Prima Luna EVO 100 tube DAC demo

PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC – the world's first DAC with a valve-based clocking circuit

Digital source, analogue soul

The PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC is built around the SuperTubeClock — the world's first valve-based digital clocking device. By replacing the conventional solid-state oscillator with a mini triode vacuum tube, PrimaLuna consequently reduces jitter and noise to levels that solid-state designs cannot match. Since the Burr Brown PCM1792A chip handles conversion with 24bit/192kHz upsampling, all common digital formats are consequently processed with the warmth and openness that analogue listeners recognise. TONEAudio's Sean Zloch described the experience as so analogue-like that he hadn't touched his turntable since.

SuperTubeClock and valve-rectified power supply

The SuperTubeClock replaces the standard solid-state oscillator with a mini triode tube, thereby improving clock precision and reducing jitter throughout the signal chain. Furthermore, the EVO 100 runs a fully valve-rectified power supply with eleven separate regulation circuits — since each circuit handles a specific function independently, noise and interference between stages are therefore minimised. The AC Offset Killer moreover lowers transformer noise to a level that most manufacturers don't attempt, regardless of mains quality.

Point-to-point wiring and premium construction

Rather than routing the signal through thin PCB copper traces, PrimaLuna hand-wires the entire signal path — resistors, capacitors and all — with heavy-gauge cable. As a result, the EVO 100 Tube DAC weighs 13 kg, which reflects the scale of its internal construction. Since dedicated tubes are used per channel rather than a single shared buffer, the stereo separation is above all maximised at the source. Polypropylene coupling capacitors and triple pi power supply filters complete the premium build.

Widely recognised by the international press

The Absolute Sound awarded the EVO 100 Tube DAC Editors' Choice recognition in 2023, 2025 and 2026. Hi-Fi News named it an Outstanding Product, and Hi-Fi+ awarded it in 2021. Since its launch, it has consequently become one of the most decorated DACs in its price class — a remarkable achievement for a design that places valve technology at the heart of digital playback.

Specifications

• Type: valve DAC with SuperTubeClock
• DAC chip: TI Burr Brown PCM1792A
• Upsampling: TI Burr Brown SRC4192, 24bit/192kHz
• Valves: 2× 12AX7, 2× 12AU7, 2× 5AR4
• Digital inputs: USB, AES/EBU, coaxial, optical
• PCM: 16-24bit, 44.1–192kHz (all inputs)
• DSD: DSD64-128 via USB (DoP), DSD64 via other inputs
• Analogue output: stereo RCA, 2.2 V
• Power supply: valve-rectified, 11 regulation circuits
• Remote control: Slim remote
• Dimensions: 280×190×403 mm
• Weight: 13 kg

Frequently asked questions about the PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC

What does the SuperTubeClock do?

By replacing the standard solid-state oscillator with a mini triode vacuum tube, the SuperTubeClock consequently lowers jitter and noise at the clocking stage. Since the clock governs timing precision throughout the conversion process, this improvement therefore yields better detail retrieval, improved dynamics and a more musical overall presentation.

Which digital inputs does the PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC have?

Four digital inputs are provided: USB, AES/EBU, coaxial and optical. Since USB supports PCM up to 192kHz and DSD64-128 via DoP, it is furthermore the most capable input for high-resolution playback. The remaining inputs handle PCM up to 192kHz and DSD64 via DoP.

Does the EVO 100 Tube DAC pair well with valve amplifiers?

Yes — the 2.2 V RCA output is compatible with virtually any preamplifier or integrated amplifier. Since the output stage uses dedicated valves per channel, it moreover pairs particularly well with valve amplifiers such as those in the PrimaLuna EVO series.