Picked up a tube amp this time around

[ematthews]

New item in the house this weekend. Primaluna HP Integrated. KT88 upgrade. Only a little time on it. Beautiful amp. Going to heat the room up real nice in the winter. Holy crap it gets hot.. Ha.
Would love to do an A/B test against the ATI/P5 set up but that won't happen. Any Primaluna owners out there?

 

[ematthews]

Here is a little lume shot. Pretty cool.

 

[Lulimet]

 

[crossedover]

Nice look. One thing from their we page that I thought was interesting was

Every seasoned tube owners knows that 20 watts from a tube amp is a ton of power.

, not sure what that means. Is the power going to meet your requirements?

 

[ematthews]

This is the HP version. A ton of power.

 

[ImcLoud]

LOL, do you know how many times I heard "well 20 tube watts is way more than 20 solid state watts", lol I don't know how they figure it out, but more power to them... I run a tube amp and own a couple of them, a carver and jolida, I think I prefer the jolida, but for ambiance and looks and feel and just coolness, the tube amps are awesome... The trick to them is run efficient speakers, towers normally and keep them in a well vented area, not near heat ducts or radiators and they will last a long time...

Another thing I hear all the time but find is true about tube equipment--- "If they are not breaking in they are breaking down" keep that in mind, lol...

 

[crossedover]

This is the HP version. A ton of power.

Am I reading their website wrong? The 88s @ 73wper @8ohm 1%thd or is it higher than 73 w?

 

[ematthews]

Don't think so. I am listening right now and this amp drives the RBH towers really well. Steven Wilson is in the room... To be honest, from memory, I am not hearing much difference between the Primaluna and the ATI/P5 set up... Some tell me tubes need hours and hours to break in. I think when you get up to these categories you almost split hairs to find a difference in sound quality.

 

[slipperybidness]

LOL, do you know how many times I heard "well 20 tube watts is way more than 20 solid state watts", lol I don't know how they figure it out, but more power to them... I run a tube amp and own a couple of them, a carver and jolida, I think I prefer the jolida, but for ambiance and looks and feel and just coolness, the tube amps are awesome... The trick to them is run efficient speakers, towers normally and keep them in a well vented area, not near heat ducts or radiators and they will last a long time...

Another thing I hear all the time but find is true about tube equipment--- "If they are not breaking in they are breaking down" keep that in mind, lol...

LOL. Yeah that about breaking in/breaking down is just about spot-on!

When SS amps distort, it is hard-clipping and sounds harsh. When tubes distort it is softer clipping and does not sound hideous as quickly as SS. So, you can drive tubes to higher power and higher distortion. That is why people say "20 tube watts is more than 20 SS watts". Yup, it's a stupid thing to say, but now you know why they say it.

 

[mtrycrafts]

LOL, do you know how many times I heard "well 20 tube watts is way more than 20 solid state watts", lol I don't know how they figure it out, but more power to them... ...

That is a trade secret.

 

[mtrycrafts]

LOL. Yeah that about breaking in/breaking down is just about spot-on!

When SS amps distort, it is hard-clipping and sounds harsh. When tubes distort it is softer clipping and does not sound hideous as quickly as SS. So, you can drive tubes to higher power and higher distortion. That is why people say "20 tube watts is more than 20 SS watts". Yup, it's a stupid thing to say, but now you know why they say it.

Yes, but then me can ask, how much more power can it deliver before in is so noticeable?

 

[ImcLoud]

Tube amps are just very expensive now, you are paying for that vanity.. For example my jolida is $1150 JOLIDA JD202BRC INTEGRATED TUBE AMP at Music Direct for 40w x 2, you can get an emotiva xpa200 that delivers 150 watts for $400, that is just about 1/3rd the price and you get more than 3 times the power... So its just a matter of what you want...

There is something nice about a record spinning and tubes glowing some 60's music playing softly, in the background.. Now if you want to strap in and critique some material and hear every breath from the lead singer and the drummer tapping his foot, then don't look to that type of gear, but if you want some warm tubes, then go for it.... I like them all, shoot I enjoy listening to my 1940's juke boxes and they sound terrible, lol...

 

[walter duque]

New item in the house this weekend. Primaluna HP Integrated. KT88 upgrade. Only a little time on it. Beautiful amp. Going to heat the room up real nice in the winter. Holy crap it gets hot.. Ha.
Would love to do an A/B test against the ATI/P5 set up but that won't happen. Any Primaluna owners out there?

That's a great amp. KT88's have been around since the 50's (I think.). I have a friend that builds his own amps that put out 3-5 watts and they sound great, I still can't figure out how it's done. Enjoy your new purchase.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Congrats!

The important thing is that you are utterly enjoying them - so much that you would sell the great ATI/Parasound combo!

 

[ematthews]

Congrats!

The important thing is that you are utterly enjoying them - so much that you would sell the great ATI/Parasound combo!

I am, but I am also keeping the ATI and the Parasound now. I'm going to have two systems on the rack and whatever my mood is, that is what will be turned on... I say best of both worlds!!! Now all I need is a turntable to listen to my old records again.

 

[3db]

I am, but I am also keeping the ATI and the Parasound now. I'm going to have two systems on the rack and whatever my mood is, that is what will be turned on... I say best of both worlds!!! Now all I need is a turntable to listen to my old records again.

How much do you have budgeted for the turntable?

 

[ematthews]

How much do you have budgeted for the turntable?

I don't. I am broke!!! It will be in the future. The Primaluna took all my funds.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am, but I am also keeping the ATI and the Parasound now. I'm going to have two systems on the rack and whatever my mood is, that is what will be turned on... I say best of both worlds!!! Now all I need is a turntable to listen to my old records again.

That is best of both worlds. Even better.

 

[ImcLoud]

That is best of both worlds. Even better.

I want the best of all 3 worlds...



OK, so now we have to find you a turn table... I have a few different ones, I use the music hall 2.2 le and the project 1.3 both are decent tables, I also had some time to play with the uturn and it is also nice for the price... I think if you jut wanna play some decent old albums, the uturn would be an awesome choice...
You can get the table Store - U-Turn Audio
a mat http://www.amazon.com/Sleeve-City-Anti-Static-Turntable-Pattern/dp/B00E41UM0Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-4&keywords=mat+turntable
and a q up if you are forgetful http://www.amazon.com/Q-UP-QUP-TONEARM-LIFTER/dp/B008OAMD26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410360761&sr=8-1&keywords=q-up
..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I want the best of all 3 worlds...

You mean 3 different audio systems? More rooms = more worlds. More power to you.

I will pretty much have 3 different systems since I can't seem to sell a few things.