Интегральные усилители — Primare I15

The I15 is an all-analogue stereo integrated amplifier from the Swedish company Primare, housed in a compact three-quarter-width cabinet intended for smaller living spaces. It delivers 60 W per channel into 8 ohm and 100 W per channel into 4 ohm, and its European price is EUR 1,300. Primare links the design to lagom, the Swedish idea of balance and proportion, and sells it in black or titanium finishes.

Key specs that matter

The five RCA inputs, labelled A1 to A5, present 15 kohm, and gain for each can be set as variable or fixed across a range of -30 dB to +30 dB. Inputs accept aliases of up to six characters, and an auto-sense option switches to a source when a signal appears. Frequency response runs from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at -0.7 dB, total harmonic distortion plus noise stays under 0.02 % from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 10 W into 8 ohm, and signal-to-noise ratio exceeds 97 dB. Crosstalk at 10 kHz is 80 dB. The preamplifier output has 16.5 dB of gain and the line output 0 dB, both at 150 ohm output impedance. The case measures 350 mm wide, 339 mm deep and 73 mm high including knobs and connectors. Standby consumption is below 0.6 W, and at 230 V the amplifier draws between 16 W and 100 W while running.

Engineering and use context

Each channel is driven by a Hypex all-analogue class D power module, the same one used in the I15 Prisma, a version of this chassis with network playback. In the I15 the power supply has been optimised for the analogue-only layout, which Primare says gives greater drive because no DAC or network player draws from it. The OLED display shows source and volume, dims automatically after ten minutes and offers three brightness levels plus blank. Volume steps from 0 to 99, with settable start-up level, maximum limit and mute level, and auto standby can be set to 10, 15 or 20 minutes or off. For vinyl, the optional MM15 moving magnet phono stage can be fitted at any time on input A1, and a ground terminal accepts the turntable earth lead. That board provides 40.5 dB of gain at 1 kHz, a resistive load of 47 kohm and a capacitive load of 150 pF, with RIAA accuracy within 0.2 dB and 78 dB signal-to-noise ratio.

Pairing

The line output feeds a recorder or other fixed-level device, and the preamplifier output can drive a power amplifier or an active subwoofer. The supplied C25 remote works on Primare's IR system, and 3.5 mm IR input and output sockets pass commands to other units. An RS232 port handles outboard control, and a 12 V trigger output switches connected equipment on and off together with the amplifier.

Alternatives

The Primare I35 is a larger, full-width integrated amplifier from the same maker.