Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: PrimaLuna DiaLogue Seven Amplifier (Tube) by breamis@yahoo.com

Model:	DiaLogue Seven
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$4999
Description:	Monobloc PAIR of power amps equipped with Adaptive AutoBiasâ„¢ exclusive to PrimaLuna, means no user adjustments and tubes are kept in their â€œsweet spotâ€ for lowest distortion in real time. Like all PrimaLuna amps will use most power tubes from 6L6GC, KT66, EL-34, 7581A, 6550, KT88, KT90, and others. Soft-start circuit extends component and tube life by powering up the amp gently every time you turn it on. Tube plate fuse protects the amplifier output stage. Custom designed output transformers encapsulated for low hum, wide bandwidth and enough current to run most any speaker. Premium parts. Fully vented, chassis-mounted ceramic tube sockets with KT88 power tubes, Frech-made Solen Capacitors, and Philips fast-recovery diodes. WBT style speaker terminals and gold plated input jacks. The finest point to point wiring, with workmanship equal to or better than any product you can buy at any price. Chassis made of finely finished heavy gauge steel, and five step automotive quality finish. Each coat hand rubbed and polished. Quick-release tube cage. Toroidal power transformer for low hum and an amp that is dead quiet. Triode/Ultralinear switching on-the-fly via slim aluminum remote. 70 watts ultralinear, 40 watts triode.
Manufacturer URL:	PrimaLuna
Model Picture:	View

Review by breamis@yahoo.com on July 22, 2009 at 16:29:47
IP Address: 76.166.30.77 Add Your Review
for the DiaLogue Seven

For the last year I've been using a Primare A30.5 and SP 31.7 with my Beethoven Baby Grands. The sound was good, but I felt it lacked humanity. I've never owned a tube amp before, but from what I read online about Prima Luna, it seemed like a good place to start. Easy for the beginner. I got the Dialogue 2 from Kevin at Upscale Audio. It sounded fantastic, but I missed some of the punch and power of the A30.5. So, I upgraded to the Dialogue 7s. They sound a lot like the dialogue 2, just grander, but without losing the nuance. This was the sound I'd been longing for. I didn't know speakers could sound so good. They are 7s are powerful and detailed, but most importantly, they seem to "play" the music instead of reproduce it. They sound just right and real, never colored. I'm not much of an audiophile, but more of a music lover. I've never loved music so much! Seriously, all I want to do now is listen to music. I've bought 200 cds in 4 months.

In my setup I run uncompressed wavs/aifs from a readynas server to: a squeezebox duet > monarchy audio NM24 DAC > Primare SP31.7 (on stereo bypass) > prima luna dialogue 7s > vienna acoustics beethoven baby grands and REL R-305 sub

Product Weakness:	none
Product Strengths:	powerful, grand, detailed, sounds like a musical instrument instead of a piece of gear, adaptive auto bias

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Prima Luna Dialogue 7 Monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): primare SP31.7 Mk 2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): squeezebox duet digital out
Speakers: vienna acoustics beethoven baby grand, REL R-305s
Cables/Interconnects: audioquest king cobra/diamondback
Music Used (Genre/Selections): rock, classical, jazz, folk, etc.
Room Size (LxWxH): 17 x 14 x 8.5
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 5 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): panamax 5300
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Prima Luna Dialogue 7 Monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	primare SP31.7 Mk 2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	squeezebox duet digital out
Speakers:	vienna acoustics beethoven baby grand, REL R-305s
Cables/Interconnects:	audioquest king cobra/diamondback
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	rock, classical, jazz, folk, etc.
Room Size (LxWxH):	17 x 14 x 8.5
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	5 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	panamax 5300
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner