PrimaLuna Tube Rolling w/ Primaluna USA's Kevin Deal

[@lpspinners8736]

I appreciate guys like Kevin Deal. He's probably the hardest working guy in the biz and he shoots straight. I have learned to count on his advice for over 20 years. I have purchased many tubes from Kevin and I haven't lost in single tube in 5 years of use, both power and preamp tubes.

[@rw3915]

Hello Kevin - I’m a customer of yours from a while ago, when you were running your business out of your house, and you had those nice Avant Garde (sp.) horn speakers. I bought a Sonic Frontiers Line 2 from you, and I returned because I wanted better bottom end. I think you spent like an hour selling one or two measly tubes, THEN I saw that you had your new Porsche 996 Cabriolet out on the driveway. Unbelievably, I asked for a ride and you and I cruised up into the forested area north of your house for about 30 or 40 minutes. You told me your new 996 was seeping a bit of oil, which I seem to remember you thinking that was normal. It may be because that is a problem with old 911s. Anyways, I’ve moved away from SoCal but I really remember your generosity. Thank you Kevin. -Roland

[@charlesmiller6281]

Everything he's saying about not needing 100 watts, the transformer matters more than tubes, manufacturers running them hot just to make watts you don't need, and all of that- having owned and run tube amps over 20 years let me tell you, he is absolutely right. I've had 2 tube integrated amps with 50-60 watts, both of which were better across the board than a McCormack DNA 150 watt amp, and yes even in the bass.

[@anthonygreene834]

Thank you sooooo much for enlightening a newbie. I just purchased 8 kt150s from you. I'm glad they last a long time. I use my Primaluna evo 400 daily. Also thanks for schooling me on the two front center tubes. Keep up the awesome job.💯💯💯

[@Anthony-MK]

Kevin I love your no nonsense straight forward approach to equipment. I just purchased an HP Integrated, my first tube amp, from UA and I just love it, your team there is great. Looking forward to more videos and experimenting with tubes in due time. :)

[@pnojazz]

Exactly! Forget about the wattage. What are these, rookie audiophiles? You're only going to use 5 watts of tube power. I don't get this power thing where people compare their receivers to a 35 watt tube amp.

[@andrew-xr1de]

Wow, now that was relly good straight forward information! Thanks!

[@125southernnh2]

Loved the stock Primaluna tubes. Loved the all Gold Lion replacements too.

[@itsonlyme9938]

All tubes are made in China at one factory they are then stamped with different brand names for who ever wants them.

[@hushpuppykl]

Its only me ... many do not realize how many different brands come out of a few factories only.

[@reginaldjames7975]

@@itsonlyme9938 all tubes except the RUSSIAN made one's and tubes made in the JJ factory

[@joachimplanchon9093]

@@itsonlyme9938 Thats not true for russian brand gold lion 12AU7 run for more than 2 years and still perfect very low noise... the standard primaluna 12AU7 last 1 year if you are lucky! i have change twice on my dialogue premium and on my other system with a prologue premium i still go with the same gold lion! i have try a lot of combination tung sol are very good also but don't last more than the prima-luna, and they're different in sound, more accurate bass with the gold lion but not so warm as the prima luna! tung-sol are very well balanced! So for mastering i will go for the gold lion they are the more accurate and neutral on bass. Prima luna has setup my prologue especially for those gold lion 12AU7! But on my dialogue i like the original tubes...its in a large room with Quadral Vulkan speakers a great setup associate with a onkyo intergra power amp its very accurate... so its for sure not the same factory! i have nothing against the original prima luna tubes but on my studio room it's far better with the gold lion...you must test a setup to know what's the best for the room, the speakers...

[@terryhanson1954]

I have a Dynaco ST-35 that I love the sound of. Its 17 1/2 watts per side and I can only turn it up to half volume before it gets too loud. But even at half volume the sound is beautiful, and clean, and doesn't hurt your ears. No need for 100 watts per side

[@Josephklchan1961]

Terry Hanson Should consider the ST70, it’s sound fantastic for its price, a real bargain for a good sound.

[@paulcrotty858]

Okay, I'm sold. I appreciate the PSA moments!

[@Merlin-wo1kj]

Kevin's head looks like a glowing tube... ;)

[@Audfile]

"Tube Rolling" sound like this sophisticated modding process. All you're doing is plugging in a new light bulb.

[@dcaudio1]

I absolutely love this guy...he reminds me of...me. Just tell the truth man, just tell the truth..ill decide.

[@philbarone4603]

Upscale went way above and beyond the call of duty for me.

[@joshuafox2199]

I love my Dialogue Premium HP integrated. I use stock tubes except the front two gain tubes. Replaced with Gold Lions per input from Upscale Audio and various other sources. The stock tubes were great but I was getting noise from one side and isolated to front gain tube, plus was wanting to experiment a little. It is noticeably better but was never lacking before. I love midrange and these EL34s do mids so great. That with my Klipsch Forte IIIs is simply sublime. Someday, I may try some KTs in the output stage but I'm thinking of maybe saving the jack to upgrade to separates in the new line possibly. My speakers are quite efficient and 70wpc is more than necessary but still fun and fine. I'm less likely to tube roll when I have 4 output tubes per side. 2 KT150s per side in separates might be the next step. Either way, this bad mf aint going nowhere and I'll continue to piss off my neighbors with a smile on my face.

[@christinearmington]

Glad to hear this. Fortes coming soon!

[@drandrewmiller]

Love my PL Dialogue Premium integrated amp with the stock tubes. There's nothing wrong with those tubes at all. They sound fantastic. There's more than enough power and grunt in this amp to deliver awesome sound quality and I have never had the volume over half way - and that's loud enough to blow the roof off!

[@ptg01]

Well DONE Kevin ! You call it the way you see it ! BRAVO ! BTW, I am still trying to figure out the major differences/improvements between the brand new EVOLUTION line of integrated amps vs the legacy line of integrated amps that causes it to increase by $600... I realize headphone jacks are added to the first three legacy models but the top of the line Dialogue Premium HP already has a headphone jack. Hope you can shed some light. Thanks.

[@r1verrat1977]

Om in the same boat. Is it worth to upgrade my Premium HP for the Evo? Is there any difference other than the balance inputs?

[@ptg01]

@@r1verrat1977 As far as I can tell, the EVO 400 Integrated Amps do not have balanced inputs. The EVO 400 Pre-AMP has balanced inputs.

[@ryan1845]

No response...

[@toddhupp]

the PI tubes are really the heart of a push pull circuit. They make a difference.GL are great especially with GL KT88s.

[@xscheepers13]

Great info! Happy with 200i, gold Lion kt66 and Sylvania ecc82

[@newaggarwal5884]

I m using spender A5 R speakers and planing to purchase primaluna evo 400 power amplifier for it but not sure whether my speakers have worth to spend so much on these tube amp or else I should purchase luxman integrated amp.

[@beagle7622]

The biggest surprise to me about my EVO 200 is it’s punch, I was expecting maybe not strong bass & the Volume fairly high. The volume knob setting needed to drive my Martin Logan ESL’s is around 10 o’clock.

[@beagle7622]

Upgrade. I couldn’t help myself now own an EVO400. My god what an amazing amplifier.

[@wade998]

The Russian 5AR4s are the best new production made today. I've had the Chinese and JJs which last only a few months while the Russian ones last 2 years.

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

Haha, I love your passion!

[@briancampbell7712]

I'm going to be buying this amp...can you tell me what preamp DAC you are using ...love this sound...my real goal is to make this work with for music and a DAC to use hdmi with my Oled tv...any advise?

[@johnwerner4925]

There have been a few real memorable tube guys over my years. Let's see...David Hafler, that "Fashion & Beauty Guy" Rosenberg, and Kevin Deal.

[@ceylonmooney]

great video. what is the stock 5AR4? what are the stock tubes, altogether?

[@Dutchamp]

Higher power tubes most of the time the outputtransformer can't handle the more voltage and current. I use kt88 or now 6550 it's possible to set kt150 but I never can't set this tube in its working voltage and current my outputtransformer can't handle it. And another thing 2 6550 tubes are about 6K ohms impedance I bet kt150 are much differand. If you hear 90db at one meter from your speaker you drive 1 watt power so I'm at 2,5 meter so I use about 3 or 4 watts and beleave me it's very loud. Nice video

[@techsamurai11]

How do I integrate this with a home theater? Someone who has the same speakers B&W 703 that I do switched from Classe to this and said it's divine. I don't even have a Classe and clearly this will take my speakers to new levels. Can it handle movies and gaming? There's a Home Theater input and I guess I could use the pre-outs from my AVR for the LR and connect them. How does volume work between the 2?

[@jeromeclatot1769]

Hello I saw that on certain videos you have some Focal speakers, I currently have a serie chorus 836V speakers and potentially would like to upgrade to aria, or Kanta, what preamp, amp would you advise me to take in the primaluna brand? Thank you

[@martindy3]

Love your honesty man

[@ZappaTime]

brilliant and honest, love it!

[@markduckenfield2488]

Hi Kevin, I have just bough the PrimaLuna Premium Power Amp and have the Klipsch Hersey IV. What else would you recommend I get to complete my system...Im a beginner when it comes this...A complete beginner. What DAC would you recommend, what steamer? Anything else? Thanks Mark

[@christinearmington]

Same boat 🚣‍♀️. What are you thinking? I bought a Bluesound Powernode plus Meze Classic 99 headphones to experiment with streaming before I plunge in with Fortes etc. I’m definitely leaning toward the PL Evo 300, but still need to figure out the rest of the kit. Technics 1500 maybe 🤔.

[@ARon82]

This guy knows his tubes

[@dennis8019]

sir. u said the larger manufacturers, they got this stuff figured ou to the penny ,and if they can save 10 cents they do it.. what brands are u referring to...

[@desireemontoney8092]

Mcintosh

[@reyb461]

Kevin what’s the silver face on your desk?

[@secod2022]

Its the speaker how easy they are driven like Philips 12 `` AD5200 and how many speakers ex. 6pcs in serial paralel

[@rainman3269]

Primaluna preamps certainly sound better with good NOS valves ... Just a fact ... The standard one's aren't bad but you can do so much better

[@FirstLast-gs8tt]

So the vintage MC240's have some of the best Output Transformers ever designed. How would a pair of those MC240's Fair in MONO mode with HARBETH Super HL5's and how would the PrimaLuna Fair in comparison to those amps with the same speakers?

[@cirenosnor5768]

You covered the different type of tube aspect of tube rolling. There’s also the aspect of brand for tubes being used. Chinese EL34’s are more likely to red plate or arc than most other brand EL34 tubes. Same for 6L6’s, 6550’s, etc. JJ tubes tend to be the most reliable in this sense. Yes, the Sovtek/Electro Harmonix 5AR4 is unreliable garbage. They don’t say what brand tubes are used in Prima Luna amps, just that they’re the best 🤷🏽‍♂️ Again, the JJ’s in general are the most reliable

[@craigellsworth3952]

Is that a Marantz 2500 on the desk to our right?

[@warpspeed9877]

Νot gonna use that power? Depends on what you are powering with them. Not everybody uses a easy load speaker or listens at low volumes. And that's why Primaluna makes more powerful versions and even monoblocks. Not everybody is in content with 40 Watts.

[@cengeb]

more power more CONTROL, I use 4800-5200W RMS 4 mono AVA amps, MOSFETS, Exicon, it controls the 8 15" woofers in my Legacy Whispers, wake up, current is control

[@Toki1908]

He should do a reality show

[@kevin2960]

I personally think these amps sound best with GE or Sylvania 6550 tubes. And real Mullard 5AR4.

[@mr.gregorymorganba6136]

Thanks for this. Great video

[@highcurrent1125]

Hey Kevin....what kinds of caps should I put it my amp??

[@cirenosnor5768]

Well...knowing what amp you have would be helpful

[@Lasse3]

@@cirenosnor5768 no, just tell him! 🤣

[@kasapis6]

Do you sale and post tubes Australia ?

[@robertguerrieri5385]

Effiecient speakers need less power .power does make a different .lowrhers can only handle 5 watts ,5 watts cant drive most speakers .so the right power is needed for what speakers you have .

[@BoboAthanassion]

Questions for you. I live in Pittsburgh, PA. Will you ship equipment out to me or do I have to pick them up at your store? Also, I'm getting into tube amps and pre-amps. Looking at the Audio Research Ref. 75se and either the LS28 or Ref 6. Also looking at the Wilson Audio Sabrina's for my speakers. Speakers, that's another quest I'm in search of. Let's not go there right now.

[@craigellsworth3952]

It's two years later, so what did you end up with John?

[@BoboAthanassion]

@@craigellsworth3952 Believe it or not, nothing. Some minor health issues and heavy into amateur radio. Maybe one day. I'm still using my Bang & Olfsen system. Thanks for staying in touch. I hope your doing well.

[@craigellsworth3952]

@@BoboAthanassion I am about to replace my Pass XP12 with the Prima Luna Evo 300. Hope it gets me what I seek. I'm an old Buffalo boy, living in Dallas for 40 years, so I have two teams. Ben was Ben the other night. A great game. Like with Dallas and Tampa, I expect them to meet again.

[@BoboAthanassion]

@@craigellsworth3952 Buffalo really stepped up their game within the past two years. Its nice to see one of the worst teams in the league become one of the best. I hope to see them in the playoffs. They deserve it and a superbowl win, even though I'm a Steeler fan.

[@BoboAthanassion]

@@craigellsworth3952 Hey, I just saw your review on that Prima Luna 300 integrated tube amp. I'm very impressed. Sounds like a winner to me. I assume it will work with any type of speaker? Another thing, I'm tired of people talking about Dynamic Headroom. Do I need a 1000 watt amp into small wattage speakers to create better Dynamic Headroom? The Prima Luna Evo 300 is only 44 watts x 2?

[@andrewganley9016]

Great amps had a Prologue One no headphone output grrrrr

[@tahirahmed3747]

Shame you dont ship internationally :(

[@nico3641]

damn! That's one beefy transformer! @2:31

[@colinhathaway9493]

I own a Dialogue HP integrated. Not started tube rolling yet but I love my EL34’s. I know people on the Facebook page who’ve bought KT88’s and KT120’s and have gone back to the EL34’s. They’re that good. Then again I really want to try some KT150’s. I love the look and really interested to hear the difference in sound. What are the best 12AU7 to use for the front two

[@joshuafox2199]

I used Gold Lion 12AU7s from Upscale. Got a set of the platinum grade and I opted for cryo (not sure it makes a difference but why not) and after a little breakin time, they were very much better.

[@noahh3782]

Are EAT KT88 worth the money?

[@mattkaye6559]

I know this is years later, but the sophia electric kt88 blue coke bottles are stunning for a much lower cost and supposedly last very long. I ran a pair of them in my ampsandsound forge headphone amp and shed tears because of how much of a difference they made over the JJ kt88s, which are a fine tube.

[@GabolovesPam]

Do I need a phono pre amp

[@jerryjohnson4625]

Maybe. If youre amplifier says phono in , then the amplifier has a preamp built-in for your turntable. If there is no "phono in" , you need a pre amp , you can plug it into the CD input or tape input or auxiliary input then you should be rolling.

[@tingokuman]

wait a min more wattage doesn't equal more volume????

[@Secesh1]

Replaced gain tubes on my PL Dialog Premim preamp with Gold Lion and sound changed noticeably over stock tubes.

[@Scottlp2]

For the better? Could you describe the sound before and after the change? Thanks.

[@Secesh1]

@@Scottlp2 Definitely! Better frequency extension, better bass quality, better dynamics, better resolution. It's not like day and night difference but noticeably.

[@Scottlp2]

Thanks!

[@Secesh1]

@@Scottlp2 You're very welcome.

[@MACtheVILLAIN]

Kevin you’re the best. But are you a teacher?

[@WakingWildHope]

Upscale audio tube only for Americans

[@robbiemify]

He's pissed !!!

[@ericpiazzi3444]

whats with the shoulder movements?

[@21kpatriot]

eric piazzi What's your problem? Nothing here was meant to hurt anyone, why the personal attack?

[@ryan1845]

Kevin twitches because of his hardcore B-Boy stance. Ready to bust a move whenever necessary. Pay close attention young Padawan...

[@wamgoc3637]

Quiescent plate dissipation is a function of Biasing. Higher B+ is not adverse until you get into an arc over situation. Learn to run a load line already!

[@wamgoc3637]

I'd love to take one of those transformers apart. I'm sure it's either cookbooked from one of the four books out there or it is a copy of some vintage unit Philadelphia Phumblenuts likes to claim as his unique intellectual property. They are not of course, but I guess people are afraid he'll sue since his wife, who bankrolls his hobby is an attorney.

[@nerdglider]

You have a good point about power use, but you use different tubes in yours so why wouldn't you just suggest the tubes you use. You have enough experience that people want your opinion on the right tubes, that doesn't seen unreasonable to me.

[@ericjensen9091]

My stock wheels on my F150 look better than any cheesy aftermarket wheel out there.

[@ARon82]

Arent those amps made in CHINA 😮

[@michaelmccain352]

I disagree with many of your comments

[@wamgoc3637]

I dislike tube rolling. I hate tube rolling to be more precise.

[@itsonlyme9938]

All tubes are made in China and then branded for who ever wants them.

[@fernandomoreno475]

That's completely false.

[@itsonlyme9938]

@@fernandomoreno475 Were are they made ?.

[@fernandomoreno475]

@@itsonlyme9938 A lot of tubes where made in Europe, in USA, in Russia, China until recently was manufacturing tubes that rarely crossed the bordern no one would use them. I remember throwing away a lot of crappy 6V6GT from China myself. It's because of a lot of countries stopped producing the best tubes even to this day that china has grabbed a chance to sell their sh..t (E.G telefunken, mazda, philips, RCA, westinghous, cunningham, marconi, none of these beautiful legendary tubes where made in China, and never will be). Long story short, as a very few countries are still manufacturing tubes, China decided to reproduce some tubes, like shuguang. But WHO will dare to say their 300B for exemple is better than the original one ? It's quite the opposite, and that's why rare tubes are also expensive, they were just BETTER than china's tubes from today manufacture.

[@PS987654321PS]

It’s a shame tubes are so hard to come by. And prices have more than doubled in the past couple of years.