Koos Boshoven: Still,
after many years of working in the hi-fi sector, I have this uncontrollable urge
to try out new brands or types. Therefore, part of me was very curious when I
was asked to test the PrimaLuna Prologue One, while another part was somewhat
sceptical, as it seemed hard to believe that this device could meet the
qualities mentioned by some, at a price of 950 Euros. But, well, the only way to
find out is to get busy.
The first PrimaLuna model (nice name, but where does it come from?), the
ProLogue One, is a handsomely finished mid-size integrated amplifier offering 2
x 35 Watts. It’s housing is lacquered anthracite and has a thick, black
aluminium front with a volume switch, an input selector, and a green LED. The
machine has 4 single-ended inputs, but no tape out nor a remote control.
The cinch inputs are of good quality, as are the speaker connectors and
the power socket. The speaker inputs offer a choice between 4 and 8 Ohms. So
far, the whole package definitely strikes me as ‘audiophile’.
When unpacking (cute, those little white gloves!), only the cage needs
unscrewing to remove the protective foam from the tubes. Then the power cord,
the speakers and the CD-player can be connected. Flip the sturdy power switch on
the left side (à la Prima, Prima, exactly… PrimaLuna), et voilà, let’s play!
The first listening session was conducted with a Copland CDA-822 cd-player,
connected by the AH! AS Direkt KB8 SE interlink (with the now-renowned
Bullet plugs, of course!), an AH! AC Direkt KB10 power cord, and AH!
LS Direkt KB8 speaker cable (of the double-core type, a genuine Geheimtip
indeed, believe me!). For loudspeakers, I used the Sonus Faber Concertino Home.
The performance of the ProLogue One was assessed using a number of very
different CDs, that entered, then left the Copland CDA-822. Dominic Miller
(guitarist on Sting albums), for example, recorded a fine album for Naim,
together with Neil Stacey. One of the tracks, La Boca, has it all in terms of
space and dynamics, fulfilling all other audiophile wishes as well. Most of all,
it sounds extremely pleasing. No fuss, just music.
On the Chandos CD with, among others, the Carmen Suite, arranged by Rodion
Shechedrin, the orchestra roars through the room with great conviction. But, to
be fair, I’ve hooked up the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors by now (man is always
looking for more…), leading to increased resolution, while the clever tweeters
bring the high quality of this setup of Copland CDA-822 and PrimaLuna ProLogue
One to the fore even further.
Our Dutch violinist Janine Jansen recently made her debut on the Decca label.
Her version of Saint-Saens’ Introduction & Rondo capricioso, opus 28,
comes across as very powerful and seductive at the same time in this setup,
which makes every form of technology disappear, turning it into pure music.
With budget speakers like the Epos ELS3 (300,- Euros per pair) and an AH!
Njoe Tjoeb 4000 cd-speler, the musicality of “my” (yes, I’m keeping it!)
PrimaLuna ProLogue One amplifier is confirmed. To judge its bass control, I did
another listening session on ProAc D15 speakers. Though it is undeniably true
that Patricia Barber, Quincy Jones, David Sylvian, etcetera come across with
more expression on well-known “big” transistor rigs, given its price of 950
Euros, the results remain as admirable as they are miraculous.
With the ProLogue One, Durob Audio, the parent of the brand PrimaLuna, has made
yet another statement to Dutch hifi and music lovers, under the
oh-so-psychological 1000-Euro limit. GREAT JOB, GREAT PRODUCT, GREAT MUSIC!