PrimaLuna HP Integrated vs. Raven Blackhawk 3.1 - Head to Head in my system

I had the opportunity to have both the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP integrated and the Raven BlackHawk Mk 3.1 integrated amplifiers in my system for one week to compare and decide which one was the right amp for me.

I know these two amps are highly regarded and a source of ‘which one is better’ so I thought I would share my comparison.

A few things:

1) I am by no means a seasoned audiophile writer nor can I convey my thoughts as well as others on this and other various audio forums when it comes to describing using some of the terminology. I suppose it’s my midwestern upbringing, I’m pretty much a meat and potatoes sort of guy.

2) As I present my system and the music I used, please try not to judge me as we all know the hardware we choose and our music preferences are 100% subjective.

Here’s my system, strictly vinyl:

- Rega P8 w/Apheta 3 cartridge

- Herron VTPH-2A phono stage

- Devore O/93 speakers

- Auditorium A23 speaker cables

- Transparent Super Gen5 interconnect Herron to integrated

- Shunyata Hydra 4 Power conditioner w/Shunyata Venom HC power cable

*REL S/510 sub (not used for this comparison as it made things much easier when swapping between amps)


The music I used was based on my latest rotation so I was very familiar with what I should be listening for:

Giant Sand – Chore of Enchantment (original, I don’t think it was ever repressed)

New Pornographers – Electric Version (original Matador)

Breeders – Last Splash (original 4AD pressing)

Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud (green “coke bottle” pressing)

Sublime – s/t (180g remaster)


Here is the tube compliment for each amp:

PrimaLuna HP – Tung Sol KT150 cryo’d/matched from Upscale Audio + Cifte 12AU7 in two center preamp slots, matched pair from Upscale + PrimaLuna 12AU7 in remaining preamp slots

Raven – Dave Thomson’s ‘Combo A’ favorites in preamp section (Siemens ECC81 / Brimar 6060 Yellow-T / CBS Hytron 12AU7) + Tung Sol 7581A power tubes

Both amps and their tube compliments were fully broken in, nothing was out of the box cold.

All told the Raven was $200 more in the above configurations. Both units were purchased used.


So here we go!

I had both amps side by side for as quick as change as possible but as you know, with tubed amps the speakers must be connected when powering on as they expect to see a load. If not, it could be a large repair bill.

Also, I could not do quick comparisons as once you turn off one of these amps, there should be a decent wait to allow the tubes to settle before powering back on.

So for each album or select tracks for each album, I took notes on certain parts of each song that might offer a good contrast from one amp to the other.

I will start with the soundstage as it was the first thing I noticed. The Raven had a more open soundstage on everything I played. It was controlled (not a wide soundstage just to be wide) and it really helped me take in more of the music as compared to the PrimaLuna. It was more engaging. It wasn’t that the PL was recessed when I owned it separately, but doing the comparison it did seem recessed side-by-side.

The bass was powerful on both, I didn’t really notice a difference on slam or impact of the bass but the Raven’s bass was slightly more refined, articulate. I could hear the various notes more clearly. Not significant but it was there and made listening to the bass notes more fun and exciting. It had me tapping my feet a little more.

The high end was also close but again, the Raven was better. It was not more sparkly or jangly, as in etchy or an over compensating high end, maybe more clear is how I would describe it. I don’t like to get caught up in the term detail, as that to me infers trying to pick apart and make sure you are hearing each instrument rather than listening to music. But the Raven allowed me to hear banjo plucks more clearly, and accurately, as an example. The fuzzy guitar tone was more…fuzzy, as in a really good way. Like the recording engineer intended. Again, not a significant difference as the PL sounds really, really good. But on each LP, I made notes on the areas I knew and the Raven outshined the PL.

Finally the vocals, this was close but again, the edge went to the Raven. I really heard the difference on the Giant Sand LP. There were a few songs I could hear Howe Gelb taking in a breath before singing more clearly, like the microphone had opened up earlier on the Raven vs. the PL. The clarity of the vocals was really close however. Katie Crutchfield’s vocals when listening to Saint Cloud were slightly more aching, beautiful on the Raven. Not by a lot, but the notes I took reflected a difference I heard.

That’s about the extent of my ability to share my results. If other’s have compared the two I would love to hear your thoughts.

In closing, the PrimaLuna HP was sold and the Blackhawk will be a fixture in my system!

 

Excellent description. You could become an audiophile writer. Ans nice setup.

 

For what it’s worth, I had those Cifte 12AU7’s in my Dialogue HP for a couple of weeks and thought they were awful and thin, went with NOS Mullards and it sounded a million times better.

 

I agree completely! I too have the Dialogue HP integrated and have tried several different pre-amp tubes. The Cifte's just didn't do it for me at all. NOS Mullards (CV4003's) are just awesome by comparison. I have some NOS Brimar's that come close but the Mullards are in to stay. Now I need to find more in case I need to replace one or both.....

 

I had the same experience but broke them in for hours on end and they were much better, as Kevin at Upscale had advised and reviewed on his website. Unfortunately I didn't have the means to try Mullards, it would have been fun and who knows....