2. amps-preamps
  3. 146095-78654

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
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 . 
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
1,368 posts
 
smills, Would you give us a little more information about how the two amps compare on your Summit Xs?
smills59 OP
24 posts
 
tomcy6, I definitely will.  I've been snowed in, in Oregon for the past five days and unable to get home to hook up the Sanders ESL, but I'm heading there today and will spend the weekend with it.  It has lots of power, soit will be interesting to hear the difference.

maplegrovemusic, those KT150s are expensive!  Not sure I would put another $800 into the PL, but KT120s might be possible.  Any suggestions?  Or is it better to replace the two gain tubes fIrst?

This hobby is awesome!
tablejockey
743 posts
 
"Not sure I would put another $800 into the PL, but KT120s might be possible. Any suggestions? Or is it better to replace the two gain tubes fIrst? "

smills59-

Experimenting with the 2 inner gain tubes can fine tune the overall characteristics of whatever power tubes are in the amp.
The EL34’s have great mids and highs. You might hear the KT88,120 as more solid in the bass, but less refined mids. The KT150’s are reported to have the best of the EL34 mids and KT88’s low end.

I had a feeling you would be pleased with the performance of the ML’s/PL. I have a PL HP, and thought ML’s sound great thru it.

As mentioned earlier, your own ears are the best judge.

Still wondering what your impressions are of the Sanders, compared to the PL. I’m guessing the Sanders may subjectively, catch your attention in some areas, but wont sound as organic as the PL. That of course, is just my subjective opinion. You may prefer the Sanders.
More to discover