Primare CD35 Prisma

The CD35 Prisma occupies a particular place in the hierarchy of digital sources: it does not merely play compact discs, it also acts as a network player. Files stored on a home server, streaming services, wired or wireless connections, everything converges on a single unit, controlled from a smartphone or tablet via a dedicated app.

The processing chain is built around three blocks designed to work together. A dedicated CD playback mechanism extracts the digital signal while limiting jitter, that timing instability which blurs the reproduction of detail. This signal then reaches an entirely new conversion stage, built around an eight-channel ESS Sabre circuit, before passing through a carefully tuned output stage. Primare presents this combination as its most accomplished achievement in disc playback.

The Prisma part refers to the brand's in-house connectivity and control platform, designed for use throughout an entire home. It allows multi-room and multi-zone operation, and opens access to several wireless streaming protocols:

• Built-in Chromecast, a gateway to a very wide range of streaming apps
• AirPlay, for devices within the Apple ecosystem
• Spotify Connect
• Bluetooth, for occasional streaming from a mobile device

This model is aimed at the listener who owns a physical music collection they care about, but who also listens online and does not want to stack up two separate boxes. It fits naturally into a good-quality stereo system, upstream of an integrated amplifier or preamplifier, and is equally suited to a setup spread across several rooms. Those who want a pure disc player only will find the CD35 version without network functions, with the same mechanism, the same converter and the same output stage.

On the used market, a player of this type calls for precise checks. The playback mechanism is the main wear part: it is worth listening to how it behaves when loading, checking that the tray opens and closes smoothly and without jerking, and testing playback on several discs, including burned ones, to spot any hesitation or track skipping. An abnormally long recognition time often points to a tired optical block.

The network side requires additional attention, specific to connected sources: it is worth making sure the unit still receives updates and that it joins the home network correctly, both wired and wireless, then checking that control from the app works and that the various streaming modes respond. An inspection of the output connectors and network socket, along with a check of the display and remote control, usefully complete the examination.