ЦАПы — Primare SC15 Prisma MK2

The SC15 Prisma MK2 is a network player, DAC and preamplifier from Primare, the Swedish electronics company based in Limhamn. Primare describes it as a full-featured network player and DAC with preamplification, and it sits in a three-quarter-width cabinet alongside the I15 Prisma MK2 integrated amplifier, the CD15 Prisma and the NP5 Prisma network player. The list price is EUR 2,000.

Key specs that matter

The converter is the ESS ES9028Q2M Sabre, a 32-bit HyperStream chip that includes ESS's jitter eliminator. USB-B accepts PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD256, while USB-A, LAN and WLAN take up to 192 kHz and 24 bit and DSD64 and DSD128. There are three optical inputs, one 3.5 mm mini optical input and one coaxial input, all up to 192 kHz. Two RCA analogue inputs have an input impedance of 12 kOhm. The RCA output can be set to fixed or variable level, with an output impedance of 150 ohm and a pre-out gain of 16.5 dB, and a coaxial digital output is also fitted. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within +0.1/-0.2 dB for digital sources and -0.3 dB for analogue sources. THD+N is below 0.005%, and signal to noise ratio exceeds 110 dB for digital and 100 dB for analogue inputs. The unit measures 350 x 73 x 320 mm with knobs and connectors and weighs 6 kg, in black or titanium.

Engineering and use context

Inputs are switched by relays rather than CMOS switches, and volume is set by two four-channel volume control chips working in balanced mode. The power supply is an ultra-low-noise switch-mode design with additional capacitor storage, and surface-mount components on two-layer and four-layer boards keep signal paths short. The Prisma streaming platform provides Chromecast built-in, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and multiroom playback, with dual-band Wi-Fi. Supported formats include WAV, LPCM, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG and DSD. Analogue inputs are converted to digital at 96 kHz for processing, while digital inputs pass through unchanged. A WiSA wireless link can send audio at 24 bit and 48 or 96 kHz to compatible wireless speakers, with a latency under a tenth of that of Bluetooth, and in this mode a subwoofer output becomes available. Control options include the C25 infrared remote, RS232 for Control4 systems, infrared input and output and a 12 V trigger. Power use is below 0.5 W in ECO standby, below 5 W in normal standby and below 15 W in operation.

Pairing

In fixed-level mode the SC15 acts as a source for any amplifier. In variable mode it drives a power amplifier or active speakers, and the DD15 CD transport adds disc playback.

Alternatives

The Primare NP5 Prisma is a network player from the same Prisma range.