PrimaLuna Dialogue HP, Line Magnetic 219ia, Ayon Audio Epsilon.

bzr

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Here comes a comparison between the three, not all in the system at the same time but sold on from one to replace the other. A remembering from experience & notes that I have kept over time & as 2 are integrated & one(Ayon), are monos, perhaps not so fair. But? The system is exactly the same, the Soulution 520 preamp was used with all amps in bypass/HT mode or direct as is the case with the Ayons. Same cabling,isolation,stands etc

 
The PrimaLuna Dialogue HP.

When I received this integrated I was really happy with the quality of the unit, it was solid with a finish that a lot in the industry could learn from. This is & could be considered an audiophiles entry level integrated that just belts home runs out of the ball park. Bestowed with
6 - 12AU7 & the
KT88 tubes,
which by the way is a tube that i don't personally find appealing, I was actually very impressed with this little effort from PrimaLuna that was supposed to be a stop-gap for when my 4 month wait for the Line Magnetic 219ia was realised.
My first inclination of just how good this was to be was straight out of the box, the significant other wanted to hear it. Then she went too far & asked how to use the system if I wasn't there......mmmm, selective hearing & topic of conversation kicks in like an upper-cut from Tyson! In all seriousness to giving praise where things are due, I still wasn't so sure about the KT88's, just too much of everything & not enough of something, in other words, lots of vanilla!
Enter the NOS Mullards & the KT150's. Bugger... The significant other now demands to know what that thing on the top does. Remembering my vowels at the last wedding I was at, tend to remember the significant other was there too, more wine & manuals to explain, she hasn't the time for such silliness.
Ha! Well the Mullards & the Kt 150's took this integrated to another level that at first I wasn't quite comfortable with. Although with the input of the KT 150's & the absolutely instant bass & punch of energy that they bring I was a touch dishevelled from the Mullards. Everyone knows just how much easy energy the 150's have, it's all been a-rave the last trimester hasn't it, "Gov", no need to go there! With the combination this little integrated in bypass with the Soulution 520, it became an absolute beast of a revelation as the tubes started to get some time on them & things started to really gel/burn-in speak for some. There are some things in my life that I will always be thankful for, for being graced with time in their company, usually, it's people for me! I can honestly say that I would unequivocally go back to visit this system for an unextended amount of time as I enjoyed it immensely. The Mullards brought with them true & honest timing, they also didn't sugar coat bad things as we all hear from time to time, not going there! The tone I thought was exceptional with "just maybe", a tad of upper glare in the very high treble but maybe that was the limitation of the price envelope of integrated I am referring to?
I enjoyed my time with the PrimaLuna, with a tad of rolling it also taught me some. Something that I thought that I already knew. This is what I absolutely love about this hobby, just when you think you have got a decent angle on things & a great knowledge base, something comes along to knock you out of the ball-park!
 
Hey kiwi, what new adventures have you added to your system of late?
 
Kev - the PrimaLuna stuff is good.....and doesn't break the bank either. I heard it with KT150's at RMAF and really liked it. Will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the LM and Ayon. I will be very curious to learn which is quieter.
 
Kev - the PrimaLuna stuff is good.....and doesn't break the bank either. I heard it with KT150's at RMAF and really liked it. Will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the LM and Ayon. I will be very curious to learn which is quieter.
Mike this little integrated really surprised the hell out of me for the money. I would rather own one of these with the Soulution in front of it in bypass mode than the Vitus RS-100 amp & Soulution.

I've alway wanted one for my PSB Synchrony One's, for my second system.
Mark, just get one, you'll love it. Also if you want to get a tad more detail find some good nos input tubes & there is always the KT150's for the feel of ss delivery in the bottom end.
 
Mike this little integrated really surprised the hell out of me for the money. I would rather own one of these with the Soulution in front of it in bypass mode than the Vitus RS-100 amp & Soulution.


Mark, just get one, you'll love it. Also if you want to get a tad more detail find some good nos input tubes & there is always the KT150's for the feel of ss delivery in the bottom end.

Kev, I was thinking KT150's would rock out pretty good. I just love that it's so user friendly too!
 
I really love the KT-150's in my Jolida. I can only imagine how great the Primaluna sounds with them.
 
Kev I'm waiting for the LM219ia review. When are we gonna get...

article-2180540-1444BCB4000005DC-766_964x700.jpg
 
Doug thats a cracker post. ..toüche!

The Line Magnetic 219ia. Well, that was a wait as I sold the PrimaLuna, so the importer lent me a class ab Chord amp for the final countdown & friggin jaysus I hated that thing. Going from class a amps to class ab or class d is a very highly recommended thing by me "not' to do. Even going from the LM 219 to a class ab Vitus sucked! Sucked so much I sold the Vitus within 3 months & now have Ayon Epsilon monos stealing my heart.Thats later.
The Line Magnetic 219ia, is an integrated that once I figured out that a mismatch was taking place with the cables, really hit it's straps with the Soulution up front again.
That midrange of the 300B's & the 845's, oh my, that is special I think I would have done cartwheels after putting up with the Chord amp & then experiencing what the LM turned into. Experiencing this much joy from my system & at the price of this integrated really made me sit back & evaluate just how much money I had thrown at this hobby. Putting the 520 preamp up front with the right cables was another step up in quality & once again made me realise just how good the preamp is.
The 219 after a while started to settle in & at around 200+ hours I dropped in a set of Psvane WE replica 845 & 300B's. At first the difference was not that much of an improvement as the tubes in the amp are pretty good, but, once the new glass hit it's straps, it was obvious. Later as an experiment I swapped the original tubes back in for a couple of days & really enjoyed putting Psvanes back in after this time.
Power wise the LM couldn't foot it with the PrimaLuna wasn't even in the same post code, then again, I didn't think it would. Pushing the volume over a third to half & the needles were telling me that there was some slight clipping going on with my 89db speakers so I never went much more than a 1/4-1/3 on the dial which was loud enough for me.
Tone wise & timbre of instruments was lovely with a touch of tube romance but never over the top, just a glorious mid range that is to die for. Percussion & vocals come to mind as I think back with tight bass, but in saying that, with the 2 Torus that area is well covered as they each have their own amps. What this LM gear does with vocals is really special, it's an up front type of experience as against the PL which was more mid hall in a way, the PL having a more refined soundstage as to where the band members were situated as well as better layering, but when the recording was done well with mastering worth mentioning, that real vocal sound was extremely intoxicating & just downright musical!!
I run all my movies through my 2 channel system & the LM actually surprised me here as it was better than I thought it would be but definitely needs woofer help for the fanatic. Then the ph rang....
Well, I got offered a great condition Vitus RS-100 amp at a price that I thought was good so sold the LM & tried to like the Vitus. :fingers:
 
Joe, what I have at the mo, straight out of the box is dead quietly special!


 
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