of the PL help with this?  Would moving up power tubes to KT-120 help?

Sure appreciate the advice!!!
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
As I said before these are the two areas the PL would have trouble with

"The hard load points are at:
At 5khz to 20khz (a 2 octave spread) may show as distant subdued high frequency.
(But the Prima Luna has an odd peak up there, that says to me output transformers are ringing (oscillating).
This "could" counter to a degree that problem, but in a very crude way.)

And again at 3.5khz this may soften the presence area of the mids"

Cheers George
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
981 posts
 
Glad to hear you like the Primaluna . Maybe now we can stop hearing how it is a mismatch with stats.. That would be nice . Getting into the kt150's will bring it up another level as well . 
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