PrimaLuna Tube Amp - or - AmpsandSound Kenzie OG - Help Me Decide?

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by WarmVinyl, Jul 13, 2021.

  1. WarmVinyl

    WarmVinyl New

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    San Diego
    Audio is so subjective I was a little afraid to post this ... but I'm really stuck and could use some input.

    I've been wanting to get a new tube amp for years and my old amp finally gave out so ... after reading A LOT, talking to a lot of people, and yes listening to a lot of options, I'm thinking of going with a Kenzie OG (AmpsandSound) or the PrimaLuna EVO 100 Integrated tube amp. Both of these fall within my budget of around 2000.00. My headphones currently are Sennheiser HD 6XX although eventually I'll likely move to something in the ZMF line. For now though, I'd like to make a decision on a new AMP and both these amps play well with a wide range of cans. Source audio will be mostly Qobuz / TIDAL.

    I realize these two amps are very different ... and I like each of them for different reasons, which is what's making it hard to decide. I not concerned about driving speakers ... I do ALL my listening with headphones. I realize while the Kenzie is MADE for headphones, the PrimaLuna isn't designed solely for that but that doesn't mean it doesn't sound awesome nonetheless.

    So ... what to do?! Do I go with the Kenzie OG ... or the PrimaLuna EVO 100 Integrated? Between these two, which would you go for - and why? And if you've got a third option in my price range that you feel strongly compares with these two, I'm all ears. :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2021
  2. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2015
    Likes Received:
    441
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Can't say anything about the sound, but do note that the EVO 100 is one hot mofo. You will notice the 270W of heat it pumps out, especially in long listening sessions.
     
  3. NekoAudio

    NekoAudio Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2016
    Likes Received:
    50
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    San Jose, California
    Home Page:
    I can't speak to the headphone output of the PrimaLuna EVO 100 integrated amp, but we have a PrimaLuna EVO 400 power amp here and it is one of the few tube amps that has enough drive capability for moderately difficult speaker loads (i.e. the speakers we have here). I guess you could assume a similar quality for the headphone output—I have not tried it—as that is how PrimaLuna advertises the built-in headphone amp.

    There's also Donald North Audio but I'm not sure of the current prices.
     
  4. WarmVinyl

    WarmVinyl New

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2021
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    San Diego
    Yeah, I think so too, NekoAudio. Thanks also for the tip re: Donald North Audio ... I'm not familiar with him but will give him a look.

     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2021

Share This Page