Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 17, 2020 20:06:10 GMT
Fancied another flavour of sound and having been on a SS kick for some time, I decided that a Valve amp was due to be purchased. Its not to rival the 686...gawd knows I don't know what would, but sometimes, a bit of valve goodness is always welcome. See the Primaluna Prolongue Five: Should be here a week on Wednesday   |
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Post by jimbo on Aug 17, 2020 20:37:20 GMT
Lovely row of bottles!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 17, 2020 21:02:21 GMT
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Post by stevew on Aug 17, 2020 21:08:41 GMT
Well here is someone who likes them
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 17, 2020 21:30:34 GMT
Well here is someone who likes them He's a big fan isn't he. Impulse buy....sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't, but it's fun to find out. |
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Post by stevew on Aug 17, 2020 21:43:53 GMT
Well here is someone who likes them He's a big fan isn't he. Impulse buy....sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't, but it's fun to find out. Yeah , I love his reviews. Passionate but always backs up assertions with experience and solid facts. Your findings are going to be real interesting. Would just love to have a listen. Sigh... |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 17, 2020 21:46:57 GMT
He's a big fan isn't he. Impulse buy....sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't, but it's fun to find out. Yeah , I love his reviews. Passionate but always backs up assertions with experience and solid facts. Your findings are going to be real interesting. Would just love to have a listen. Sigh... Ha, patience...when lockdown is sorted out and you're free to mingle, we will have a get together. |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 18, 2020 8:28:22 GMT
I've got a PL Prologue 5.
Very nice.
Amazing variety of power valves it can take.
I've tried various flavours of 6550, el34, 6l6, kt120.
For me, the kt120 are best.
Hmm, it's been sitting on a spares shelf for a few months, I must plumb it back in again sometime.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 9:15:32 GMT
I've got a PL Prologue 5. Very nice. Amazing variety of power valves it can take. I've tried various flavours of 6550, el34, 6l6, kt120. For me, the kt120 are best. Hmm, it's been sitting on a spares shelf for a few months, I must plumb it back in again sometime. Ah, a good buy, by me Jerry? Total stab in the Dark on my part. Never heard one, or anything by Primaluna. I'll keep my eyes open for some nice valves for it |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 18, 2020 9:32:11 GMT
Yes, very good amp imo.
The sound very much depends on the fitted valves. As well as playing with power valves I invested in some PSVANE and TAD 12ax7 and 12au7 input valves for it, and they made a worthwhile upgrade to the PL stock ones.
I see yours comes with PL kt88, not tried any of those, any idea what brand they are before PL put their monicker on them?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 9:50:51 GMT
Yes, very good amp imo. The sound very much depends on the fitted valves. As well as playing with power valves I invested in some PSVANE and TAD 12ax7 and 12au7 input valves for it, and they made a worthwhile upgrade to the PL stock ones. I see yours comes with PL kt88, not tried any of those, any idea what brand they are before PL put their monicker on them? I believe they are JJ valves, just rebranded for Primaluna. I wouldn't quote me on that though. It's gonna be here for a while, and I will be experimenting with some valves. I'm looking at russian Equivalents. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 9:51:05 GMT
Deep joy valves  Though as they say in outer Mongolia a change is a good as a rest let us know how it fairs at chez bigman |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 10:15:30 GMT
Deep joy valves Though as they say in outer Mongolia a change is a good as a rest let us know how it fairs at chez bigman I am sure there will be an epic 3 page writeup full of details. I am genuinely looking forward to giving this a listen. It's the first time in my Hifi journey I have not been under pressure to sell anything, in order to keep something. It's a novel feeling. I feel I can give this as much time as necessary to form an opinion, and as I said to Mr Firebottle yesterday, I haven't had any valves in the system for a while, and certainly not since I have had the rest of my system sorted. The stuff upstream and downstream from the amp is all too notch, so I am hoping that gives a good environment for the PL5 to perform |
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Post by macca on Aug 18, 2020 12:09:39 GMT
The transition from box-swapping to box-accumulating...
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 12:51:49 GMT
The transition from box-swapping to box-accumulating... Well, in honesty, looking at your issues lately, it makes sense to have a backup! |
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Post by electronumpty on Aug 18, 2020 13:33:00 GMT
"I'm really happy with thing as they are" he says.
"not gonna change anything now " he says.
" just gonna listen to some music" he says
🙄
🤣🤣🤣
Bet this sends you off on a valve nirvana search. 😉
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 13:37:39 GMT
Should be quite interesting listening to your thoughts on this, as my experience with PL amps is a iron fist in velvet glove approach.
To see how it stacks up against your 'forever amplifier' as Alan has called them should be a good read
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 13:40:29 GMT
Just a side note here, Jerry is using 120's a more laid back sound than the KT88's which are more of a gituar amp valve ballsy is good word. Did hear recently some KT 150's that we not installed in AR, they seemed to be a bit of a half way house
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Post by electronumpty on Aug 18, 2020 13:41:10 GMT
I've read a bit about them and always fancied trying one. Seem to be held in good regard.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 14:01:13 GMT
Should be quite interesting listening to your thoughts on this, as my experience with PL amps is a iron fist in velvet glove approach. To see how it stacks up against your 'forever amplifier' as Alan has called them should be a good read Well, Alan's description of the Neurochrome is pretty much verbatim of my own. The 686 is an epic beast, that does absolutely anything you can think that you may want an amplifier to do.....apart from that valve sweetness, euphoria....and the lies!. I am not entirely confident that the PL5 will convincingly do that either, as in my experience too the KT88 valve is as you say...punchy and a bit of a hard hitter at that. I like that though. I am not particularly "looking" for it do anything extraordinary, or rival the 686. By my own admission, the 686 is the best amplifier available to any working class audiophile. That's 100% my belief and it hasn't changed, but I saw an opportunity to bag a very well regarded, versatile valve amplifier for a very fair price, and I went for it. What this amplifier will do, is give me the opportunity to use my new AWM Preamp build with a bonafide valve amp. This is something I have also learned from the past few months with the BB3, eople want to know how it sounds with valve gear...at the moment I have no idea. The PL5 will give me my monies worth. I am totally prepared to do a full write up and see what happens in the system. Trust me, I will be thorough lol |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 14:02:54 GMT
"I'm really happy with thing as they are" he says. "not gonna change anything now " he says. " just gonna listen to some music" he says 🙄 🤣🤣🤣 Bet this sends you off on a valve nirvana search. 😉 did I say that? lol Doesn't sound like me lol Nah, I am in a great place sonically, and I have no issues of note but I am always looking for bargains and items that pique my interest. This was both. |
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Post by electronumpty on Aug 18, 2020 14:09:58 GMT
Well I'm para phrasing tbf. 🙂
Nice to be able to try something for the crack rather than looking for/needing an improvement.
Hope you enjoy it!
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Post by firebottle on Aug 18, 2020 17:19:56 GMT
Nice to be able to try something for the crack rather than looking for/needing an improvement. Yes I resemble that scenario. Whatever came over me? |
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Post by macca on Aug 18, 2020 20:54:21 GMT
The transition from box-swapping to box-accumulating... Well, in honesty, looking at your issues lately, it makes sense to have a backup! That's how it starts - rationalisation. And then a couple of years down the line you turn around and you've got enough kit to stock a shop. Then you try to implement controls like 'one in one out' but it never works. You never think storage space is going to be a problem but one day you realise there is just no more room for anymore. But it doesn't stop! |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 21:29:15 GMT
Well, in honesty, looking at your issues lately, it makes sense to have a backup! That's how it starts - rationalisation. And then a couple of years down the line you turn around and you've got enough kit to stock a shop. Then you try to implement controls like 'one in one out' but it never works. You never think storage space is going to be a problem but one day you realise there is just no more room for anymore. But it doesn't stop! Haha....I can't do it mate. Not enough funds/space or time for a huge storage of gear, but one or two choice pieces won't hurt. |
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Post by mikeyb on Aug 18, 2020 21:53:16 GMT
What you really need is its bigger brother  No doubt that'll come   Mind you the integrated I tried was pretty special too  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 22:44:07 GMT
What you really need is its bigger brother  No doubt that'll come  Mind you the integrated I tried was pretty special too Show off lol... Well, we shall see what happens. I'm open minded about these things and if a sound touches the soul, the. It can't be a mistake. I am happy where I'm at and it's unlikely to be an improvement, or at least I can't imagine it being one, so I'm just gonna enjoy it for what it is. |
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Post by mikeyb on Aug 18, 2020 23:03:20 GMT
Well, we shall see what happens. I'm open minded about these things and if a sound touches the soul, the. It can't be a mistake. I am happy where I'm at and it's unlikely to be an improvement, or at least I can't imagine it being one, so I'm just gonna enjoy it for what it is. I think you’ll enjoy the PL, I can’t really see me getting rid of mine, too heavy to post for a start at 33kg lol. I’ve not tried rolling the power valves only the middle 2 at the front as they have the biggest effect on the sound. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 18, 2020 23:14:16 GMT
Well, we shall see what happens. I'm open minded about these things and if a sound touches the soul, the. It can't be a mistake. I am happy where I'm at and it's unlikely to be an improvement, or at least I can't imagine it being one, so I'm just gonna enjoy it for what it is. I think you’ll enjoy the PL, I can’t really see me getting rid of mine, too heavy to post for a start at 33kg lol. I’ve not tried rolling the power valves only the middle 2 at the front as they have the biggest effect on the sound. The guy I've bought it off has some of the TOTL Primaluna stuff, hence the sale. He said "This amp will not disappoint" I kinda believe him but not many folks have heard of the N686, Even fewer have heard one...it's going to be super interesting what happens, but again, it's not a contest...at least I don't feel that way. I've wanted a good valve amp, since I borrowed Alan's Chi-Fi cheapy one that he modded. It made sound like nothing else I have ever heard, but the LF was extremely wayward with my speakers. It didn't have enough grip. Ideally, and I genuinely considered this, I was going to ask Alan to build an OTL. A BIG ONE. The little one he made was divine too, just a little bit low on power for me. Maybe that's what I'll do if the Primaluna can demonstrate it would be money worth spending. |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 19, 2020 5:39:04 GMT
I’ve not tried rolling the power valves only the middle 2 at the front as they have the biggest effect on the sound. I'd usually agree with that, but I think different rules apply with PL gear where you can use so many different types of power valve cos of the clever autibiasing. 6l6 vs 6550 vs kt120 -- different sound worlds! |
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Though as they say in outer Mongolia a change is a good as a rest let us know how it fairs at chez bigman
