Hi, if you want a little more linearity to the sound, you can swap out EL34s for 6L6 family tubes. Stay away from the Sovteks, wimpy low-end. NOS tubes are really good... too many to really list here. I think if I were you, I'd try the KT88 or 6550 (I like KT88s better...) Genalex Gold Lion reissues are fantastic, very stout all around without losing the nice, warm EL34-ish mids. Great build quality, too...

Don't go too crazy on cables for now. For your bookshelves, something like Cardas Quadlink should be fantastic. Affordable, but still uses quality stuff, like pure litz copper... they also have Quadlink interconnects.

Have fun tube-rolling!

I have a dialogue II...I bought a set of KT77's and REALLY like them. They have the warmth of an EL34 but a much bigger sound stage..I bought my from 'Upscale Audio'...I find the KT 88's more clinical.

What KT88s are you talking about JIMV? I actually have Genalex reissue KT77s in my amp, so I definitely know what you're talking about, but I don't know if good KT88s sound "clinical."

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I have a Primaluna Prologue 1 that I'm running with a pair of Tetra 120U bookshelves, and a cambridge audio 740C CD player. I'm new to tubes and looking to switch out the stock tubes, any recommendations? Also looking to upgrade my speaker wire - anyone have any recommendations on what would pair well with the Primaluna?

Thanks!

Go for the small signal tubes first, to get your feet wet, as it were. They will be the more effective swap, with regards to cost vs performance gain.

Come to think of it, I gotta get my "MFA 75" 75watt monoblocks up and running some day soon.. I've had them for over two years and have never even tried putting them together. Too busy!

The KT88's that came with the amp...they define the high end clearly but are more clinical than my old EL34's. The KT77's sound like EL34's but with a larger sound stage...very seductive in a Prima Luna.