PrimaLuna Dialogue Three Preamp Review

[Serg]

I do not understand what you mean.

I think Primaluna build quality is nicer; Octave is just expensive. Just my opinion.

 

[DSJR]

The hobby is enjoying the music, not listening to gear and wondering if it's true to the source because it isn't. It's processed a lot in the recording, mixing and mastering. And a lot of music is not even played live, but electronic programmed, sampled, or recorded in small pieces, instrument by instrument.

Sorry to kind of disagree here, but to me, the music of any genre played on any source is far more than any hobby and I reckon I'd be all but 'dead' without it! The gear-tinkering is the hobby but that never ever overrides the music for me, which I can enjoy on a set of select £13 in-ear phones fed by an Apple Dongle. Having said that, a good pair of BIG speakers helps one to 'feel' the music physically and I still rue the day when I had to downsize the boxes 'cos our room wasn't big enough.


On the other matter, our old jalopy is manual, but it's no real issue as the car is small and gear change/clutch very light and easy to use. I remember once sitting in a manual Ferrari and one almost had to stand on the clutch pedal to operate it and the gear change through that macho metal gate was clunky... No, I never drove it although I enjoyed being driven in the thing (the wail of the camshafts behind my head and so on).

 

[Multicore]

Great-looking toaster oven!

 

[Billy Budapest]

I have never thought "It would be fun to have a tube amp" though.
But my point is that manual shift transmissions: they are FUN to drive.
And, unless we are driving open wheel cars, if you beat me around a track, in a similar road car to car to mine, it wont be because you are using a DCT.
It will be because you are a more skilled driver or more in tune with your setup.

I used to think sticks were fun to drive. I learned on one and drove a Volvo 242GT for years. More recently, my wife owned a Jetta GLI 6-speed. Although stick shifts have their virtues, I no longer view them as fun—they are more like a pain in the ass to me.

 

[Billy Budapest]

I think there needs to be some distinction on what is considered automatic. In the most traditional senses automatic is hydraulic and CVT. Multi-clutch is a form of automated manual.

This Koenigsegg is an automated manual, where you can choose to paddle shift, where you have full control of when the shift occurs. The traditional automatic does not give you that level of shift control, even with paddles on the steering wheel.

Let’s be real. A dual clutch “automated manual” is still an automatic transmission. And that’s OK.

 

[CleanSound]

Let’s be real. A dual clutch “automated manual” is still an automatic transmission. And that’s OK.

No, it is not. You have full control of the shift, should you choose to. You cannot do that with traditional hydraulic and CVT automatic.

To be clear, I am not advocating for automatic nor multi-clutch. I compared why someone would want an inferior technology in terms of performance such as tube over solid state to manual over DCT. Part of the reason is the experience; for cars, fun factor, ability to be closer and sense the car; for tubes, also fun factor, the look and feel, the glowing tubes, etc.

If anyone feels that it is not an apple to apple comparison that is ok. But I am not sure why people think that I am saying anything bad about manual?

 

[David_M]

Power supply noise before the 1KHz tone is very preventable and the fact that it's so high implies bad/lazy design and engineering on their part.

I heard the PrimaLuma's at an audio show in Newport Beach, CA a few years ago and they sounded really good with Thiels 3.7 speakers ... The sound became too 'tubey' after a while (20+ minutes of listening), giving me a semi-nauseous feeling that I had to leave the listening room.

 

[DVDdoug]

I heard the PrimaLuma's at an audio show in Newport Beach, CA a few years ago and they sounded really good with Thiels 3.7 speakers ... The sound became too 'tubey' after a while (20+ minutes of listening), giving me a semi-nauseous feeling that I had to leave the listening room.

Why blame the amplifier?

Can I get +3dB more "tubey"?

It was a totally uncontrolled sighted listening test with LOTS of unknown variables. "Differences" and defects are usually most-noticeable with quick switching and usually after 20 minutes your brain has adjusted to the sound.

Maybe it was something you ate.

 

[Ron Texas]

I'm not a tube guy. End of story.

 

[Waxx]

On cars: I prefer a manual transmission. It's more fun and you can do things with it you can't with an automatic. I also learned how to drive from a former race pilot and i'm very fast with a manual. But a dual clutch automatic can off course be faster than i, it's just not the same fun.

But a gearbox like those PDK (dual clutch automatic) in the Porche 911's of the last decade are almost as fun, and way more efficient and faster than a manual. Both have their good sides. But for daily driver, give me a manual please. And with electric cars, that will be mandatory here in the near future, there is no gearbox anymore...

 

[pseudoid]

Thank you for the review @amirm, as always.

Noise performance is surprisingly good for a tube preamp:

By tube standards though, it seems OK. I let you all opine what you think.

Based strictly on your review, I wanted to vote this preamp as the "Best Horse in the Glue Factory"; instead, I ended up choosing the Postman Panther to deliver my message!

 

[EJ3]

Exactly. As simple as that.
At least in Europe, the VAST majority of cars were manual until a few years ago. And now they are automatic mainly because it is more convenient with hybrid engines.
This is a side effect of the EU legislation, which promotes (and will soon force) ECO vehicles (hybrid and electric).

A manual car makes you feel more in tune with the driving. It forces you to think about when to change gear, to choose the most appropriate rpm at any given moment, to do toe-heel. And those things, who likes to drive, likes a lot.
Of course, those who understand the car as a washing machine (a transport appliance), all this is irrelevant and annoying for them.
An automatic car maybe more effective, but it erases some of the driving experience. Especially in sport driving.

And something similar happens with most electric steering, which erases "feeling what the wheels do" on the steering wheel. The grip margin, feeling the understeer through the steering wheel rim,... and that the driving feel resembles that of a PlayStation steering wheel.
In the U.S. the concept of driving is different due to a road network that favors looooong straights over curves and mountain passes.. And that's why most cars have always been automatic.

Sorry for the offtopic.

Staying off topic for a reply:
That's why here (in the USA), many of us look for FUN roads to drive & only use the interstates (if we have to) to get somewhere quickly. One such FUN road near me is:

Now, back to the TOPIC:

 

[EJ3]

I used to think sticks were fun to drive. I learned on one and drove a Volvo 242GT for years. More recently, my wife owned a Jetta GLI 6-speed. Although stick shifts have their virtues, I no longer view them as fun—they are more like a pain in the ass to me.

90% of the cars I have owned where either high performance cars or modified by me to be performance cars (including some automatics). At 66 & 1/2 years old & with back surgery on my near future schedule, I still would rather drive a stick shift car. We will see, after my surgery if I feel the same or if I will just start modifying the automatic transmissions in the few of those that I drive to suit me better. I have driven some that have been impressively modified and I have done 2 myself for a couple of cars with automatics that I have owned. Not as good as a manual but better than most automatics.

 

[pseudoid]

...with back surgery on my near future schedule,...

As a part of your post-surgery recovery period, you can order one of these PrimaLuna tube preAmps, so that while you are convalescing it will keep you pre-occupied.
[Thank me later, to have brought you back ON TOPIC?]

P.S. I like rowing my own boat as well; yet, have no plans for any imminent surgery!

 

[EJ3]

As a part of your post-surgery recovery period, you can order one of these PrimaLuna tube preAmps, so that while you are convalescing it will keep you pre-occupied.
[Thank me later, to have brought you back ON TOPIC?]

P.S. I like rowing my own boat as well; yet, have no plans for any imminent surgery!

Thanks for the suggestion but I suspect that if I obtained any more audio equipment that I don't NEED, it could be an issue with my wife when she gets back from her travels in January.
I hope to be able to row my 12 ft boat without pain, so that I can stay in better shape, after the surgery.
& it doesn't get cold enough here that I could pass the PrimLuna as a needed extra bedroom heater (although the glowing tubes might be a nice atmosphere).
I wouldn't know, as I have never had a tube amp (although I have a non-working old Phillco Tube Radio {it could be that it just needs tubes, like my home intercom system does).

 

[DMill]

Thanks for the suggestion but I suspect that if I obtained any more audio equipment that I don't NEED, it could be an issue with my wife when she gets back from her travels in January.
I hope to be able to row my 12 ft boat without pain, so that I can stay in better shape, after the surgery.
& it doesn't get cold enough here that I could pass the PrimLuna as a needed extra bedroom heater (although the glowing tubes might be a nice atmosphere).
I wouldn't know, as I have never had a tube amp (although I have a non-working old Phillco Tube Radio {it could be that it just needs tubes, like my home intercom system does).

If the Prima Luna lets you down as a piece of audio gear, you can always use it as exercise gear. It is 52 lbs. just remember to lift with your knees.

 

[EJ3]

If the Prima Luna lets you down as a piece of audio gear, you can always use it as exercise gear. It is 52 lbs. just remember to lift with your knees.

I was having that though but then I remembered that the surgery on my back (which has to do with my impact in a car accident not caused by me).

 

[Ken1951]

Stick/Not-Stick; Vinyl/Not-Vinyl; Tube/Not-Tube. Same stuff, everyone yelling past each other or simply refusing to accept what the other side likes to use for whatever reason they like to use it. Like it effects them in any way, shape, or form.

 

[mhardy6647]

Stick/Not-Stick; Vinyl/Not-Vinyl; Tube/Not-Tube. Same stuff, everyone yelling past each other or simply refusing to accept what the other side likes to use for whatever reason they like to use it. Like it effects them in any way, shape, or form.

Dude.
Don't forget Polyester.

 

[Ken1951]

Dude.
Don't forget Polyester.

Ah - the days of making party tapes on 10.5" reels! Had forgotten about that. And having a RTR while in college allowed me to record LPs from other guys, which was a true bonus.