Speaker Matches for PrimaLuna Prologue Premium Int Amp

[mhardy6647]

The HECO wouldn't be a terrible choice, but the performance of the amplifier will be measurably worse, and possibly (and more worrisome) audibly worse, into a nominal 4 impedance load (which is what that is) compared to one with ca. 8 ohm impedance "north of" the main resonance peak.

Fwiw, I wouldn't expect noise from this amp to present itself as hiss. More likely hum, HD, or 'grunge'... all part of the tube experience... and mind you, I am a fan!

Per @Waxx 's comment. Harbeths with this amp would probably be very sweet, although also very polite sounding. Not optimal for, e.g. Led Zeppelin.

 

[Waxx]

The HECO wouldn't be a terrible choice, but the performance of the amplifier will be measurably worse, and possibly (and more worrisome) audibly worse, into a nominal 4 impedance load (which is what that is) compared to one with ca. 8 ohm impedance "north of" the main resonance peak.

Fwiw, I wouldn't expect noise from this amp to present itself as hiss. More likely hum, HD, or 'grunge'... all part of the tube experience... and mind you, I am a fan!

Per @Waxx 's comment. Harbeths with this amp would probably be very sweet, although also very polite sounding. Not optimal for, e.g. Led Zeppelin.

On a clean network, there is no hum on my Prologue 4, but if the AC is not clean, a hum could be present. Mine does not have the standard EM/RFI filter that almost all modern electronics have, and that is the reason. So I put one before and that solved all hum problems (cheap and easy fix). And yes, Harbeth is one of the favorite speaker brands by Prima Luna owners as far as i know.

 

[DanielT]

I've said it before because the question of speakers that go well with tube amps pops up here on ASR every now and then.
Why doesn't any speaker manufacturer make a pair of tube amp friendly, with a smooth impedance curve, 8 Ohm, fairly high sensitivity speakers? Which of course should be good otherwise/measure well.
Tube dude lovers pay a lot of money for their tube amps so they can probably be willing to open the bigger wallet for a pair of such speakers.

For those who want and can DIY, it's a different matter. For example, building mini arrays with four or more broadband drivers. Gives flexibility to create the Ohm you want plus getting speakers with suitable sensitivity and a smooth impedance curve.

For example, these line arrays should be suitable to be powered by a tube amp (after some parallel/series wiring to get them into 8 Ohms). The bass module powered by a class D amp:

Little Big Line Array Build

After building quite a few subwoofers and 2-way speakers over the years, I was looking for something different, and line arrays fit the bill nicely. Line arrays have some intriguing characteristics such as little loss of volume as you get further away, low distortion, and very slim enclosures...

www.audiosciencereview.com

That said, line arrays can require a fairly long listening distance plus some EQ to sound good. So they may not be the right choice for everyone.

 

[KPC]

Hi @KPC! Welcome to ASR.

5K is a lot of money and gives you access to many excellent speakers.

I would shortlist:

-Ascilab C8T
-Ascend Acoustics ELX Tower
-Philharmonic Audio BMR Tower
-KEF R7 Meta
-MoFi Sourcepoint 888

These five are rigorously following the science of transparent and faithful audio reproduction which makes them a cut above speakers from the likes of Sonus Faber, Dali, Triangle, Q Acoustics, Monitor Audio, Klipsch and co.

You'd be well served with either one of them.

Also, a UMIK-1 and a way to apply PEQ for room correction should be included in any investment of that magnitude, as you're just not getting the full potential when leaving the room uncorrected.

Been doing research, it seems that your recommendation for the PA Audio BMR may work best for my room setup. The front port I believe may assist with allowing for my speakers to reside closer to the wall (Trying to balance my wife's need for my equipment to not be in the way). Is this correct reasoning on my end? And if so, any other front-ported speakers I should add to the mix?

 

[IngMishael]

your tube amp will alter the frequency response of your speaker you choose. leading to excesses in certain region based on the impedance curve of the speakers.

My recommend is the MoFi Sourcepoint 10 Master Edition. As it is one of the few non electrostats with near flat impedance and relatively sensitive enough to work with the Prima Luna.

linked here In Black or in Walnut

 

[mhardy6647]

As it is one of the few non electrostats with near flat impedance and relatively sensitive enough to work with the Prima Luna.

I am thinking you probably are referring to planar drivers such as the Magneplanars, as opposed to electrostatics.
EDIT: of course, the Magneplanars utterly fail to check the adequate sensitivity box.

source: https://www.stereophile.com/content/magnepan-lrs-loudspeaker-0 (2019)
Many if not most electrostatics have... interesting frequency-dependent impedance, since they are, in effect, big old capacitors.

source: https://www.stereophile.com/content/martinlogan-montis-loudspeaker-measurements (2012)

 

[IngMishael]

I am thinking you probably are referring to planar drivers such as the Magneplanars, as opposed to electrostatics.
EDIT: of course, the Magneplanars utterly fail to check the adequate sensitivity box.
View attachment 515251
source: https://www.stereophile.com/content/magnepan-lrs-loudspeaker-0 (2019)
Many if not most electrostatics have... interesting frequency-dependent impedance, since they are, in effect, big old capacitors.

View attachment 515252
source: https://www.stereophile.com/content/martinlogan-montis-loudspeaker-measurements (2012)

yes... my mistake, I meant to say magneplanars

also here's the 10ME's impedance compared to the original 10

 

[mhardy6647]

yes... my mistake, I meant to say magneplanars

also here's the 10ME's impedance compared to the original 10

Well... higher baseline impedance would be better for a transformer-coupled amplifier, but, yeah, that's a well-behaved impedance curve overall. Guess that guy knows what he's doin'!

But what was up with that treble impedance mountain in the original version?
It wouldn't bother a vacuum tube amplifier much (if at all), but it's kind of unseemly.

In fairness, I doubt rather seriously that "they" were thinkin' oh, this'll be great for tube amps! as a major design parameter for these loudspeakers.