Primare PRE35
Fully balanced Primare PRE35 stereo preamplifier, with modular construction: the DM35 DAC and the Prisma network card can be added to it according to the needs of the installation.
Description
The PRE35 takes the central position in a system with separate electronics: it handles source selection and listening level, then transmits the signal to one or more power amplifiers. Its distinctive feature lies in its modular design, which combines a complete analogue preamplifier with two slots intended to receive, from the outset or later, a digital-to-analogue conversion module and a network card.
The electronics are fully balanced, with two XLR inputs and two XLR outputs: the signal travels on balanced lines from end to end, which remains the preferred approach for long connections between preamplifier and amplification, or in an electrically demanding environment. The DM35 DAC module, when installed, handles PCM streams up to 768 kHz in 32-bit as well as DSD 256, providing sufficient margin to play the most demanding high-resolution files, such as DSD recordings, without conversion.
The Prisma card, for its part, adds the network and multiroom dimension, controllable wirelessly from a mobile device via a dedicated application. It brings together Bluetooth, AirPlay and Spotify Connect, as well as Chromecast, which serves as a single gateway to a very large number of services and playback software, including Roon, Qobuz, Deezer and TuneIn Radio.
This architecture is aimed at listeners who build their system in stages: one can start with the strictly analogue version, fed by external sources, then add digital conversion and streaming without changing preamplifier. It also suits those who want a single control point for a system spread across several rooms, while retaining a quality balanced link to the main amplification.
What to check before buying used
The first step is to identify the exact configuration of the unit in question: purely analogue version, addition of the DM35 DAC alone, or the DM35 plus Prisma card combination, as the modular slots are removable. On a preamplifier, the volume control and input switching deserve a systematic test, source by source and over the full range, to detect crackling, channel imbalance or intermittent cutting out. The XLR and RCA sockets must be tested individually, as an optional module may work while an analogue input remains silent. Finally, check that the network section updates correctly and connects to the control software, as a device left offline for a long time sometimes requires a firmware update.
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