Darin Seebeck

“The Prima Luna signature sound is sweet to my ears. So much that I had to go from my Evo 100 amp to the 400 amp with a 400 Pre combo. What an amazing sound. My 1965 vintage Japanese 16 ohm speakers sound perfect with the 16 ohm tap on the Evo 400 power amp. A major reason for this purchase. Also the XLR I/O’s on the Evo 400 Pre-amp just take everything to another level. I am using Lavricable Grand 20 silver XLR’s between the T+A DAC 200 and the Pre. Then Mogami Neutrik Platinum XLR’s to the amp. The AES/EBU for my Jay’s Audio CDT3/MK3 (w/QStab) is Mogami 3080/Neutrik Gold and Canare DA206/Neutrik Gold. I have owned and listened to many amplifiers over the decades and this is my favorite for classical and jazz listening. My old Sunn bass amp was a 6L6GC head tube amp with 6 - 10” speaker in the cabinet and I used that to play in many jazz, orchestra, rock, reggae, country music bands and venues. This is the sound I love and enjoy. What a real double bass sounds like. I should know. I also just love the tankiness of the build. It really surprises you when you lift it. I imagine the shipping container alone weighs more than many amplifiers on the market! Thanks again to Smo and the team at Upscale Audio for great service.”

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Posted 1 month ago

Gary Bennett

Verified Reviewer

“Coming from Musical Fidelity separates to the PL EVO 400 separates has been an easy upgrade. The Musical Fidelity components are awesome but they are very clinical in there sound. The tubes in the PL components add a depth and warmth that was lacking in my solid state set up. The balanced inputs are a big plus for me, as I started with the PL EVO 400 Integrated Amp and upsold myself after using it only two weeks. The move up to the PL EVO 400 pre amp and amp was an easy one. The factory tubes are great for me so far as I like the warmth in the mid range and don't need anything more aggressive. Buy it without reservation. You will be pleased. My wife loves the look of tubes which is also a huge plus.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

Arnie Weitzel

Verified Reviewer

“fantastic amp!”

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Posted 2 years ago

“The EVO 400 is a superb sounding amplifier after an extended burn-in with a midrange to die for. The unit arrived promptly and the operation has been flawless as was the purchasing experience...thx again Kevin”

4 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“Great power amplifier that performs way beyond its price point! A Big thanks to all at Upscale Audio for there time and expertise on making this a great buying experience!!”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Rick Johnson

Verified Reviewer

“Short Answer: Yes, no question. Hard to rate this product as there are so many opinions, reviews, and experts out there, some people are hung up more on where something is made, how much it costs, or brand familiarity rather than listening and then listening some more. I now own a pair of Evo 400 amps and did opt for GL KT88's, not sure those were needed but what the hell, it is what I know. Extensive time spent breaking them in and these have not disappointed me. My last amps cost x5 the $ of the PrimaLuna and were outfitted with matched expensive components which sounded great and resold easily. My friends had to suck it up and I have changed a few expert brains, these are the real deal. At this point, not wanting for anything more in these amps and this is unusual for me.”

4 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“I upgraded from a PrimaLuna Integrated Dialogue 2 and perceived I had an entirely new system. This was a step wise integration adding first the PrimaLuna EVO 400 Preampllfier and using the Dialogue 2 Amp stage in Home Theater Mode as the output amplifier for a pair of Revel Ultima Studio 2, each coupled to a REL SH5 subwoofer (another Upscale purchase). The Dialogue 2 had an updated custom tube configuration (yet another Upscale investment) and prior to acquiring the new amplifier was pleased with the bass, responsiveness, and clarity of the output. Using the stock EL34 output tubes in the EVO 400 Amplifier, I suddenly had much juicier bass, greater sound pressure, and richer vocals with at least the same if not somewhat better clarity. What the new sound forced me to do was to recalibrate the speaker positions as the sound pressure characteristics were different. Fortunately I had requested the speaker setup CD from Upscale and used that to get the sound tuned for the mainly guitar and other electric instruments and vocals and percussion on that disc. I then went on to use full cathedral organ recordings of Bach and Cesar Franck pipe organ works to optimize the low pedal tones, Beethoven and Ravel String Quartets to get instrument placing, and Mozart sacred works to get human vocal solos and chorus timbres tuned. After all that, the end result is a new better, more vibrant, and more satisfying system than I had before, or in fact ever had. As Kevin Deal noted in his video, between changing the preamp and the amp, the amp will make the biggest difference. I will note that on the PrimaLuna EVO 400 preamp I ordered it with a custom tube configuration from Upscale after consultation to approach the sound quality I was looking for, which was clarity, detail, and presence in primarily, but not exclusively, acoustic concert music and jazz ensembles. Nonetheless, when the mood and time came, I did want to be able to hear and feel kick drums, electric bass, synthesizers, and digitized vocals. So eclectic expectation, but reflective of the breadth, scope, and joy of listening to good music. Thus this single purchase altered the dynamics, sound pressure levels, and timbres sufficiently that a complete reconfiguration of the listening room, which is its own instrument, speakers, system and furniture placements was both necessary and rewarding. I did wait about 2 weeks during which I played the system using a wide range of source material at low volume for about 8 hours a day until the bass firmed up and the mid range inner voices in chamber music began to coalesce. Any adjustments or judgments before an adequate break in were sure to trigger a do over. A minor quibble is that after spending around $ 5000 I was disappointed to receive a streaky photocopy of the instruction manual that made the back panel connection diagram illegible. Fortunately the documents are all on line and I could print out my own copy to view while I made the critical back side connections. So in sum, for the context and system I have, the upgrade to the PrimaLuna EVO 400 Amplifier was transformative and I look forward to many years of discovery and enjoyment. A shout out to Joel Bennett for his advice, humor, and general responsiveness. Note: I am comfortable if you wish to share any or all of these comments but to protect my privacy I do not wish my name to be displayed in any publicly accessible location including but not limited to the Internet. Thank you.”

3 Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Thomas Scheidig

Verified Reviewer

“I have been pursuing the ultimate sound for over 30 years now and this is by far the best amp I have owned. So quiet, black backgrounds, a smidgen on the warm side just the way I like it, and even in stereo mode it has gobs of muscle (even if the pure wattage doesn't speak to that). I will probably get a second one if Upscale ever has a sale :)”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Poweramp Silver / Stock EL34 Only Reviews