Интегральные усилители — PrimaLuna EVO 100

The EVO 100 is the entry model among the valve integrated amplifiers of the PrimaLuna EVO line, made by DUROB BV of the Netherlands. It is assembled by hand, and its signal paths are wired point to point in Swiss silver wire. It is supplied as the EVO 100-1 for EL34 or KT88 output tubes, and the published figures are given as pairs, the first for EL34 and the second for KT88.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 40 or 41 W per channel, running ultra-linear. Frequency response is 10 Hz to 32 kHz within 1 dB and 10 Hz to 75 kHz within 3 dB. THD with Adaptive Auto Bias is below 0.2 percent at 1 W and below 2 percent at rated power. Signal to noise is 90 or 91 dB. Input impedance is 100 kOhm and input sensitivity for rated power at maximum volume is 260 or 280 mV, with maximum gain of 37 or 37.5 dB. The damping coefficient is 4 at 1 kHz. The chassis measures 405 x 280 x 190 mm and weighs 18 kg, and power consumption is 270 or 280 W. There are four stereo RCA inputs, a tape out, separate 4 ohm and 8 ohm speaker terminals and a 6.3 mm headphone jack. The stock tube set is four EL34, two 12AX7 and two 12AU7.

Engineering and use context

The Adaptive Auto Bias circuit monitors and adjusts tube bias continuously, which PrimaLuna says reduces maintenance and lowers distortion. A high and low bias switch lets owners change between EL34 and KT88 power tubes. PrimaLuna designs its own toroidal and EI-frame transformers and encapsulates them completely against hum, and each one has Power Transformer Protection with a thermal switch. A SoftStart circuit extends the life of sensitive components. The headphone output has no separate chip amplifier, since the full main circuit and every tube drive the headphones. Parts include a motorised ALPS volume control, Nichicon and DuRoch polypropylene capacitors and WBT-style gold-plated speaker terminals with solid shafts. The heavy-gauge, fully vented steel chassis gets a five-coat finish, each coat hand-rubbed and polished, and the heavy metal remote is a slim design.

Pairing

The separate speaker taps let the owner connect each speaker to the output transformer winding closest to its nominal load. A moving magnet PhonoLogue EVO phono stage can be fitted in a fully shielded box on the bottom plate for turntable owners.

Alternatives

One step up, the PrimaLuna EVO 200 integrated delivers 44 or 45 W a channel ultra-linear from four EL34 and four 12AU7 tubes and weighs 24 kg.