Thinking of buying an amp because of good reviews? Every product, no matter what, gets good reviews. So how do you know if it’s simply good or world-class?
The answer is simple- When a magazine reviewer spends their own money to buy it for themselves! Many reviewers have done just that because every PrimaLuna reviewed has a Stereophile Class A rating. Class A is defined as “Best attainable sound for a component of it’s kind, almost without practical considerations” with practical considerations meaning at any price. The Absolute Sound’s Dick Olsher is possibly the most experienced and technically adept writer on staff when it comes to tube amplification. He declared “It is my current benchmark in integrated tube amplifiers,” resulting in a 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2017 Editor’s Choice Award.
Sure it looks good. But that should never be a reason to buy. Don’t be fooled by overpriced name brands and lofty descriptions that cover up mediocre build quality. Do you want an $8000 integrated amp weighing only 36lbs with one printed circuit board, no-name parts inside, and a push button chip volume control? Or a $3399 integrated weighing 64lbs, hand made with Swiss point to point wiring and the finest exotic parts, and the most advanced technology found in any tube amplifier? Any audiophile who is also an electrical engineer would know instantly.
48 watts x 2 (KT150)45 watts x 2 (KT120)43 watts x 2 (KT88)42 watts x 2 (EL34)
30 watts x 2 (KT150)27 watts x 2 (KT120)25 watts x 2 (EL34 & KT88)
10Hz-65kHz (KT150)10Hz-65kHz (KT120)5Hz-32kHz (KT88)5Hz-30kHz (EL34)
0.2% (KT150)0.2% (KT120)0.25% (KT88)0.14% (EL34)
90 dB (KT150, KT120 & KT88)86 dB (EL34)
300mV (KT150)290mV (KT120)285mV (KT88)275mV (EL34)
6 – 12AU74 – EL34