“Congratulations on a really nice amplifier! Part Two: One Happy Customer!

Geplaatst op 04/12/2014 door beheerder

PrimaLuna-DiaLogue-Premium-HP-main (1)

Kevin Deal continues…

“When PrimaLuna began as an “Upstart” brand 10 years ago, we were surprised when customers compared us to much older (40 years or more), more established and much more expensive brands. More than a decade later, we’re used to it! There are now dozens of connoisseurs who have switched to PrimaLuna, believing, as we do, that PrimaLuna produces the best tube components available, regardless of price.”

“In any case, we want to know of course the motivation of the customer. So we ask …”

“Did PrimaLuna give you something that compared a little, a lot, or none at all compared to the ARC stuff you had?”

“Sorry for the delayed reply … Busy with family stuff over the holiday. There were many reasons I sold my ARC gear. The first was the two cooling fans on the Power Amp. They drove me nuts. Why build a Power Amp that is very resolving and then have fans that create this constant low level background noise that basically ruins or obscures the high level of resolution?”

“Second, the ARC Preamp utilized a touch screen display and an odd circular volume knob that is spring loaded and does not spin freely and has terrible tactile feedback. Give me a quality volume knob any day. Next, there was the MASSIVE size of the three components (Preamp power supply, Preamp control unit and the Power Amplifier). They simply took up too much space and looked gaudy in my room.”

“ARC makes some very interesting and high quality gear in my opinion. I have owned five different units from them over the years. They have a very distinct sound. In the end and the main reason I sold my ARC Reference gear was because of the overblown soundstage they create. If someone has a huge listening space, this may be a positive. In my relatively small dedicated room (12’ X 15.5’) the mental picture didn’t reconcile with the sonic picture.”

“This sounds odd, but it was really hard to enjoy as it sounded false if you had your eyes open while listening. The other thing is that the bass with ARC is very big and controlled. It is virtually solid state in sound. To some this may be a positive, though to my ears, bass should breathe more and PrimaLuna bass (at least with the HP) sounds more realistic and has more liquidity to it. It basically sounds more realistic to my ears. I have a decent gauge as I have spent a fair amount of time at live concerts with un-amplified instruments. When bass is too controlled, it sounds very “HiFi” to me and less like real music. Just my opinion I suppose…”

“The PrimaLuna HP offers a much more realistic soundstage (large but not overblown) in my room with my gear. It does not sound “Tubey” in my opinion. It certainly does not sound like solid state either, but seems to offer realistic control and at the same time breathes and allows for a “reach out and touch it” presentation that I love.”

All of us at PrimaLuna agree. Thank you!

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“Congratulations on a really nice amplifier!” Part One: “Entry Level” is an insult!

Geplaatst op 03/12/2014 door beheerder

020-primaluna-dialogue-premium-hp-integrated-amplifier-silve-high-resr

Kevin Deal is our “Super Man” in the US. He has been with us since we introduced the AH! Tjoeb cd player on the market. I had great fun selling these direct to the public, but his clients told him “he had to get these”. And he got them. 🙂

Now, being heavily involved in PrimaLuna, Mystère and Kiseki, Kevin is in contact with dealers and end-users and receives many comments. And we want to hear these comments. To judge and to share …

Let’s listen to Kevin Deal and one of his customers …

“It is true that, at prices starting well below $2,000 US, PrimaLuna are the most affordable high performance tube amplifiers available; however, given their heirloom build quality, unmatched feature set and state of the art performance, there’s really nothing “Entry Level” about PrimaLuna. Except, of course, the price!”

“In the ten years since we started PrimaLuna, we’ve gained many customers who are financially capable of buying the most expensive audio equipment available–and in fact did so–but eventually found their “Holy Grail” with PrimaLuna equipment. It is these discriminating “Cost-no-object” customers who demonstrate that PrimaLuna isn’t simply “Good for the money” but rather is the best gear made, regardless of price. We share their pleasure and of course we, we want to share his comments.”

“I previously owned the Audio Research flagship preamp ($30K) and power amplifier ($10,995)….”

“The new HP is an amazing piece of gear. I personally hate hearing reviews that define something as great “for the money” as that typically implies there’s a big compromise when compared to very expensive gear. The HP is a great amplifier. Period. No qualifications needed!”

“It could use a little more large dynamic power, though in my experience when you go to higher power, you lose some of the life and touchable quality of this amp. Don’t get me wrong, it has great dynamics overall, but with the Guarneri Evolutions (a fairly insensitive loudspeaker) at loud levels or with heavier material, [the HP] could use a little more slam. Nothing’s perfect, but the HP is damn close.”

“The HP escapes the trappings of a “good for the money” amplifier and puts PrimaLuna in the flat out awesome amplifier category. My two cents …”

“Congratulations on a really nice amplifier.”


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A message from a Kiseki PurpleHeart N.S. owner! Far superior to all in every way …

Geplaatst op 02/12/2014 door beheerder

001-Kiseki PurpleHeart N.S.Kiseki-USA run by Kevin Deal is entering the USA market right now with Kiseki Blue NS and Kiseki PurpleHeart NS cartridges. While Kiseki Blue NS recently ended up as “winner” in a German review contest (initially Number 2 as the reviewer thought it was retailing at € 3,000.- while it was € 2,000.- and a correction was made in the next issue of the magazine), the first review on the Kiseki PurpleHeart NS was published in USA. The review written by Bob Levi was published in Positive Feedback Online and Bob concluded:

“The Kiseki PurpleHeart NS has become my Number 1 Reference Cartridge!”

The review needs to be read as a lot of useful comments can be found to understand how Bob came to this conclusion. You can read it in full here.

Also interesting is the first end-user comment we received. Giving his conclusions and describing under what conditions he is using the Kiseki PupleHeart, Mr. James van der Zee (the name sounds Dutch, but he is really living in the USA) reported:

“I wanted to drop you a note regarding the Kiseki PurpleHeart cartridge I recently acquired from you. With maybe 12 hours of use this cartridge it is without a doubt the best cartridge I’ve owned by a wide margin. Using a direct comparison to my prior Soundsmith The Voice cart there is no comparison. Or others. Lyra Scala, Lyra Delos, Dynavector XX2, Benz wood, etc.” 

“The Kiseki is far superior to all in every way.”

“Most notable, bass is finally all there. Down to 20 or lower. And believe me, my Magico S5’s have never gone this deep. The soundstage is the widest I’ve heard. And I think most important is the resolution. I’m hearing things like never before. That is why vocals sound so amazing. It’s the ultra-resolution shinning. And what is great is it will handle any and all types of music which a proper piece of equipment should. How would it know if you are playing rock or jazz.”

“If it’s right it’s right no matter what you throw at it.”

“Just amazing!!”

“Thank You for introducing me and getting me one.”

Check out the Kiseki website here. Check also our Kiseki Facebookpage here

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An investment in pleasure: The NEW PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP Power Amplifier

Geplaatst op 28/11/2014 door beheerder

PrimaLuna-DiaLogue-Premium-HP-main (1)After having received the more than excellent Stereophile review of the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP Integrated Amplifier, we have received another raving review!

This time of the NEW PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP Power Amplifier.

René van Es of The Ear webzine was responsible for the listening to the amps and the writing of this review! Thanks to The Ear and to René van Es.

Some of his statements ;

”One thing is for sure, a PrimaLuna amplifier will never disappoint, whether it’s an integrated, a preamp or a power amplifier ”

”A PrimaLuna is not just a flirtation, it is an investment in pleasure”

”The DiaLogue Premium High Power amps pull you into the performance”

”These amplifiers are as easy to handle as any solid state device, just as reliable or even more so, sound the same or better and offer outstanding value for money”

Visit the review and the website of The-Ear HERE

UK Distributor of PrimaLuna is Absolute Sounds

 

Geplaatst in Algemeen info - Informations générales, Dealers - Revendeurs, PrimaLuna, Rene van Es, Versterkers - Amplificateurs, Voorversterkers - Preamplificateurs | Tags: , | Plaats een reactie