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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
@ibocquin Hm, Its been a bit of a mystery to me as to why Krell has been spreading a false rumor that tube preamps push DC; I'm thinking that your experience might explain it.

@erik_squires  With regards to the PL preamp- if a high frequency snubber cap, the failure may have caused the preamp to make ultrasonic noise powerful enough that the amp made enough power to damage the speaker. If that is the case, my theory about the AC line may be out the window.
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
It ain't just us audio geeks with our precious and pampered gear piles who crave tubes, there are millions of happy tube guitar and bass amp users dragging these things around the world or just staying home and enjoying the reliability and tone of what is basically the Industry Standard. Old leaky caps in my Deluxe…worked fine for 50 years...
stfoth
435 posts
 
Wolf--those leaky caps probably just add to the distinctive rockin' _ss vintage tone that no ss or modeler can truly duplicate!

Back in the day (and maybe still), rockers would intentionally take various sharp or blunt instruments to their speaker cones, too.  Don't know of many audio geeks who are doing that to their speakers.  Although too many seem to allow their kids and guests to vintagify their tweeters.
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
@atmasphere and that's why I am confused.

The OP said specifically it was DC and that he damaged his speaker, not his amp.

<< shrug >>

Not a big deal.

Best,

E
thedude720richard's avatar
thedude720richard
4 posts
 
I'm no expert at the build quality of any electronics made anywhere. I will say that it is really arrogant to say everything made in China is junk. If something is junk it would be only because of the use of inferior components or poorly trained workers. I find it highly unlikely that a well respected brand name company would ruin their reputation by building inferior products. Everybody understands business decisions to move plants to other countries is based solely on cheaper labor markets. If a company is using the same quality parts inside their equipment it is hard to believe their products would be inferior just because the workers are not  located in North America. This only smacks of protectionism. 
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