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In Reply to: Audio Research SP16/VS55 versus PrimaLuna Prologue 3/Prologue 6 monoblocks posted by Ndyanabo on March 17, 2007 at 07:29:25:
Thanks for the thoughts.Both sets have received positive reviews, here and in print, and are supposed to be well built. My father's impression is that the PL equipment sounds a little better (although given differences in equipment, that might not mean much). People emphasize that the PL offer bang for the buck, and Chuck makes an interesting point about the match with my speakers. All of that would seem to give the edge to the PL equipment.
mbnx, if you're still around, you think the answer is obvious. On what basis? I don't have that much experience with hight end audio equipment, and this will be my first tube gear. Certainly kentaja's point about customer service is a valid one. Do people think that whatever slight edge the PL might have in sound is overcome by ARC's customer service backing? How important is having that support for tube equipment?
Follow Ups:
ARC + built in USAPrima Luna = built in China
Do both sound good? Probably. (Keep in mind, I've not heard PL gear except at shows.) I have owned an SP16 for 4 years. It gave me exempelary service during that time with no ptoblems. I ran it with soild state amps thought Magneplaner speakers and it sounded great (Sunfire and Bryston). I've since sold it to move on up to an LS17 (still with the Bryston). ARC is both easy to deal with and readily available. Which would I choose for long term enjoyment? Probably the ARC if only because they've been there, done that for longer than just about anyone in the high-end and will be around far into the foreseeable future. Can I say the same thing for Prima Luna? Maybe. But until they have a proven track record over the course of a number of years..... Upscale Audio, through whom you'll go to purchase PL gear is a very reputable outfit. Kevin Deal is a great guy who knows tubes well. But I'd still chose ARC over PL.
Sonically, the SP16 is a full sounding preamp. (I assume you'll get the SP16 and not the SP16L linestage so you can have the option of going vinyl if you so choose - which you should.) I don't think I'd ever call the ARC combo lean or bleached. Rich and detailed would be my vote.
The best option? Try each set in your system and see which YOU like best. If your father is truly serious about getting you what you want then that's the only way you'll ever know for sure. Which ever way you go, you'll have a fine sounding setup. Enjoy.
Oh, and tell you Dad if he's looking to adopt another son.......
John Crossett____________________________
It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
as well as the manufacturer and the knowledge level/skill set, techie wise, of the user.The first tube amp I ever owned was a ARC. A power tube shorted out and it took out a resistor (a very ordinary event with older ARC amps) so the amp had to be repaired. My dealer wouldn't/couldn't repair it so it went back to ARC for repairs. No problem but for the expense involved. I had an identical excerience 3 times with a couple of Sonic Frontiers amps I owned, but the 2d and 3d time it was just a trip to a local techie and if I had any simple soldering skills I could have handled it.
I'm led to believe that this may not be a potential problem with new ARC amps. i.e. the 55, but if its important to you, ask someone who knows (the dealer/manufacturer). Some of the major manufacturers have fused the circuit so all that happens with a shorted tube is you take out the fuse. You replace the tube and the fuse and you're good.
PL has a fused curcuit - short out a power tube, you replace it and the fuse. The amp is also auto bias which means you never have to worry about it. For a tube newbie this is good. But, for a more advanced tubie maybe not so because you can change the amps performance by varying the bias setting. With the auto bias curcuit you're stuck with the factory setting. I have not been unhappy with my PL's but I would have liked to adjust my own bias. Also, by being able to set/check the actual bias you can monitor the life of the tube and change it before it dies.
Future service is always speculative. Unless you are a true insider you never know for sure if any highly respected manufacturer or dealer will still be around a few years from no. At this time if you buy you PL's from Upscale I can assure you he'll give you turn around warranty service (he has with an amp and pre-amp in which I created the problem). How he will service someone who buys one second hand, other than charging a fee I have no knowledge.
If I were you, considering these two products, I would go for the one which made my speakers sound they way I wanted it. If you like the sound I don't think you are going wrong with either the ARC or the PL.
I purchased my VS 55 new in March of 2004. In December of 2005 a power tube blew and took a couple of parts with it. I replaced all the power tubes ($400) because ARC had moved to a different tube and a lower biasing. In September of 2006 another power tube blew. This time I replaced only one channel's tubes ($180). I'm sure my experience is worse than the norm but I'm glad this amp only has two power tubes per channel!
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