Help in selecting Primaluna amp

[Bhai]

Hi guys,

 

I really don't know much about amps, but I'm looking for some advice in selecting an amp to pair up with my brand new Klipsch La Scalas. I'm trying to decide between the Evo 200 and Evo 300: https://www.primaluna.nl/tube/integrated/

 

In terms of price the Evo 300 is 60% more expensive. Is it worth it? Can I expect a significant improvement in sound quality by shelling out the extra bucks?

[Tarheel]

1 hour ago, Bhai said:

Hi guys,

 

I really don't know much about amps, but I'm looking for some advice in selecting an amp to pair up with my brand new Klipsch La Scalas. I'm trying to decide between the Evo 200 and Evo 300: https://www.primaluna.nl/tube/integrated/

 

In terms of price the Evo 300 is 60% more expensive. Is it worth it? Can I expect a significant improvement in sound quality by shelling out the extra bucks?

There is not much difference in the EVO series and the previous model.  If budget is a concern look for a Dialogue HP Premium used.  8 power tubes up to the KT-150.  I bought one used a couple of years ago with 8 EL-34 tubes and 8 KT-120 for $3000 shipped.  The Quicksilver Horn Monos are a great match if you can find them.  They are now discontinued.  25 wpc and self biasing.  I have good luck on usaudiomart.com.

[Bhai]

Hi! So I'm actually in India and my only choice seems to be primaluna... So I really wanted advice specifically on 200 vs 300 and whether it's worth the price difference. I have practically zero technically knowledge on amps...

[KT88]

On 12/24/2023 at 9:10 PM, Bhai said:

Hi guys,

 

I really don't know much about amps, but I'm looking for some advice in selecting an amp to pair up with my brand new Klipsch La Scalas. I'm trying to decide between the Evo 200 and Evo 300: https://www.primaluna.nl/tube/integrated/

 

In terms of price the Evo 300 is 60% more expensive. Is it worth it? Can I expect a significant improvement in sound quality by shelling out the extra bucks?

I know some tube amps, Leak, Quad II, Mc275 Mk4, Audion Silvernight 300 B, MC2102 belong to my collection next to the matching pre amps. I also know the EL34 quite well from my guitar amps. But I don't know the Prima Luna amps personally. Due to your enquiry I have now read a few reviews out of my own interest. What follows is my own personal conclusion. Everyone else can draw their own conclusions.
In principle I think that an Evo 200 or 300 is a good amp that combines very smart vintage qualities like point to point soldering with modern features.
Would I spend the extra money for the Evo 300? I think I can say very confidently...no.

The versatility of the Evo 300 is praised in the various tests, also in German magazines. But in the end, all the testers ended up with the Ultralinear circuit and it was "nice" to hear the triode circuit from time to time. A little more softness but less stage and less timing and punch. 
There is a second option: you can swap the power tubes, but this is also possible with the Evo 200. Only...the plate voltage is fixed in all Evos, so the power remains the same, no matter which tube...and the EL34 has a damn good sound, it was good enough for the Radford STA25, one of the best tube amps ever. I wouldn't change the EL34, it has a nice sound. By the way, as a pentode it was never really intended for a triode circuit when it was built because it was too modern for that when it was developed. So, personally, I don't need the triode circuit or the exchange for a KT88 or any other power tube if I would buy an Evo.
If you enjoy sound tuning...replacing the small 2 gain tubes at the input has a drastically greater effect on the sound than replacing any power tubes.
Ok, the EVO 300 supposedly has slightly larger transformers, it has cables made of "Swiss copper" and it has a "high-quality looking" remote control. Sorry, that's marketing blah blah. PL has hit the nail on the head with the Evo200. And then they thought about how they could justify the Evo 300, hence the triode switching and the copper from Switzerland. Chocolate would be better.
But, that's just me, others may think the triode switching is more important to them. And, ok, on a Lascala it might make more sense as an option than on any normal radiator speaker. I also have an old vinatage LaScala next to my Underground Jubilee. My LaScala prefers to play in ultralinear mode. 

 

I would perhaps take the option of the triode circuit at 20% extra cost, but definitely not at 60% extra cost. I would rather spend this extra money on records.

Here are a few reviews. David Price is a very credible guy I know from youtube videos.

 

May be you know all this reviews.

 

https://www.stereonet.com/au/reviews/primaluna-evo-200-integrated-amplifier-review

 

https://www.hifinews.com/content/primaluna-evo-300-integrated-amplifier

 

https://www.avforums.com/reviews/primaluna-evo-300-integrated-valve-amplifier-review.18785/

 

Strangely enough, I have not found a single review where the other Evo was used for comparison. So in tests of the Evo200, nowhere was the Evo300 mentioned and vice versa. This leads me to suspect that Primal Luna expressly did not want this comparison, or that the testers were helpless to describe significant differences in sound, despite the Swiss chocolate. I have only found one test where the Evo 200 pre and power were tested as separate boxes, where they were tentatively compared with the Evo300 pre and power, without the result being that it absolutely had to be the 300.

 

https://www.stereonet.com/uk/reviews/primaluna-evo-200-pre-power-amplifier-review

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SonicSeeker]

I have had both and I think the 300 is worth the extra cost but the 200 is a very nice unit as well.

The 300 is a little more transparent and has a more authoritative lower end.

The Triode/Ultra Linear switch is a nice option as well but if your system is dialed in I have found that I do not really use it that often in my system because of how nice and open and extended the Ultra Linear is compared to the Triode. YMMV

I am now using the EVO-200 preamplifier and the EVO-400 amplifier with good results and may move up to the EVO-300 preamplifier in the future if I get the itch but it sounds quite excellent as is for now.