I always wanted a tube pre-amp to add to my system. I read great things about the PrimaLuna Prplogue Premium Pre-amp in the audio press and when a used unit came up for sale I took the plunge. It has a reputAtion of making everything sound better. Well, it does! It throws a great wide sound stage. The instruments a are clear and well positioned. It’s sound is open and more crisp than I had expected. This is a good think. I wanted all the tube magic without the tube softness. That is the best way I can describe this. I upgraded from a Rotel RC 995 which I kept for another set up. The PrimaLuna is quite an upgrade, but the Rotel stayed because it is a great pre-amp on its own merits. Using Magnepans now with a tube pre and a solid state power amp is a great sounding set up. On another note, the remote is simple, but very functional for selecting source and changing volume. Not having a remote kept me from considering the Prologue Three. I am glad I waited.

Yes, there’s a phone stage as an upgrade, I opted against it since it is not a tube phono stage. The second thing I wish this unit had is a headphone amp build in; there is none and no option. I am thus using a Schiit Vali 2 for this purpose