PrimaLuna EVO 100 Preamplifier Review w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal

upscaleaudio.com/products/pri...
PrimaLuna took near-perfection in the Classic, ProLogue, and DiaLogue series and perfected it! The new EVO Series offers the finest tube gear money can buy. The EVO 100 Preamplifier is a dual-mono, tube rectified preamp offering 10 dB of gain, and unbelievable build and sound quality. World-class components, point-to-point wiring, custom toroidal transformers, and many more features that are simply not available at this pricepoint (sometimes, any pricepoint!) with other brands.

[@ridirefain6606]

Kevin, love it when you talk parts in an product introduction. Loads of great information here on pre-amps in general. I always learn a lot when you post these. Many thanks.

[@wamgoc3637]

I like to build my own pre's. There are many good circuits but copying the marantz 7 is good. Someone needs to get a parts order together to get a set of all the rotary switches made up for this or the mcIntosh C22 which is believe it or not a clone of that unit with a little different, and more convenient switching.

[@deanjerome1981]

Instablaster.

[@hookyhook]

You can tell that Kevin really knows his stuff and he looks out for the general consumer when he speaks. It's crazy how knowledgeable he is. I just found this channel and I am VERY IMPRESSED by Kevin's ability to breakdown the individual components inside this PrimaLuna. Bravo, you got a new subscriber out of me and most likely a new customer all the way from Virginia, USA.

[@MikeGervasi]

I bought one of these and I LOVE it. It's like 2 mono pre's in one. WELL worth the price.

[@jamesperry3049]

Preach, brother Kevin, preach!! I am sold. Looking forward to my Evo 300! And yes, I am getting it from you. I love Upscale Audio! Keep 'em coming reverend!

[@craigellsworth3952]

How is your EVO 300 James?

[@lpspinners8736]

Love these videos Kevin! I have seen you as the hardest working audio dude at Axpona (remember those shows?) and I have to say I am impressed that you don't serve up bullshit and wax poetic about overpriced gear. You tell the audio consumer who cares about quality, the truth. My next component will be a Primaluna, most likely an EVO 300 integrated. Yeah, it's $4000 bucks and change, BUT, I would put it up against any tube integrated from any other manufacturer, then compare prices.

[@hushpuppykl]

Kevin sure can sell! Awesome.

[@peteanddrake4242]

I'd love to own one of these. look very well built. I must say, however that even my $200 Dayton Audio hybrid amp has 2 toroidal transformers.

[@edgarmisplaced7924]

That's one helluva value!!

[@dougg1075]

Love this guy! I bet he’s tough to work for:)

[@mariuspessah2991]

You are great !!!!!

[@theonlyredspecial]

I love those tannoys.

[@512bb]

I salute you Kevin for be so honest, you provided a great service especially to the newer guys jn the hobby. Its hard not to get caught up in a beautifully crafted product but as you point out the line stage is truly one of the biggie's to get worked over on. I only hope people realize the terrific advise you provided them. BTW the Prima Luna is one of the great buys in high end audio.

[@t.j.bennett6454]

Video was like watching Jvc for ears with grey hairs but still work good enough to have a hifi system

[@davidcroteau510]

kevin I need your opinion. with kens help I purchased a rega planar 3 fitted with a ortofon 2m bronze cartridge, my system is a pair of restored JBL L100,s Denon poa 2400 amp 200x2 rms the big dog. and a denon pra 1200 preamp. The denon pra 1200 has had ongoing issues, So I am think of getting a evo 100 to replace the denon preamp. also I am using a new cambridge audio phono preamp ?????

[@jclar3565]

wow you just stole me from two east coast high end audio stores just by being so straight up about costs . Wow, Kevin.

[@mindhead1]

What are those speakers?

[@nirodha35]

The only quibble I have with PL is the looks....

[@riledrive2504]

What’s the difference between the 100 and the 200?

[@MichaelCollins-me]

It looks like only HT pass-through.

[@ruelfelix4512]

nice salestalk

[@riledrive2504]

So why does it matter if people are never gonna know?

[@marcelbuist9066]

Most shocking of this video is the price increase of 40% in three years time... (2000 USD in Feb 2020 when the video was published and 2800 USD at this moment, March 2023.)

[@A.R.B.J.]

Ya know, you could make a fortune as a televangelist.

[@johnbelfry1652]

How is reliability (CHINA)

[@Toki1908]

What brands is he not happy about? McIntosh?

[@nervouscough7115]

So wait, he does or doesn’t like McIntosh?

[@Toki1908]

@@nervouscough7115 I am wondering about what brands he is talking about myself too. He sounds like he can't tolerate some named hifi brands all of his videos.

[@nervouscough7115]

Keystone I love his videos but he’s pretty much made it clear (in more than one video) he is not a fan of McIntosh. While I do own a current McIntosh solid state amplifier and a current McIntosh tube preamplifier I still find his videos entertaining and in many cases informative. He seems like a pretty cool guy.

[@Toki1908]

@@nervouscough7115 Wow Really? I only assumed he is referring to McIntosh, but never knew he actually pointed his finger to that brand.

[@nervouscough7115]

Keystone he made references of blue meters. Big blue meters. Plus he did a recent trade-in video of a newer McIntosh preamp he was selling and threw in a few digs on the brand and that preamp’s internal components. But again, it’s okay. It is what it is.

[@stevieg2755]

I agree when I see ARC selling a line stage for 10k I cringe,what a total ripoff

[@robertbarcus1963]

VTA made in good old USA

[@robertbarcus1963]

@Alan Whiteside www.tubes4hifi.com/ also check the link to Roys pages as well. Good stuff I own the product and PL stuff too.

[@andreiaudio]

Don't trust other guy's stories, trust mine!

[@fredcostas1945]

If it's empty, it's empty!!!

[@SriLankan22]

This is like a bad TV infomercial