Nathan Bradley

“All I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW! I could not be happier with my investment (or the advice from Upscale).”

Posted 2 years ago

Brian Hudson

“So, I upgraded from a PrimaLuna EVO 300 Tube Integrated Amp that I bought from Upscale Audio last summer, great product in so many ways and even bought vintage French 12AU7s and upgraded to KT120s but I always wondered what having more power on tap. Bought the 400 and more KT120s. Wow, Just Wow. So much nuance, punch thump at lower volumes and then when you really crank it, it's sublime. This is an heirloom, lifetime amplifier that my son's will be fighting over on my deathbed. Life's too short, C'mon buy one! you will not be disappointed.”

7 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Alfred Rohling

Verified Reviewer

“To begin with, I read multiple reviews about this amplifier before I decided to purchase it. The video by Kevin Deal sealed the deal (pun intended). I give it five stars with a few caveats. First, there is certainly a break-in period. When I first hooked it up it sounded good, but not great. There was too much brightness on the higher frequencies and I noticed that amp does tend to run hot. Not a surprise since there are six input tubes and eight output tubes all producing heat. It sits on the bottom shelf of my equipment rack with only about two inches clearance to the shelf above. If I put my hand on the shelf above, I could feel the heat. The main stereo system I use is on the lower level of a three story house, so it tends to remain cool. To avoid possible overheating, I purchased a small, inexpensive ($12) fan and put it behind the rack pointing at the back of the amplifier. Makes virtually no noise, so not an issue. After the amplifier warms up, if I am cranking up the sound, I turn on the fan to keep the air moving, so heat buildup is not an issue. Another criticism I read about in the reviews (a minority opinion) is that the amp is overly bright. Yes and no. Consider the music you are playing. If there are a lot of horns or simply a poor recording; yes it will be excessively bright. I would call that revealing rather than a flaw. Also, as time went on and the EVO400 started to break in, that excessive brightness was diminished considerably. Playing Boston's first album is a pleasure, but there are passages where the high notes of the lead guitar can cut metal. Try playing Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs for a well balanced recording. Another issue was the lack of bass with tube amps. I replaced a Yamaha Natural Sound integrated amp with the PrimLuna EVO400. There is a distinct difference in the bass output. The bass output of the Yamaha is overpowering. I run twin SVS SB-4000 sub-woofers and with the Yamaha needed to turn down the low pass filter to about 50hz. With the EVO400, I am running full LFE mode without distortion. Even if I leave the sub-woofers off, the bass sound is still adequate, but I like a lot of bass. Overall, this amp kicks ass. The sound quality is clear, three-dimensional and never distorted. I would recommend it anyone looking for quality tube sound at a reasonable price”

4 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Author didn't leave any comments.

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

John Burchfield

Unverified Reviewer

“Holy f***ing sh*t! I paired the EVO 400 Int Amp with the Primalune EVO 100 DAC, Focal Aria 926's, 2 REL S/812's, a Music Hall 9.3 turntable, a Manley Chinook special addition, and a slew of specialty cables and this has changed my life, seriously... The sound is bold and effortless and clear as a bell and perfect at the low end as thunder. I am listening to concert pianist named Holly Bowling play Grateful Dead tunes with ultimate perfection and at loud volume nothing is stained or harsh. I know that the system I am talking about costs A LOT of money but at age 60 with 45 years of audio experience and experimentation, I finally found heaven and will enjoy being here every day. Thank you Kevin (and to quote Mick Jagger "Thank you Jesus, Thank you Lord") - Because of this audio system, I will die a happy man! Whether it's steaming on Qobuz or spinning vinyl, everything is perfect. Oh my God.... To quote Charles Mingus "Mother, master, and stamper" (shop talk for 'That's a take' :).”

5 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Greg Valentine

Verified Reviewer

“I am relatively new to the whole Audio scene. After doing some research, I decided to base my system off of this baby. After I managed to lift it to it's sitting place, and turn it on, I admit that I am now a convert. I am scared for the future because I see many possibilities from here for my system. Wish me luck!”

3 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“Best amp I have had in my system ever (and I have had a lot over 50 years as an audiophile. Mates beautifully with my Focal Kanta No 2s.”

PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Integrated Amp Black Reviews