PrimaLuna ProLogue Four Stereo Tube Power Amplifier

Let’s talk about the difference between tubes at a bargain, versus the no-holds-barred approach.

The magic of tubes is real, and while it’s easy to say that, the fact remains that you can hear certain qualities to the midrange and top end when tubes are involved, that you don’t necessarily hear with solid state. It’s something that can sound different on different music — quite hard to pin down with words, although you know it when you hear it.

And if you DO hear these qualities from a solid state amplifier, it’s notable. Everyone wants to be the first to remark on whether an SS amp has a sense of “tubeyness.” The amplifier I use for testing here at The Music Room is widely described as such, and it comes about its tube-ish nature by way of a bit of second order and third order harmonics in the input stage.

It comes close to the real thing, but it ain’t quite the same. Clearly the bright bottles are onto something, but they don’t come without needs.

Let’s talk about maintenance. Tube amplifiers are sometimes a headache to own. At least they are, relative to an SS amp that you can keep plugged in and on for 20 years. Not to mention the difference in air conditioning bills over that time.

If you’ve heard a good tube amp and want one, or if your audio buddy is trying to convince you to step into the realm, your next move is to pick a design, hope it sounds good and hope it doesn’t heat up your room too much or require too much tweaking.

Chances are, you’ll be barking up PrimaLuna’s tree.

Sure, you could go big and go vintage and feast your eyes and ears on a military-sized chassis & bombproof PCBs & uncommon tubes. You could find a tube amp for every wattage and frankly, a healthy handful which offer less than 5 watts total. You could go OTL and have 16 KT88s to bias. You could find something with no less than Mundorf Supreme Silver & Oil caps everywhere, silver wiring and components chosen for sound rather than for longevity.

OR, you could try a PrimaLuna. These EL34 amps really make me smile every single time I hear them. Most of that has to do with the sound, but some of it is that sense of ease that surrounds their ownership. There’s no biasing, no fancy mute controls you can accidentally disengage on startup, no DC thumps, no mess, no fuss.

And these amplifiers bring the tube magic, for real. Every Prima I’ve ever heard is a wonderful, fun amplifier, period.

I think that’s impressive. Rabbit holes are deep due to the desire for the rabbits to go further. If a Prima Luna lights you up, you may wish to tread deeper into the world of tubes.

But these amps show you don’t need to go very far across the boundary into tube land to have fun.