Coming From… Being With… Going To…

Coming from a truly enjoyable Krell FPB 600 power amplifier, partnered for many years with a Krell preamplifier, I suddenly found myself back in that familiar audiophile dilemma: what next? My trusted combination had reached its final countdown, ending in eternal silence, and I was once again navigating the sometimes painful road of change.

As a long-time customer of Dé HifiWinkel in Eindhoven, one of Herman van den Dungen’s shops, I knew where to turn. Over the years, I had bought much of my system there: the Krells, my Sonus faber Amatis, a Playback CD player, a Tjoeb CD player, and even the PrimaLuna full-tube integrated amplifier that sings away happily in the attic room. So, although I thought I was on my own for the next step in hi-fi, perhaps I was not entirely alone after all.

My Krell FPB 600 had been “under repair” for six months, only to return as silent as the day it left my living room. I had been reading about the PrimaLuna Floyd power amplifier and thought that might be the answer. Unfortunately, it was sold out, with new production not expected until August. Life can be hard. After a phone call, a meeting, and plenty of discussion, I went home with a PrimaLuna Floyd EVO 300 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier. Try and decide, were the words accompanying me on the drive home.

Being with the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid, I can now say that this is a remarkable piece of audio engineering, one that truly delivers on its promise of marrying the warmth and humanity of tubes with the grip and authority of solid-state amplification. From the moment it was powered on, it was obvious that this was not just another amplifier. It is a carefully judged, carefully voiced musical instrument in its own right.

What strikes me first is its sonic character. The tube input stage brings a rich, natural warmth, beautifully textured midband, and a smooth, inviting top end. Vocals have intimacy and presence; acoustic instruments sound believable and alive, with that elusive sense of realism that draws one deeper into the performance. At the same time, the solid-state output stage contributes control, stability, and impressive authority, especially in the bass. Low frequencies are tight, tuneful, and powerful, never overblown, never losing composure.

This hybrid design genuinely offers the best of both worlds. There is the musicality, flow, and emotional involvement one associates with fine tube amplifiers, yet also the power, reliability, and loudspeaker grip that belong to serious solid-state designs. With my Sonus faber Amati speakers, which I know very well, the Floyd EVO 300 sounds every bit as relaxed and confident as I could wish for. It seems capable of driving a wide range of loudspeakers with ease, while remaining composed and unforced even at higher listening levels.

Build quality is exactly what I have come to expect from PrimaLuna: solid, elegant, and reassuringly substantial. The layout is clean, the finish is refined, and the entire product radiates thoughtfulness and craftsmanship. It feels built not merely to impress in the showroom, but to give long-term pleasure in daily use.

And daily use is where this amplifier scores another point. The EVO 300 Hybrid is practical as well as pleasurable. It does not demand the same degree of care and maintenance as a full-tube amplifier, which makes it especially appealing for listeners who want that touch of tube magic without the usual complications.

My conclusion is simple. The PrimaLuna Floyd EVO 300 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier is an outstanding choice for anyone seeking sound that is balanced, engaging, and powerful. It bridges the divide between tube and solid-state not as a compromise, but as a genuine synthesis—delivering a presentation that is emotionally satisfying, musically convincing, and technically impressive.

But I will be honest—and I am, after all, an audio guy—I cannot wait to see, feel, and hear the EVO 300-4 Hybrid Power Amplifier. Or should I say power amplifiers…? Where am I going to next? Only the future knows.

For now, though, my PrimaLuna Floyd EVO 300 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier continues to amaze me. And I say that as someone who has had a great many amplifiers between these speakers. This one amazes me. It pleases me. And I can only say that The Best of Both Worlds sounds very good indeed to me!