Alonso Bayardo

“I can spot them a mile away !! I have had the fortune of dealing with them most of my life. These relics from a bygone era , passionate individuals who take their businesses seriously and posses a wealth of wisdom not seen anymore with the younger business owners of the current generations. Those of us lucky to endeavor in hi-fi audio and it’s products should protect and appreciate these dinosaurs, once they are gone we can only hope they did enough to pass it down to the survivors, that is, if they can manage to survive these pandemic riddled times. My experience with Kevin Deal and Upscale Audio is like many shared in the different media outlets. I’ve been watching their videos and bought tubes occasionally over the years. After watching one of his latest video reviews of an excellent integrated tube amp, I reached out with my specs and asked him for an opinion on how the amp would match with the rest of my setup. He quickly pointed out that I had a decent solid state setup and I told him I built it from his reviews and past opinions, but had acquired it used and new from different sources not from upscale audio, he was not pleased about this, rude? perhaps, best customer service attitude? probably not , but he was right in pointing this out as a “problem “. Over a period of three weeks after our conversation, he matched the aforementioned amp with the same speakers I have in his studio, he also went up the line and tried different more expensive amps from the same company and compared them with a much cheaper PrimaLuna Evo 400, added Kat to the evaluation and provided his and her opinion on how they would sound with my setup. He left the decision up to me even though I clearly was leaning to the more expensive amp, (10k more!!). I purchased the Evo 400 , still being broken in and I am floored by the sound from this little giant!! Unreal !! ..and it’s only going to get better, WOW! There’s a few negative reviews about Kevin and his personality, as I pointed out, he is from a different era but his commitment to his passion is impeccable, complaining about him is like complaining that TRex had to go because it was too heavy and loud, check your ego at the door , appreciate that there’s less and less of them out there, truly listen to what his giving you and more importantly, support and buy from his business, pray that he is passing his craft down and hope Upscale Audio is around to service our endless efforts to achieve the impossible, bring the live performance home to our subjective ears...I know I will buy from his business without hesitation..and thank you Sir, many years of health to you .”

4 Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

Dietrich Stephan

Verified Reviewer

“The amp is amazing. It is so smooth and has such dynamic range.”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

Steven E Sullivan

Verified Reviewer

“So far I am extremely enjoy my purchase, You are right to recommend this unit and this company, seems very well built”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

MICHAEL MILLER

Verified Reviewer

“Probably the best value going in the audio world today. This is my second PrimaLuna. I sold the first one, an HP (don't know what I was thinking), and have sorely missed it ever since. Well I decided to trade in a piece of gear toward a brand new Evo 400. Of course I'm not disappointed. The best amplifier I've had in my system in 30 plus years in this crazy hobby. Joel, my salesman, was a lot of help and very patient with a bunch of emails. This thing is built like a tank, And the point to point internal wiring is laid out with surgical precision. Stock tubes are fantastic, though I did roll in the Gold Lion KT 77, Which is what I had in my old HP. That's the tube that ticks all of the boxes for me. Of course the beauty with this amp is, you can pretty much run whatever damn power tube you feel like and the amp will auto bias it for you. I just wished I lived closer to Upscale Audio.... On second thought maybe it's a good thing I don't. Needless to say highly recommended, and I would love to visit the store one day.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

“Replaced a Yamaha R-803 receiver. Awesome Improvement. I am amazed every time I play a record. I have heard them all before, but not like this.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

Eric Elliott

Verified Reviewer

“After reading many stellar reviews (and seeing Kevins videos) of Prima Luna products I purchased an EVO 400 integrated. I now realize that as accurate as the reviews are about Prima Luna being a great product, it is hard to put into words how truly "remarkable" the sound reproduction of this amp is! The words engaging, accurate, lifelike and above all else FUN come to mind. Whenever I turn on the EVO 400 its like inviting the musicians into my home. Joni Mitchell sounds as if she's in the room and the bass slam and guitar riffs of Mick Taylor's Red House/Goin Down Slow will glue you to your seat! This was meant to be a one line review, oh well! Associated equipment: BW705s2, Denon 59L/dl103/Project Tubebox DS w/Genelax Gold Lion, Cambridge Audio CXC and DAC Magic Plus.”

PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Integrated Amp Silver Reviews