The team of Upscale Audio in the USA received a very nice review from Marc Gabor about his PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube Integrated Amplifier.
Since burning this amp in I’ve stopped thinking about my equipment and more about the music. I’ve used it with Klipsch RP-600m, Wharfedale Denton 80th, and currently using Klipsch Heresy II with a REL t5i. For a small to medium room (or larger with efficient speakers) this is really all you need. Plenty of power. I’m rarely turned up past 9 or 10 o’clock and never past 12 even with quieter sources or less efficient speakers. Again, for a small to medium room with 98% of speakers the evo100 have plenty of power. The sound is clean and fairly neutral. Not bright but the upper mids/lower treble does seem to be accentuated. You wouldn’t necessarily think it’s a tube amp based off any tonal coloring but it is very musical. After letting it burn it you really don’t think about the amp anymore, it just gets out of the way of the music. Where I do think it sounds like a tube amp is with dynamics. This is a very dynamic amp. Very quick, very musical. Music jumps from the speakers in a very natural, liquid way. Imaging is great. And then there’s the headphone amp. That was a big selling feature and I think for some people will make this amp a really good value. If you are using high impedance headphones like HD600s you want a good tube amp. Well, the evo100 is just that. No need for anything else. I was able to sell my headphone amp. The remote is great. nice shape and size, heavy, metal and has little feet to keep it from slipping. I was tempted by the evo300 for the triode mode (would be ideal for my taste and speakers) and beefier transformers (better bass) but ultimately decided it was out of my budget and that the evo100 was good enough. It’s a great amp that feels stripped down not compromised. It has a nice narrow footprint and doesn’t take up too much visual space. Perfect for a more humble paired down set-up like mine. I’m using Denafrips Ares II DAC and it’s a great pairing. Oh yeah and vinyl sounds AMAZING through the evo100.
Thank you very much Marc for your support! Highly appreciated. Visit the website of Upscale Audio in the USA for more owner reviews. https://upscaleaudio.com/collections/primaluna
