PrimaLuna EVO 300 Tube Power Amp Review w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal

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One of the finest power amps in the world regardless of price. Learn all about the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Power Amplifier, a 66-lb beast with custom potted toroidal transformers, point-to-point wiring, and only the very finest components. Get a real amp, get a PrimaLuna.

[@upscaleaudio]

Hey everyone! I want to say that when I say no difference from KT150s, what I mean is the extra POWER means nothing. There is a difference in sound, and many people love it, but that's always a matter of taste. The good news is PrimaLuna lets you have all the fun if you want.

[@bananasplitbrain476]

I finally got my dream setup with electronics from Croft, tubes in the inlut section and mosfet in the output. Point to point wired. Never had such a clear, fluent, well textured, three dimensionel, fast, quick, spaceous and absolutely effortless, gleaming sound. Not technical but also not soft or muddy. The best I ever had.

[@jerryjohnson4625]

Let me go pop some popcorn. I can sit and listen to this guy all night. Happy holidays upscale audio

[@bluebuddha74]

Very informative video. I love your honesty and passion and have learned a lot about tubes from watching your videos. I’m curious if Primaluna also works well with TV/home theater.

[@shawnmathew825]

LOL.. I love how he said once you go a tube amp you don't go back unless you run into issues. That's not true... I had a primaluna and I upgraded it to a SS amp. Not cause I had issues with it or that it was bad, but because I found something better that just so happened to be solid state.

[@Novilicious]

What did you upgrade to if you don’t mind me asking? I like SS better as well! But if I bought tubes, It would be a Prima Luna

[@ridirefain6606]

Congratulations on the upgrade. I too have moved back and forth between Tube and SS. In my case, I find that one topology is not better than the other. It is in equal measure reliability and synergy. I have owned highly regarded and more expensive amps in both camps. I abandoned my big buck $22K Tube Mono-blocks because reliability was an issue. Then tried two SS Mono-block solutions. One pair was also very expensive at $18k. With the SS amps, the sound was always a tiny bit off, the best sound came from the tube amps. The SS designs changed how my speaker's interacted with my room. When they were in the rack, the amount of bass output became too dominant. Placement and treatments were experimented with but the fatness in the bass never fully subsided. Then I tried a pair of evo 400's, and hit the goldilocks zone, for a little over half the cost of the SS and Tube amps I previously used. I got to say. Love having valve amplification again. Though my experience is opposite of yours, I suspect you found, what I found. That the amp topology does not really matter. The amp’s ability to get the best out of your speakers and room does. Things evolve, down the road you might find a different tube amp that gives your system even better sound.

[@shawnmathew825]

@@ridirefain6606 100% agree! Thanks for the share.

[@shawnmathew825]

@@Novilicious the first amp I upgraded to was the Magtech from Sanders made specifically with planar and electrostatic speakers in mind, so it did a better job than the primaluna with my MLs. It did the job well. And now I am onto the next one which did an even better job, but most people can look at the Magtech because it's in the same price range as the primaluna.

[@shawnmathew825]

@@streettails8045 yes, synergy matters! Picking the right equipment that work well with each other is very important to achieve great sound.

[@S.L.1211]

Love my Prima Luna and really enjoy watching Kevin’s video’s. would love to see these on a weekly basis on not just Prima Luna’s but other items Upscale offers.

[@gtodave6768]

Once again....well done!

[@jayedgar2373]

Kevin is spot on here with everything except for one thing IMO. Speaker efficiency. The lower the DB, the lower the efficiency. The lower the efficiency, the more power you need to drive them properly. Low efficient speakers usually require more watts to drive them. 36 watts continuous power is great for most speakers out there that are relatively higher with efficiency. 88db, for example will require more watts to drive than a 98+db speaker. Do the math and you will need a good 100 watts plus to drive the 88db speakers properly (at full response ranges). The 96db and above would be fine at 36 watts continuous. However, even a 96db speaker would fair better with more watts if it has a sub 30hz response range. The amps should be matched for the speakers, not the other way around.

[@henkvermalen]

Skip the 300 and go for the 400. There are many in the Primaluna Amplifier Owners group that go from 300 to 400 and say it’s a lot better. If you want to chat with people who have experience come join the group on Facebook.

[@user-ex9zm7bg3x]

I just called Upscale Audio and asked this question. They say the only reason for the 400 is more power. But I wonder ...

[@HiFiInsider]

I like to try PrimaLuna amps.

[@michaeljones19731]

When Kevin says he looks at selling from the standpoint of the customer. I believe him.. He really does come across as an Honest ,decent man..

[@halmetzger8429]

Kevin your so right once again! This is another wonderful product by PrimaLuma. Bitchin good!!! And for anyone considering tube rolling should try the Golden-lion KT-66 power tubes with (4) General Electric JAN 6189W in the driver slots and (2) RCA 12AU7A/ECC82 ClearTops in the front! Audio euphoria with a pair of efficient Speaker’s!! 🔊 🔊 Thank you sir for another informative review!

[@marklapenta5223]

I Love this Amp, the stock tubes are great but agree, I did 4 Golden-lion KT-66 and 2 Brimar (NOS) 4003 in driver spot and the unit is fantastic sounding for any type of music

[@henriksrensen3220]

Biased "review"

[@halmetzger8429]

@@henriksrensen3220 Nothing Biased here! Just my personal opinion of listening to Hi Fi and forty-eight year’s of experience dealing with audio equipment! Good sense Bang for the buck and trying to save someone time, money and the growing pains that I’ve experienced over the journey!

[@robertluttrell1958]

It's not the only amp that does triode to ultralinear. My Dynaco ST-70 does that with a simple mod.

[@TheBodhisattvaWisdom]

my old PrimaLuna(tic) caught on fire.... Went class D, after that..

[@dougg1075]

If you’ve never had tubes and looking for that next thing to bring a smile to your face , get them.

[@halmetzger8429]

From ear to ear and your foot tapping !

[@johnnixon2504]

Hmm. I think my dream two channel system would have this and a couple forte IV and a couple subs. Mmmmmmmm 🤗

[@FranzenPetra]

Thanks Kevin. What is better: one evo 300 or two evo 100 mono’s?

[@user-ex9zm7bg3x]

@@glichasasha750 no such thing. you need to learn your product.

[@jerryrodriguez5431]

Any thoughts on how this amp would sound/work with a nominal 4 ohm speaker, such as Maggie 1.7s? I don't listen a rock-concert levels. I prefer quality of sound over quantity (loudness).

[@beagle7622]

I am running Martin Logan XLR’s with an EVO 200 amp. I do play some stuff loud particularly Pink Floyd & similar music. I am yet to reach anything near maximum volumes . The Amplifier has huge punch. The Martin Logan’s have a dedicated bass speaker for frequencies below 300 HZ ( from memory) . It is a superb combination.

[@LeoDuquesnel]

I'm also looking for the right amplification for my JBL L100 Classic speakers ; they're 4 ohm too, but kind of difficult to run actually.

[@jerryrodriguez5431]

@@beagle7622 Thanks!

[@Arizonacomet]

Tying to avoid made in China products. Any comps near this price?

[@kevind2760]

I think you are kidding yourself on Made in China. There's more "Western" in the signal path of this amp than many supposed "Made in USA". There's nothing that compares to this if you look closely.

[@halmetzger8429]

Line Magnetic Audio is based in Zhuhai,Guangdong province, China,

[@jonsaludo6234]

Does Evo 300 power amp has XLR connectivity? Thanks

[@geraldschrader8511]

Yes it has XLR inputs as well as RCA jacks.

[@faludabutt8253]

Power is more than just louder

[@garyreams8123]

I like that comment. Probably a man with good ears.

[@dangrass]

I don't think this is a review....it's an infomercial.

[@halmetzger8429]

I would call it an honest and informative infomercial !!!

[@commane21]

This is not a review. None of his “reviews” are actual reviews.

[@henriksrensen3220]

I prefer high end ss amplifiers like Gryphon.

[@ignaciogeorge4435]

I believe the cheapest Gryphon amp is currently around $30,000. Why are you comparing this to a $4500 amp?