Scandinavia’s most underrated hifi manufacturer? The case for Sweden’s Primare is strong. Perhaps it’s their products’ understated looks that have kept the brand flying beneath this commentator’s radar until now…
Prisma is the company’s smartphone controlled, network audio platform, one that carries support for Bluetooth, Apple Airplay, Spotify Connect and GoogleCast, and is included in all three products introduced at Munich High-End 2017:
1) The i35 Prisma integrated amplifier (€4500) carries forward the development of Primare’s 30 Series integrated amplifiers and is, according to company representative Terry Madalen, the first to use Primare’s UFPD 2 power system – “a radical reworking” of all-analogue Class-D technology – to net 150wpc into 8 Ohms. Also included is a hi-res capable D/A converter (PCM up to 768kHz, DSD up to 256) and Prisma streaming functionality.
2) For interested parties whose budget won’t stretch that far, €1750 takes home the i15 integrated with reduced output power – 75wpc into 8 Ohms – but a similarly-spec’d internal D/A converter and, of course, Prisma-based streaming.
3) However, with the Prisma platform added to the CD35’s TEAC-made disc mechanism, we get a CD player and network streamer inside a single chassis for €3200. Tidy. An internal ESS DAC will decode PCM up to 384kHz and DSD 128.
Here’s Medalen with more from the floor of the M.O.C.:
Further information: Primare