PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid stereo integrated amplifier
World-renowned for the exceptional musicality and quality/price ratio of its tube electronics, the firm Dutch Prima Luna has just launched its first hybrid electronics: stereo integrated amplifier EVO 300 Hybrid, formed by a tube pre-stage and a power amplification section based on MOSFET’s. The creators of the EVO 300 especially emphasize that they have chosen the aforementioned solid state devices for the output circuitry of the device for the simple reason that their electrical behavior is very similar to the vacuum tubes, while the designer of the aforementioned circuitry (Jan de Groot, from the renowned Floyd Design firm) has been working with them since 1995 (PrimaLuna was founded in 2003).
Specifically, the preamplifier stage uses one of the widely proven configurations of six valves 12AU7 of PrimaLuna while the output combines, perfectly matched, JFETs from the company Linear Systems and MOSFETs 20N20/20P20 to deliver a power of 100 continuous watts per channel over 8 ohms. Regarding the organization of the circuitry, the EVO 300 Hybrid prioritizes the point to point wiring, although where necessary, the highest quality printed circuit boards are used (2.5 mm thick instead of the 1.6 mm of standard designs) with 105 um thick gold-plated copper tracks (in instead of the usual 35 um). Likewise, the preamp stage includes two power supplies with separate transformers while the power amplification stage incorporates a single 500 VA transformer. As is the norm at PrimaLuna, the starting point of all the power supplies mentioned is the one celebrated AC Offset Killer circuit from the Dutch brand.
When it comes to connectivity, the EVO 300 Hybrid includes a total of six line inputs (including one for integration into Home Theater systems), to which optionally Can it be added a phono one (only for moving magnet capsules) through a module that is installed in the subchassis. As is the norm at PrimaLuna, the components used are of the highest quality (Takman, DuRoch, Nichicon, Alps, Rubycon, Kemet) in order to guarantee extreme musicality and reliabilityto which we must add an extraordinarily solid and robust.
