PrimaLuna

PrimaLuna has been very busy updating and adding to its lines of connoisseur-level tube products. There are new offerings in the ProLogue and DiaLogue lines and an entire new line of products called ProLogue Premium. This new line is positioned between the ProLogue and DiaLogue lines in terms of price and performance.

All of the new integrated amplifiers and power amplifiers now come with a built-in switch that optimizes performance for either EL34 or KT88 output tubes, so there is no longer any need to choose between EL34 and KT88 models. All of the new models will work optimally with either tube. The PrimaLuna exclusive Adaptive AutoBias system has been upgraded to support this tube selection feature. All integrated amplifiers and power amplifiers now have bad tube indicators to take the guess work out of tube replacement. No longer will you have to wonder whether it's time to replace a power tube. All amplifiers also have output transformer protection to prevent damage to the output transformers in case of a short circuit in the loudspeaker cable or loudspeaker itself. Another new feature is the +B relay circuit. This is a special protection circuit that replaces the tube's plate fuse, resulting in superior protection and better sonics. Also, the protection circuit automatically resets when the bad tube is replaced, so the bother of having to replace fuses is gone. All of the new models also have power transformer protection to prevent damage and upgraded parts such as Solen capacitors and fast-recovery diodes.

The long-awaited DiaLogue Three preamplifier ($2499) is finally here. In addition to all of the new features described above, this preamplifier has a newly-designed 12AU7 tube front end for lower distortion. There are also a full-function remote control, a home theater bypass setting, pure dual-mono operation, and tube power rectification. Its cosmetics match the rest of the DiaLogue series.

The new ProLogue Premium line consists of the ProLogue Premium Preamplifier at $2199, the ProLogue Premium Integrated Amplifier at $2299, the ProLogue Premium Stereo Amplifier at 2299, and the ProLogue Premium Monoblock Amplifiers at $4399 per pair. They have DiaLogue-style cosmetics with a wider chassis than the ProLogue series. All models use the improved 12AU7 front end discussed above for the DiaLogue Three, and all of the other upgrades and improvements mentioned above are also part of this series. So, for example, the user can easily switch between El34 and KT88 output tubes using the tube switch incorporated into the improved Adaptive AutoBias circuit. The preamplifier and integrated amplifier both come with full-function, metal-case remote controls and a home theater bypass. The preamplifier also incorporates tube power rectification. There will also be a ProLogue Premium CD player in the near future.

When you consider the plethora of sonic and operability improvements in all of these products as well as the beautiful DiaLogue-style cosmetics of the new ProLogue Premium series, it's obvious that PrimaLuna is intent on remaining king of the hill in affordable tube products and no slouch at all even when compared to tube products costing far more.