Best speakers for prologue 2
dwhitney -- Mon, 09/15/2008 - 20:53
After doing a lot of reasearch, I'm ready to pop for the PrimaLuna Prologue 2. That was the easy decision - now I need to match speakers to it, something under $1,000. I read Chris Martens great review on the NHT Classic Three, and it seems like what I'm looking for, but I've heard comments that the Three's need a lot of power. I've also heard reports that the Prologue 2 can easily drive the Magneplanar MMG's. I have the MMG's and love them, but will keep them with my other system overseas. Could anyone comment on the NHT 3's with the Prologue 2 and/or recommend another speaker? I mostly listen to jazz, some classical, and the system will be in a moderate size living room where I would prefer to use bookshelve speakers. I'm pretty sure I'll be adding a Cambridge 340C player and Pro-Ject Debut III turntable to the system.
Unfortunately, there are no dealers here on the Big Island of Hawaii where I can audition anything in person, so I am relying on reviews and forums to guide me along. Thanks in advance for any replies!
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I have a ProLogue 2. It's fantastic. I highly recommend (as in you must) retube the amp with SED (Svetlana) Winged C EL-34s. The amp goes from great to simply stunning and magical.
OK, on to those speakers. I always look for deals. So my favorite place to scope out deals is the "New & Used Specials" page at upscaleaudio.com. I'm from southern California, so Kevin Deal at Upscale is my dealer.
For my money, I'd always take quality over quantity. Meaning I'd rather have a two way speaker of higher quality than a full range of lesser quality for the same price.
I'm running Opera Plateas, through the 8 ohm taps. They're 2400 buck speakers and he's got them for sale for half price. I love them. You could also try the Opera Superpavarotti. Again, these speakers wont have the deepest bass, but they have the soft dome tweeters so the sound is exquisite.
If you want more bass, the older Triangle Antal ES is probably right up your alley. The tweeters are metal dome, but really nice sounding and easy to drive.
All this advice is if you can get over the idea of buying "last year's model." But essentially you're getting speakers at cost, and about the same price as used gear from audiogon, but they're new. And trust me, my stereo sounded great "last year", so don't sweat buying a discontinued model.
I love my Opera Plateas. To my ears, they're better than the 4000 buck Totem Forests... and I really like Totem speakers.
BTW, the speakers I mentioned are floorstanding, but have a similar footprint to bookshelfs. Plus then you don't need to spend the money on stands. If you really want to bookshelfs... again look at the Operas.
Anyone using the Primaluna ProLogue or DiaLogue to drive the Usher Be-718s?
Nicholas Bedworth
DigitalDirect Media Services, LLC Text/voice 1.808.372.2883 (GMT -10) nicholas [dot] bedworth [at] digitaldirect [dot] com (nicholas.bedworth@digitaldi)
Rodclark, thanks very much for your post and great information. Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been traveling for a while.
I would like to hear the Opera Plateas since you recommend them so highly. I had already bought the NHT Classic 3's by the time I got your post, and am very happy with them. I wish I could do an A/B comparison with the MMG's also on the Prologue 2. But so far, the Classic 3's have lived up to Chris Marten's review (and more), and I find myself listening to everything far too late into the night.
I have been wanting to try some EL-34's, and will be ordering the Svetlanas. Did you find they needed any burn in time?
The Prologue 2/Classic 3's were a joy right out of the box, but after a few days of listening it seemed that the system suddenly "bloomed" - a distinct and somewhat sudden improvement - at least in my perception. I was expecting a more gradual improvement over time.
Anyway, thanks again for the post. I'm really looking forward to hearing what the Svetlana EL-34's will do.
One of the great things about this amp is how they can change character with different tubes. Kevin has a wealth of knowledge here, but the Svetlana's are very nice. When you get "bored" (as some do with their current set-ups), an inexpensive change of input tubes may do the trick. Output tubes make more of a difference.
I would suggest speakers that present an easy load for this amp. I tried it with Quads (new and original) and the Prologue 2 was not happy.
At CES two years ago (?), Kevin was driving some Vienna Acoustics speakers with the Prologue and the sound was perhaps the best sound per dollar I heard.
Have fun!