Интегральные усилители — Primare I15 Prisma MK2

The I15 Prisma MK2 is a three-quarter-width integrated amplifier made by the Swedish company Primare, building a DAC and a Prisma network player into the same compact case. It sits alongside the analogue-only I15 and the I15 MM with its moving magnet phono stage, a board that Primare also sells separately as the MM15 module for EUR 300, and Primare lists it at EUR 1,850, with a US price of USD 2,499.

Key specs that matter

A specially made Hypex UCD102 module with an all-analogue output stage supplies 60 W per channel into 8 ohm and 100 W into 4 ohm. Conversion is handled by a 32-bit stereo ESS ES9028Q2M chip using the HyperStream design, specified for a dynamic range of 129 dB and THD+N of -120 dB, with PCM accepted up to 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD256 (11.2 MHz). Analogue sources connect through two RCA pairs, while digital sources use one coaxial, three Toslink and one USB-B input. There is also a USB-A port, Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Outputs comprise a variable RCA pair and a digital output. The case measures 350 x 73 x 329 mm, and weighs 6.4 kg, finished in either black or titanium.

Engineering and use context

The amplifier module is fed by a custom heavy duty switch mode power supply and an analogue input stage designed for it. Primare uses relays for input switching, citing better isolation than conventional CMOS switches, and a balanced 2 x 4 channel volume control IC chosen for channel balance at low levels. An auto-sense circuit detects active inputs, and a surround passthrough mode lets the unit work inside a home cinema system. The Prisma platform provides multi-room and multi-zone control of stored and streamed media through a dedicated app, with AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in and Roon Ready support, as well as playback from network drives. The front panel carries an automotive-grade OLED display, and its styling follows lagom, the Swedish term Primare uses for balance and proportion.

Pairing

For wider system integration the I15 Prisma MK2 offers IR connections in and out on 3.5 mm jacks, a 12V trigger output and an RS232 port for outboard control, and it is operated with the Primare C25 IR remote. The variable output can connect to an outboard power amp or to a subwoofer with its own amplifier, while disc transports and televisions connect to the coaxial and optical sockets.

Alternatives

The Primare I15 is the same-size integrated amplifier in analogue-only form, without the DAC and network player.