Considering switching from Audio Research to PrimaLuna, troube with VS115 amp

Allan: The DAC is finished in prototyping. No ETA or any other info as yet. If anybody is looking for a PS Audio Directstream I had a brand new one that was purchased by a customer that two weeks later got transferred to Europe and we could not get the voltage switched in time and he had to buy a 230v. His unit is for sale I think but perhaps it got sold. He also had the new transport. Incredible opportunity.

Thom_mackris : I like your thinking. What’s your take on Rogers then? Cathode bias, and I suspect they run the tubes hot. Yet they say this on their website.  It's all true, except I've not seen a cathode bias amp with "the longest tube life". :

• Auto Bias Circuit– For long tube life and ease of operation. Self Bias circuit for adjustment free operation and longest tube life. Customer does not need to adjust tube bias. As the tubes age, they adjust for bias changes automatically. The customer can change tubes at any time or replace a single tube rather than the full set of 4 and the amp will automatically re-bias for the change.

fsonicsmith: BAT makes some incredible products. The VK33SE, at $9995, is shockingly good. Look at the way they make their volume control with actual laddered resistors, dual-mono, toroidal transformers, transformer coupling, tube regulation, you name it. If you look at it and listen to it you will truly see how amazing it is. The problem BAT had was being "in vogue" as well as giving dealers a true safe haven to sell at retail, which others do real well. And the dealer margins weren’t that great in the first place. The behavior of dealers to that is what creates being "in vogue" Trust me on this folks. I’ve done this as a living for 40 years. Stripping away all that, the VK33SE at $9995 is amazing. No qualifications. But the original poster said it here in his original post. ARC was his dream. That always plays a part, and that’s fine.

When I get back from my trip, I’d be down with doing another comparison. Somebody mentioned VAC. I know how the DiaLogue Premium compares to the Sigma 160i. But I don’t have one. I have the flagship Alpha Phi that we took on trade but it’s not current. Can somebody find a way to get one? Or a preamp/poweramp combo that is current?

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/~apm3/diyaudio/Croft_top3.jpg

Here's a pic I was looking for-look how the Wondercaps (I presume) are assembled askew-for the shortest possible signal path. Kevin-Art Dudley has a penchant for looking at what he considers to be good-value build quality and scoring points with readers as an audio consumer advocate. He loves to see simple casework and point-to-point-he does after all worship at the alter of Shindo and Garrard. I don't disagree with his particular viewpoint (pun) but it again ultimately means little. Look at Plinius. One look and you would think some designer thought he could forge a market with over-the-top casework and mediocre electronics but that would be a wrong assumption too. Getting again to the point, your gear IS built well and designed to give the buyer a very trouble-free tubed amp/preamp/integrated. Commendable stuff. But you can't pick good gear with your eyeballs. Watches-yes, audio gear no. Hey, it's a wonder Harbeth is still in business with their homely loudspeakers but obviously as soon as people hear them they get over any concerns that they are like "mom's idea of a nice girl with a good personality". 

I caved and put the KT150s back in after just under 3 days.  It's all the loveliness of the EL34s, but at SCALE.  Everything is just "more" of what the EL34s have.  Soundstage is much much larger, bass is deeper and a little tighter.  Sparkle a little more real on cymbals.  No downside I can find, other than perhaps I'm in the first or second row of the presentation where I was more like 10th or 12th row with the EL34s, which is not a downside to me (preference), just a difference.

I caved and put the KT150s back in after just under 3 days.  It's all the loveliness of the EL34s, but at SCALE.  Everything is just "more" of what the EL34s have.  Soundstage is much much larger, bass is deeper and a little tighter.  Sparkle a little more real on cymbals.  No downside I can find, other than perhaps I'm in the first or second row of the presentation where I was more like 10th or 12th row with the EL34s, which is not a downside to me (preference), just a difference.

I think that is a perfect description.  I do worry that guys get the impression that it's a REQUIREMENT in PL gear when it's obviously not. It's not huge.  But real. I can also say that at the super low plate voltage and easy way they are biased they will go and go and go.  I run the heck out of mine and after 2 years they measure 90% of new.  One pair of 12AU7's can be similarly effective.  

fsonic, I don’t think upscale suggested buying amps by their looks. He set up a listening session comparing 2 PrimaLunas to an AR integrated that was more than twice the price of the PLs, after all. He invited everyone to attend. Those who did attend listened and selected the PrimaLunas as sounding better. A single listening session is not enough to determine which component will sound best in the long run, of course.

He also suggests that you look at build quality as part of your buying decision making process. Good advice, I think, but far from suggesting that you buy with your eyes.