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

Hello everyone, I have question that I hope some of you either can answer or have an opinion on. Ever since I was 17, I have always wanted to own Audio Research equipment. I’m 56 now, and finally was able to fulfill my life long dream. My first acquisition was an ARC LS15 pre-amp bought here used in mint condition. I paired it with a Vincent 331MK hybrid amp also bought here used in mint condition. The resulting sound was impressive. After that, I started looking for an ARC amp I could afford. The resulting search found me an ARC VS115 amp also here in used, awesome condition. This is where my problems and my doubts started. Upon hooking up the amp to my system, a tube in the left channel arced and blew a resistor. I had to take the amp to an ARC dealer and he installed a new resistor and suggested I buy all new tubes from ARC for the amp. I did and when I got back home, I again hooked up the amp and immediately upon turning the amp on, I started to hear thumping sounds coming from my left speaker, then, two left channel output tubes started to glow a very bright orange, and then white smoke started to rise from one of the tube sockets. I immediately turned the amp off. I called the dealer and he suggested I mail the unit back to ARC. I did and I am now waiting to see what they say.

During this time, I started to search out other brands and came across one called PrimaLuna. I have watched their videos and seen them compared to ARC equipment. Their build quality seems to be superior to ARC and the reviews are over the top. I am looking at their Dialogue Premium HP amp and their Dialogue Premium pre-amp. For what they cost, considering how they are built and supposedly sound compared to units costing 3 to 4 times their price, they almost seem too good to be true. Anyway, my bubble has been burst, and in simple terms, I am considering jumping ship and going with another company instead of ARC, despite all those years of drooling and waiting.

My main question is this, is there anyone out there that either owns PrimaLuna or has had experience with the equipment and can give me their opinion on owning and using it. Then, my second question is how does PrimaLuna really compare to other high end equipment such as ARC. Kevin Deal in his videos on PrimaLuna makes a very compelling case for the equipment. In one video, he compares an ARC LS17SE to the PrimaLuna pre-amp.

My last question is in regards to my ARC VS115 amp problems. Anyone have an opinion on what is going on with my amp or a VS115 in general. For those of you who want to know what else is in my system, I am using KEF 104ab speakers, a Cambridge Azur 752BD Blu-ray player as my CD player, Morrow Audio Cables and I am considering getting the Sony HAP-Z1ES music player for my digital files.

I greatly appreciate all who take the time to comment and give their opinions. I will be glad to answer any questions you may ask or provide additional. Thanks for your help. Steve.


128x128skyhawk51
crwindy
108 posts
 
Interesting to see this as I also have the Vivid 1.5 and am looking to upgrade amplifier. Presently have CARY SLI-80 Sig F1. Thinking of the Primaluna as well. Wondering if it is worth going to the Dialogue Premium HP with the standard EL34 vs the Dialogue Premium but putting in KT 150 tubes. The HP has 8 tubes, so it will be pricey when time to retube as compared to the regular premium with 4 output tubes. It does have significantly more power, and if it runs cooler, the tubes could last longer.
scratchback2001
1 posts
 
Hey Skyhawk. I own a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated Amplifier and I  love it. I'm 57, an ex night club DJ of many years. I've loved Valve amps since I was a kid and I own a Leak Stereo 20 fully restored. Kevin Deal was reluctant initially to put his name to an amp that couldn't be made totally in the states! I live in Melbourne Victoria Australia by the way. The build quality of the Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated is beyond reproach. Point to point wiring, toroidal hand made transformers, an Alps motorised volume control, a remote control that weighs about half a kilo......it has everything. No printed circuit boards here and you have a switch on the side to select either EL34s or KT88, KT120 or KT150 tubes. It has 6 12AU7s for the input and 8 power tubes with fully ventilated sockets. They're mounted to the chassis so theres no flexing unlike circuit boards which will eventually fail. The big thing here is full automatic bias. No multi meters here. As the tubes age this circuit which is not in the signal path keeps the push pull mode in its perfect sweet spot which minimizes noise by at least 50% more. It has AC offset to kill unwanted mains noise. It also has hermetically sealed relays controlled by the selector knob to kill input crosstalk which can stand being switched open and closed 50 thousand times. The headphone socket is selected by another switch to stop the socket from being a weak link in the audio chain. The speaker binding posts have no hole to insert cable to improve sound quality and all RCA inputs are gold plated. I'm running a turntable but even though you could've had a preamp installed, I bought a Cambridge Audio preamp to keep the unit stock. Vinyl sound through this amp is stunning and CDs are clean and warm. If a tube fails, a red LED lights up telling you which tube is faulty. Replace it, turn the power back on and forget about bias adjustment! I'm running a pair of Wharfedale speakers and using the stock EL34s, this amplifier just sings whether it's Enya, Pink Floyd or dance music. It has a Home Theatre through selector and it handles this function well. It's a heavy amp 30 kilos, but there was no compromise on build quality......10 out of 10. You can get them as stereo power amps or mono blocks and boy they kick some serious arse. Primaluna have just released a 5AR4 tube rectified stereo preamp and even though I don't need one, I will be getting one as soon as I can order it. The only downside is that if you want to run KT150 tubes, you can't fit the protective cage over them because those tubes are  too high but 88s or 120s provide plenty of power but you can use KT150s without the cage! Primaluna are a young company but man their gear makes you drool. Google their internal pictures. No cheap components here. I love my Primaluna amplifier. Both them and Macintosh are my favourite amps but the Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated wins hands down! Cheers Andrew Peter Collins, Melbourne Victoria Australia! 
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parsons
117 posts
 
@crwindy 

Sorry to be 5 months late to respond to this thread again...you may have moved on and made your decisions.  To me it was well worth the upgrade to KT150s and "upgraded" driver tubes from what was shipped with it.  You can re-read a few of my posts from earlier in this thread where I tried to detail the improvements I heard.  I tried the EL34s again--they're great--but I preferred the KT150s for all that they do well, and in my opinion, better than the EL34s.  All is relative, and you're correct in that it's not a cheap upgrade.
mpls71
1 posts
 
Hello there.

I personally have  experience with the Prima Luna Dialogue pre amp.
Also with some Audio Research.
Bottom line is Prima Luna !
If you want to fill a big room with high volume go with Prima Luna Dialogue mono blocks added to the pre amp.
Other amp manufactures I would recommend is Krell- 200watts/ch ,or Conrad Johnson 200 watts/ch.
you will be impressed.
Don't overthink too much and enjoy.!
Happy Listening

johnss
291 posts
 
would agree with Pokey. Have 4 PL amps, as well as numerous copies of tube amps from other mfgrs.

The PLs sound good right out of the box, and as Kevin noted, all point to point wiring which you do not get with most of the US mfgrs. who use circuit boards to save on labor costs)

The PL amps offer a great starting point to cap upgrading tube rolling etc.
And the PL amps don't run the tubes right at the design limits so you are not replacing tubes every 6-12  months with a PL amp.




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