Is a Tube Pre-amp for you? Featuring the Primaluna EVO 400 Pre and the Schiit Freya!
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- Опубліковано 22 лют 2022
- I have been tinkering with my chain of late and added pre-amps to the mix: namely the Primaluna EVO 400 and the Schiit Freya, just because I wanted to compare pre-amps at two very different price points! I hope this video is helpful. Give tube pre-amps a chance even if you are not a tube person!
#PrimaLunaEVO400TubePreamplifier #SchiitFreya #TubePreamplifier #Amplify #SajidAmit
I believe what you are appreciating most in the PrimaLuna preamp is its use of tube rectification. Very few companies (amps, preamps, etc.) use tube rectification, and I think overall it's better used in a preamp as the demand on the rectifier tube can be handled much more accurately since its power requirements are far less than in an amplifier. That may also be why you think just the preamp is better than the integrated amp ... more strain on the rectifier. And as a bonus the Prima Luna has a dedicated tube rectifier for each channel.
Possible
I have had the Evo 400 pre for a few years and it is excellent. I bought some real 1958 NOS Philips miniwatt Holland 5AR4 and Mulard 12AU7 and for the 2 middle 12AU7 1964 Radio Technique. All the tubes take the Evo 400 to another level, it sounds like a $10,000 + preamp.
In the Freya+, try rolling tubes. Try the "Shuguang 50 Years Treasure CV181-Z" tubes on the Right side and "Electro-Harmonix 6SN7 EH Gold Pin" tubes on the Left. It might be what you're missing. Of course, rolling tubes can get expensive.
@@akispapasavvas9307 No. I've tried it both ways. I agree that the right tubes control more of the sound signature. Shuguang 50 Years Treasure CV181-Z on the Right side and Electro-Harmonix 6SN7 EH Gold Pin on the left. That's what worked best for me.
@@a3marketing991 I just got the Eh gold pins, worlds better than JJ or tung sol.
@@scottlowell493 great to hear. If you want a little more warmth and air, try the CV181-Z tubes on the right side.
@Sajid, I am glad that you are reviewing tubes now.
Excellent description of the Evo 400, well done!
Quick question. How do you prefer do control volume? On the Evo with the Oor in bypass mode?
I just purchased the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid integrated amp. Tube pre with the solid state output amp. It has that slam and detailed bass you allude to, with a sound stage that makes my room feel bigger. Transparent and rich. I am very pleased with it.
Is the bass comparable to that of all-solid state amps ?
@@marcusaurelius2988 As a former owner of a Rogue Audio Metis preamp that thing had deeper bass than any solid state preamp I ever owned. When I upgraded to the Rogue Audio Perseus Magnum tube preamp it bested every other preamp I ever owned both transistor and tube. I purchased it 10 years ago and it costed $2300. Back then and even now most people would consider that too steep. However for its price, parts quality, performance and build quality, also its looks, this piece is unbeatable even now. This has been a end game for me.
Everything you said about the schiit could be solved by using different tubes. Get EH gold, sylvanias, and/or GE and it instantly will blow ya mind
Good thorough review of these stock preamps, thanks.
The *Musical Paradise* MP 701mk2 is another "Swiss Army Knife" option at about $750-$1000 depending on capacitor options....
It is tube rectified.
There are MANY tube options from 6922 to 12sn7....
Bypass and coupling capacitors can be rolled easily. (Match your power amp input impedance first, then roll away [Sch💩t amps need 4.7uF] ;-)
Expect to replace the stock signal tubes right away. Mine were noisy.
With the stock HVL (Hovland?) & Bennic caps it sounds warm & full bodied.
The optional V-Cap ODAMs are just MAGICAL! So transparent, yet smooth & musical.
Currently playing with Mundorf SGO EVO caps, a 12sn7, two 12bh7 and a 5au7 "coke bottle" rectifier tube.
*Musical Paradise* indeed!
🎵🎶😃🎶🎵
PS
Be warned that all of these options can turn into a money pit!
NOS tubes and Duelund caps could easily double the entry level price.
But it's good to have OCD upgrade options, right?
thank you for the comparison. i hope that you make another one btw the evo400 and c22, too. from the freya plus user.
Great job and there are tube amps out there that will give you want you want deep bass slam clean not flabby or bloated. I highly recommend the Woo Audio WA33 Elite version but the stock tubes that come with it need updating to the KR HP tubes. Too me you get a Solid State amp but with huge soundstage. I highly recommend it best purchase I made and most of all it will play best with all headphones no need for power because it plays the Susvara’s with ease and to there fullest which in my book a hard task to do. I see so many reviewers playing it with amps I’ve tried saying it’s fine when it’s not. With the WA33 EE you will NOT get a warm lush sounding gooey sound, again it will be 100% solid state sound and once you hear it there no going back.
Congrats, you have my dream amp setup haha. I've been window-shopping the WA33 EE for forever, might have to seriously start saving
I think the question is, would u recommend this to people who are new to hifi, like myself. I know I like the tube sound because I play guitar and have messed with different amps and I always loved the tube amps more than the solid state. Dont get me wrong, when it comes to acoustic sounds the ss amps sound nice and bright, but for holding tone and warmth boy it always hit me like a warm blanket. So I knew when I was getting into hifi I wanted to explore tube amps before ss. And I find that the freya+ gives me a taste of both. but I have never had a high end hifi, so I have nothing to compare it to.
did you rca out to the oor ferrum since the output impedance is 600 on xlr. I tried this years ago but at the time didnt know what i was doing i also used the lcd x at the time and dont think i heard much. I now have an ab1266 tc and really wanted to try this
Hi, thanks 4 review. I just want to ask you, how much is Freya warmer on touch in tube mode than JFET mode? And does Freya also have such a good soundstage as Primaluna?
Freya is quite a bit warmer in tube mode than JFET mode and loses some transient snappiness which people may or may not like. Freya SS is very good, deep, but PL is wider and deeper.
Thanks for this extremely precise, well presented and very useful information about these 2. tube amps.
You are essentially looking for and value the same sound quality in audio reproduction as I do.
Our preferences for the sound we're looking for is quite similar. I have a quick question for you.
I just purchased a used PrimaLuna
EVO 400 Integrated Tube Amplifier.
It is still in the process of burn in. I may upgrade the tubes to Mullard NOS down the line. Also, I'm pretty new to high quality audio gear. After purchasing the PrimaLuna, I became aware that hybrid amp technology was making progress abd that audio manufacturers such as McIntosh & Vincent Audio have made hybrids that are getting great reviews from owners.
What were the overall key reasons why you decided to no longer use the PrimaLuna EVO 400 Integrated Amplifier? What were were the main things you liked and didn't about it? Finally, IYO. is it worth it for me to audition a hybrid amp.? Both the Macs & the Vincent hybrid amp products have a tube preamplifier (input) stage and a solid state output stage...not the other way around.
I appreciate whatever info you can provide me.
Thanks Again & Keep Up The Good Work.
Regards,
D-
Thanks for this video great idea 💡. I have a few questions, what tubes did you use in those 2 preamps because as you probably know the sound will change if you roll some nicer tubes, and when it comes to delay in the tube mode of Freya + you need those tubes to be on any way for at least 5 to 10 minutes minimum before listening on any tube gear, warm up time is important even for the solid state. But again thank you for this comparison.
Hello. Yes, I have allowed the Freya to warm up. :) The tubes are stock. 6SN7 for Freya and 12AU7 for the PL EVO 400. The latter has 5AR rectifier tubes.
@@amplifyaudioreviews yes I know they are 6sn7 that's the type but what is the tube brand, thanks
@@blejzerosamigos6115 Oh yes. Tung Sol, IIRC. I have packed them up to ship them back, lo. I'll see if I can unpack them later to verify.
@@amplifyaudioreviews that is OK thanks, Rolling tubes on Freya + is fun, changes the sound nicely specially with some good quality NOS tubes. 😉
If i was trying to tame the highs would you say this could be a good choice? I also like warmer sound better. Have a pair of hecco 700's and rythmik l 12's, currently shopping for amp/preamp and probably going monoblocks for 2 chan
Would you consider trying out the prima Luna hybrid integrated amplifier with a tube preamp and a solid-state amp?
Probably not, but that's cuz I don't need one right now...but who knows maybe its interesting and nice sounding
So should I consider a evo 400 amp. HI I recently purchased a evo 100 preamp for my denon poa 2400 amp driving forte iv,s and my source is a rega planner 6 The preamp is awsome it has amazing headroom to drive the 200x2 denon, Would I be disappointed with the output of the evo 400 amp
Great comparison, beautiful rig..thank you 🙏🏼 As I’m in the market for a decent preamp for my GoldNote amp. Wondering if changing out the tubes in the Freya + will render a significant difference…enough that it would change/improve upon some of that “lossiness” mentioned by comparison? In addition to the Freya +, also considering one the Rogue RP pres.
I do believe the stock tubes of the Freya hold it back.
Tone Controls? Could be what you are missing. Check out a tube amp called The Fixer
Beneficial change for both your Susvara and 1266?
Depends on the amp and the chain. With the Ferrum OOR and Hypsos, yes, certainly.
Don't you waggle that finger at me, sir! 🤚
Should be a sock puppeteer
I own the Primaluna Evo 400 Pre amp, and I agree absolutely everything you say about it. One other important thing to add, once you start rolling out the stock factory tubes for NOS tubes, you're in for a World of surprise in terms of just how much the sound improves. Below is a link of the Primaluna Evo 400 Pre amp playing in my system:
ua-cam.com/video/4ipQtODwAuA/v-deo.html
Totally disagree with your comment on Schiit Freya. I find it to be non-colored, transparent, and fast. The OEM tubes you are testing are not the best tubes, you need to roll the tubes to get the sound that you want. Also I don't care about waiting 45 seconds for the Freya to warm up, all tube devices take time to properly warm up if you didn't know.
Cool. We can agree to disagree.
Just a tidbit instead of pointing you should actually say what you're pointing at for the visually impaired people who have no idea can't see it just hear and don't understand which one you're pointing to
ok, stop talking and send all your used equipment, at no cost, to me.