I got into the PrimaLunas after trying my Auteur with the EVO 200 integrated amp. I was very very impressed, promptly bought it, and that got me into PrimaLunas.
The EVO 200 also had this amazing synergy with the Raal SR1a. BEST I have heard. In fact, I raved about it everyone who would listen, and I was happy to see Raal incorporate el34 tubes in their new amp.
Later, I upgraded to the EVO 400 to drive the SR1a, and while it was more of everything compared to the EVO 200, I preferred the EVO 200 with the SR1a.
When I say "more of everything" I mean to say that the triode mode on the 400 was far more tubey (warm, in this case) than the EVO 200, while the ultralinear mode was more solid state like, fast, dynamic and sharper.
However, I lost that magical middle ground I had with the 200, lol.
In any case, I sold the SR1a and the EVO 400, because the duo just wasn't doing it for me. And I wasn't comfortable with the form factor and limiations of the SR1a.
I thought I was done with PrimaLunas until I brought the EVO 400 pre-amp to audition and review. And I found my sweet spot again I have to say.
It's just tube flavor done right, esp when paired with the Ferrum stack. I get a more cohesive sound stage that sits in front of me, instead of forming a three-blob. Clearly more holography, environmental information, a sense of reverb and "echo" which are harder to describe unless one has heard a good tube amp, while retaining good speed and bass depth. Treble is certainly better-mannered and last but not the least,
the midrange is brought a tad forward. That's how I hear it.
I returned my review unit and bought a new unbroken one. I have to say the review unit sounded a tad better lol, since the tubes were properly broken in, but that's life.
It's an amazing pre to have with the Ferrum stack. It becomes an 8000 dollar preamp + amp setup, but in terms of overall sonic presentation, it's probably endgame for the Utopia.
For the Susvara, purely in terms of synergy, it beats my $8000 Accuphase e380 and $11,000 Pass Labs setups. This is coming from someone who champions speaker amps for the Susvara.
I have bought this stack from
@Ferrum Audio since. I just wish they would get back to me about the warranty information which I have been pushing for, lol.