Vic
Diederen: Moonstruck! The past two weeks have been difficult ones for me: I
can’t seem to get around to writing this review for the PrimaLuna ProLogue One
amplifier. Not because I am a particularly lousy writer, nor because I dislike
writing. Not even because there is nothing nice to say about this amp. No,
simply because my computer is in a different room, and when I get behind my
computer screen, I can’t seem to do anything else than look for tubes on the
Internet. I’m afraid this thing is turning into an addiction.
Before I start the actual review part, let me stress that this is a consumer review, and, as such, a biased opinion, simply because I’ve already bought the darned device that keeps me awake at night and overly busy during daytime. Nevertheless, having owned a more than decent high-end solid state amplifier by Audiolabor for several years, and a Duson amp for several weeks, I think I can make a decent comparison (although I’m still a relative newbie to high-end). Since I had doubts about the Duson amp almost from the start, I will only refer to my experiences with the Audiolabor in this review.
About a month ago, I went to De Hifistudio in Weerdinge for the first time, to audition the much-acclaimed Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD-player. Since my Audiolabor Kristall integrated amp had broken down, I had just bought a second hand PA 50 Duson amp, thankfully still on sight, and I had asked Ferry to create a setup closest to my then home setup: the Duson PA-50 and Chario Hiper 2000 floorstanders. When I arrived at De Hifistudio, to my surprise, Ferry had hooked up the Njoe Tjoeb to a cute little tube amplifier. Not exactly close to my solid state home system, it struck me, but, hey, since I’m here, let’s give it a listen. The price tag of € 950 seemed particularly appealing for a tube amp.
After an hour or two of listening in utter wonder and astonishment, I walked out of the store with the Njoe Tjoeb CD-player, hoping that it would work the same miracles with my Duson amp as it had done with that little tube baby in the store. It didn’t of course, though it clearly improved the sound. So out went the Duson, and, one fine day, about two weeks ago, I took my speakers and Njoe Tjoeb to Weerdinge for another audition, and I went home with the speakers, the Njoe Tjoeb, the AH! LS speaker cable, and the PrimaLuna ProLogue One tube amp. A new setup was born!
The things that convinced me about the PrimaLuna at the shop in Weerdinge, were confirmed back home, in my small living room with its far from ideal listening circumstances. What struck me most, was its excellent soundstage, where the speakers seem to disappear and a virtual stage appears before you. On this stage you can tell exactly where the musicians are standing, and you can even track them as they move forward, backward, left, or right. Though my Audiolabor used to have something of a soundstage, it certainly didn’t come close to the PrimaLuna’s.
I remember picking the Audiolabor because of its excellent analytical qualities. I was pleasantly surprised that the PrimaLuna was (almost) as analytical as the Audiolabor, yet without the Audiolabor’s tendency towards harshness (especially with strings). The PrimaLuna combines an analytical sound with a warmth I did not know was possible in non-live listening.
Both of the above qualities (soundstage and warmth) I think have to do with a third distinctive feature I noticed right away, both in the shop and at home. I now know that it is referred to as ‘air’ around the instruments. Probably this ‘airiness’ helps create the heightened sense of (sound)stage and warmth in the instruments and voices. Frankly, I don’t care, but I wouldn’t want to miss it anymore. Everything just sounds a lot better with it, from intimate string quartets and steaming night-club jazz to full-bodied rock and symphony orchestras.
Though I can’t stop this from turning into a rave review, there is one thing about the PrimaLuna with which I am less impressed, so far. In terms of bass control, I can’t help but long for the tight bass of my former Audiolabor. Considering, however, that my Chario speakers seem a bit bass-prone themselves, and that different tubes can make for a vastly different sound, I am optimistic about finding the right tubes for my system. Which brings me to another good thing about the PrimaLuna (and tube amps in general): high tweakability. Change tubes and you will get a difference, from clearly audible to day and night.
After extensive and addictive listening, I am forced to conclude that the PrimaLuna is a bit of an artist; it doesn’t just play or amplify, it paints music. Whether it be the clarinet in the Mozart quintet, Sade’s sexy voice, the ProLogue to Monteverdi’s Orfeo, or the exciting finale of Beethoven’s fifth symphony, the PrimaLuna paints the whole specter, from gentle, precarious almost, to full-bodied and self-assured.
For me, the PrimaLuna seems to do everything the Audiolabor ever did, and more. I am definitely moonstruck, and will remain so for quite a while.
System setup:
AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 (Super version)
PrimaLuna ProLogue One (Durob Audio)
Chario Hiper 2000 Towers
AH! LS-Direkt speaker cable
Monster Interlink