Thanks for posting. Components like that are what makes this hobby so interesting to me.
I heard the Ongaku in a large system in a large room and at the same show there was a small AN system in a little room with an OTO amp that was much more enjoyable. Size and $$$$$ isn’t everything.
Hickok tube testers are on ebay most of the time.
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I’ve just taken delivery of my PrimaLuna Evo 100 Integrated today. Unpacked it, but it’s only going to be hooked into a digital Naim Muso speaker initially until I can save up for some speakers after Christmas is out of the way. My god though, what a lovely piece of kit, am blown away.
Want to burn in the stock tubes ready for the upcoming speakers so that I can properly evaluate changing in some Mullard 12AX7 NOS I have, and then will swap the stock EL34’s and get some Gold Lion KT88’s also for it. Have heard those 2 are a great combination.
One step closer to my complete system (for now) 
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If you’re really bored some day, look inside. The wiring is impeccable.
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It’s a seriously solid piece of engineering from the outside, and the weight… I wasn’t prepared for the remote controller, just a solid hunk of aluminium, it’s quite something, and such simple controls all over. I will take a look inside at some point, I’ve seen the pictures on Upscale Audios photos and watched Kevins video on the tear down, does look rather nice, but would be good to see it in the flesh.
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The remote sounds to be wonderful. I like metal remotes. Nice.
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I have a Prima Luna Integrated and I love it. The opportunity to try different tubes without re-biasing is just wonderful. Like all things audio taste is important. I tried stock EL34, KT88, 6550, and KT150. I keep the KT150s in there as I like the dynamics. The stock EL34s were the best sounding to me though.
For the two center gain tubes, my experience was nothing like what others told me… nothing. I have a set of Mullard 12AU7 in there but went through a bunch… frankly, the stock Prima Luna tubes are just fine for me. Over all, Prima Luna chose excellent tubes.
I got hooked on tubes back in … oh about 1983… when I was in a shop on the west side of Cleveland… I heard this beautiful sound… when the sales guy came in, I asked him what speakers they were … he smiled and said it was not the speakers I was hearing, but tubes… some Luxman integrated with a little window where little tubes glowed. I NEVER forgot that day.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
The fun of these products is being able to swap stuff out… just great!
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It is hard to beat the luscious midrange of the EL34.
I have not heard the KT150, understanding only that it is a powerful tube - and a bit odd looking.
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Yes, the KT150 it is powerful and goofy looking. But as I understand it, it is a newly designed spec… really a new tube so it was designed and built to the latest and highest standards. So they say. It was made to sound good and they really do… but the EL34s…well they are more beautiful sounding. So why do I like the dynamics of the KT150s more? I think it has to do with coming from Magnepan 20 speakers being powered by those VTLs. Magnepans just don’t rock and I am enjoying the dynamics and rocking of my Focal speakers. Again, lessons on system matching… and on and on…
I had a chest full of old power tubes from owning VTL monoblocks. Those things ate tubes so I was always changing them out… KT88s and 6550s are swappable. I can tell you and anyone who cares, the maker of these tubes are more important than their design. I had crap and great KT88s and 6550s. The best tubes I used in that old pair of VTLs were Svetlana 6550s… apparently I had a whole drawer of some vintage, high value tubes that were selling for insane prices used. I could have made a killing selling them but in good conscious I could not do that because I know their time in those radiation-factory VTLs half killed them.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
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I understand the appeal, the energy and tight bass especially. The KT88, with which I am familiar, has more energy than the EL34 and I understand why people are drawn to them.
I think a good KT88 tube sounds better than a good KT120 or KT150…
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I’ve heard quite a few people say this.
Congratulations SpyderTracks! By the way, there’s a site for a guy here in the states (http://vintagetubeservices.com/) that has a diagram on his site called Tube Tonal Balance Profile Diagram that you might find interesting when considering tube selections you might be interested in trying. But like others have said, the stock tubes are great by themselves, so you don’t have to be in a hurry to change them out. Enjoy the journey!
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Thanks very much, will have a read.
As I noted in my earlier post, the maker of a given tube, is just as important as the type when it comes to sound (only one maker of KT150 as I understand). There is another place I trust as a provider of tubes: Upscale Audio where I suspect you purchased your Prima Luna. They have pretty good advice and will answer your emails about tube selection and sound… they have a pretty active business in tube selling. They also test/match their tubes and Kevin will even treat tubes with cryo-freezing them if you want (I don’t require this).
Anywho… there are good tube suppliers out there. Please don’t use eBay.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
Kevin… the consummate pitch man…
Kevin’s pitching and discussing KT120/KT150/EL34 sound…
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Sure you can go back…it may take some time as the fun of tube rolling
and tube failure add up the $$$$…and stashes of these build up…
I have owned classic Fisher gear, McIntosh…and a tubed cd player.
I love tubes…but then one day I woke up to the amount of $$$$ going in to these
SS looms saner…Would I enjoy a Prima Luna …you bet …or a Bob Latino
Dyna tube amp…certainly…but the $$$$ on tube rolling replacements…
Passing on that for now…
Happy trails
Thanks for that, I’m actually over the pond in the UK, but watch a lot of Kevin’s videos.
We’ve only got a couple of decent Tube stockists in the UK, certainly not as many as in the States, and in fact previously, I’ve ordered mine direct from the States as they’ve had much better stocks of NOS tubes and better prices also.