A name like Prima Luna suggests Italian origins, and while not Italian, this company is indeed European. Their chief designer Marcel Croese is formerly of Goldmund, and their chief executive Herman van den Dungen is a fastidious overseer of design and production quality. This is born out by close examination of the products.

Reviewers are fulsome in citing the cabinet construction, laquer finish and neat circuitry of Prima Luna products. Even their entry-level models are extremely well made, right down to the neat individual point-to-point wiring solders, and the little dab-of-red-laquer seal on screws and bolts. Custom-made toroidal transformers are used, along with ALPS volume pots, Philips diodes and Nichicon & Solen capacitors – all good audiophile parts. When 6moons audio reviewed Prima Luna they said: “The execution of the point-to-point wiring is text-book perfect. Ditto for the precision of the wire routing.” Sound & Image said “It’s not too many pieces of audio equipment that get so reluctantly returned to their boxes, but this Prima Luna was one such amplifier that left a musical hole when removed from our resident system…”

The relatively simple appearance also hides a lot of clever and advanced design, such as the automatic self-bias circuits for each tube. These make sure your amplifier continues to sound at its best over time while also prolonging valve life by keeping them all within prescribed limits of heat and power.

Thermal protection is provided as a safeguard against any meltdowns that might occur, so damage will be limited to specific areas, such as one valve, while other parts are protected by the amplifier shutting down until the issues are resolved. The valves are also treated gently by a soft-startup circuit which warms them gradually whenever the amplifier is switched on.

Valve (or Tube) amplifiers still enchant many people with their very characteristic sound compared to your average solid state design. Whether that translates into a more realistic “live” sound or a more romantic “warm” sound will depend on individual designers and the tubes used. But one thing is certain, valves still have the same mystique and attraction for people from top guitarists down to audio fans that the venerable LP has.
The Prologue Premium Monoblocks (70w) use either 4 x EL34 for a pair price of $4599, or 4 x KT88 for a pair price of $5399. When assessing the power of valve amps keep in mind that they are usually twice as strong as the watts indicate, since they run in class A.

Detailed specifications are as follows: Output: 70 watts x 2 with EL34 or KT88 ; Freq. Response: 20Hz-85kHz +/- 0.5dB; THD: Less than 1% at full power; S/N Ratio: 101 dB; Input Sensitivity: 911mV; Power Consumption (per amp): 210 watts; Dimensions: 368x200x394mm (whd); Weight (per amp): 21kg; Inputs: 1 each RCA; Outputs: 2, 4 and 8 Ohm speaker taps; Tube Compliment (per amp): 4 - 12AU7, 4 - EL34 (KT88 tubes optional)

A name like Prima Luna immediately suggests Italian origins, and this company is indeed European. Their chief designer Marcel Croese is formerly of Goldmund, and their chief executive Herman van den Dungen is a fastidious overseer of design and production quality. As with many high-end brands these days, manufacture is in China under strict quality control. 
Reviewers are fulsome in citing the cabinet construction, laquer finish and neat circuitry of Prima Luna products. Even their entry-level models are extremely well made, right down to the neat individual point-to-point wiring solders, and the little dab-of-red-laquer seal on screws and bolts. Custom-made toroidal transformers are used, along with ALPS volume pots, Philips diodes and Nichicon & Solen capacitors – all good audiophile parts. When 6moons audio reviewed Prima Luna they said: “The execution of the point-to-point wiring is text-book perfect. Ditto for the precision of the wire routing.” Sound & Image said “It’s not too many pieces of audio equipment that get so reluctantly returned to their boxes, but this Prima Luna was one such amplifier that left a musical hole when removed from our resident system…”
The relatively simple appearance also hides a lot of clever and advanced design, such as the automatic self-bias circuits for each tube. These make sure your amplifier continues to sound at its best over time while also prolonging valve life by keeping them all within prescribed limits of heat and power.
Thermal protection is provided as a safeguard against any meltdowns that might occur, so damage will be limited to specific areas, such as one valve, while other parts are protected by the amplifier shutting down until the issues are resolved. The valves are also treated gently by a soft-startup circuit which warms them gradually whenever the amplifier is switched on.