Sweden’s Primare has delivered high-performance minimalist electronics for over 40 years and during that time, the brand has dabbled in the home theater space with a modicum of success. Audiophiles have gravitated more towards their integrated amplifiers and CD players but the newly released Primare SPA25 Prisma Home Cinema Integrated Amplifier aims to change that.
The SPA25 Prisma (MSRP: €5500 / $6000 / £5000) joins the recently released award-winning A35.8 eight-channel fully bridgeable amplifier in Primare’s new and growing home cinema line of components, which will soon include the SP25 Prisma home cinema preamplifier processor.
The SPA25 Prisma is a multi-channel amplifier and processor designed for both
cinephiles and audiophiles, composed of carefully considered and crafted
features and functionality to provide the best home cinema experience for the
greatest number of people. Technically it’s not an A/V receiver (AVR) since it doesn’t include a tuner, although it essentially functions like one.
For the cinephile, the SPA25 Prisma includes nine-channels of amplification,
with a maximum total output power of 900 watts, 4K dynamic HDR switching,
eARC, support for Dirac Live, and eleven-channel Dolby Atmos/DTS X processing that, with the addition of a stereo amplifier, allows for 7.1.4 cinema configurations.
The class D amplification utilizes Hypex UCD250LP power technology providing immediate and sustained power output.
For the audiophile, the SPA25 Prisma utilizes dual eight channel DAC chips
allowing for a unique digital to analog conversion circuit that allocates four
channels of conversion to the front left and right channel output for improved
stereo performance.
That combined with the adaptive power supply providing power delivery of 145 watts into 8-ohms and 250 watts into 4-ohm speaker loads in stereo mode, as well as the ability to bi-amp the main left and right channels supplying 290 watts into 8 ohms and 405 watts into 4 ohms per channel, makes the SPA25 Prisma the most powerful “stereo” integrated amp Primare has ever produced.
Additionally, Primare’s proven Prisma network player platform provides
complete streaming features and functionality, as well as multi-room / multi-zone
options, with AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, Roon, and Spotify Connect (HiFi ready).
With the associated Prisma application, combined with the onscreen setup menu, offering easy system customisation from the listening position. Prisma provides comprehensive control of network connected hard drives, as well as embedded Prisma Radio, TIDAL, and Qobuz services for simplified access to these most used music sources.
Tip: Native support will be available through a future update; Roon, Tidal, and Qobuz are available at shipping with Prisma using AirPlay and Chromecast as endpoint.
The DAC stage is built around the ESS ES9026 Pro 32-bit DAC chip which supports up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM & DSD512 playback.
On the video side, the SPA25 Prisma supports HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2 matrix switching, along with Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR 10+. There is also 3D and UHD 4K pass-through.
Dirac Live Support
For both cinephiles and audiophiles, the Primare SPA25 Prisma offers Dirac Live Room Correction which digitally compensates for the room’s impact on audio performance.
Dirac Live Room Correction also generates an auto target curve based on the
sound system’s unique measurements, which makes it easier for users to get
even better sound quality from their system automatically. This auto target curve
is then fully customizable so users can get their speakers to sound exactly how
they want.
“In Primare’s nearly 40-year history tone controls have simply not been a part of
our designs,” states Terry Medalen, Primare marketing. “For the first time, with
the capabilities of Dirac Live, we feel we have digital signal processing software
that is as carefully crafted and considered as our hardware, providing enormously flexible and useful tools for optimizing performance with the same
level of attention to every micro-detail as we pay to our components.”
“For over 30 years, Primare has been designing award-winning HiFi equipment
that strikes the perfect balance between industry-leading performance and
elegant Scandinavian design,” stated Fredric Tapper, Dirac’s Vice President of
Home & Pro Audio. “Now, with their new Dirac-enabled SPA25 Prisma amplifier,
they’re applying their HiFi industry expertise to the home cinema space – a
space where Dirac has long thrived in helping companies deliver the best
possible sound experience for their customers. We look forward to a long and
successful collaboration with a fellow Swedish audio innovator that’s committed
to push the boundaries of sound.”
The SPA25 Prisma includes Dirac Live Room Correction Limited Frequency and
can be upgraded to include Dirac Live Room Correction Full Frequency for an additional $99 USD. Considering the asking price, this really should be included for free.
The SPA25 Prisma is the first model to include the new Prisma remote control,
providing IR control for every past and present Primare model, and includes
backlight buttons, basic video display controls, and OTA update features.
For more information: primare.net/product/spa25-prisma/
ORT
April 6, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Sweet! Now this, this is going to chide more than a few frAuidophiles because of the use of Class D amplification.
Especially so in Stereo.
If you did a test where they did not know what type of Amplification they were listening to they would do a Mr. Myagi and “Wax Off” over the Musicalifragiliciousexpialidociousness of it all.
Look, I think tubes are the loverliest method of all to amplify home audio but realistically speaking frAudies are full of themselves and despise those of us who just desire musical happiness in our homes. Right now I am listening to Jerry Vale. I am happy. Ooooo…Karen Carpenter just came on with “Top Of The World”! More happiness!
So I think, not feeeeeeeeeeeeeeel, that Class D will grow in the AVR world and it will thrive despite the pathetic protestations of the frAudies…Because it works, runs cooler and can be produced and sold affordably. Barry Manilow! “Trying To Get The Feeling Again”! One of the finest entertainers and vocalists of our time or as Sinatra once said of him, “He’s next!”
And so too is Class D. And just as soon as some high end (likely more REAR end) marque announces to the Musical Matrix where the Typists of frAudio reside, that they have put some thing magic in their shill-filled crapacitors or other nondescript surface mount doodad and they claim said stuff contains a magic music genie, the frAudies will break out the lotion and tissues and once again be able to Myagi their egos ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
The rest of us will be watching, listening and smiling. Happy with music and movies in our homes.
And laughing at the likes of Darth Fremer and his Sadawans as they claim that the FARCE is once again with them.
Screw the FARCE. Indeed.
Karen Carpenter. I know there is no time travel because if there were Karen would still be with us and Joni Mitchel would never have started smoking nor taken up with the likes of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Dung.
And so much more that was here now would be missing from the present and only I would be aware of what a mess was averted. For those that whine, this is what is known as Writing…With talent. 😉
ORT
Ian White
April 7, 2023 at 2:26 pm
ORT,
Primare is an interesting brand. It’s much more popular overseas but the new distributor is going to push it hard here. It’s really good stuff. I plan on reviewing one of the amplifiers and CD players in May.
Best,
Ian White
ORT
April 8, 2023 at 5:58 am
Hi Ian –
I look forward to these reviews especially so the CD Player as I am still searching for one for my self or my older brother. I really want the Marantz CD60 in silver/gold but having recently bought three new Pro-Ject ‘tables with the last being a new favorite and winner of the “if my wife finds out how much I will die a slow death to music” award, my Pro-Ject X2 in Walnut!
I am, as Ray Charles might say, “busted”.
I like my Beatles ’64 and my Beatles Singles and my Beatles Sgt. Pepper (Essential III) turntables a LOT! but this X2 makes me stand there and smile. I could not get around an out of control static attack until I decided Acrylic Platter or not, I am putting my new Frank Sinatra “Come Fly With Me” cork mat from Analog Restorations on it.
BAZINGA! No more static. “Sigh”…Thank you Sir Christ of Analog Restorations!
Enough raaaaaaaaaamblin’! Again, dear friend, I look forward to the CD player review(s). I nearly bought a Rotel 1572 MkII for my brother but he got his Nakamichi CD 3 Player working again. He is a sucker (like me) for the looks of Rotel stuff. Any thoughts on that model and anything else single box CD around that price mark would be appreciated. I have spent enough on me so I need to think of others. I recently bought almost $3,000 in HEOS speakers for family and friends including my dear now retired sweetheart of beauty of a good Jewish girl.
She is originally from South Africa and when I saw her wedding photo from years ago I wished all the more for a WayBack Machine. She was and remains a beautiful woman.
Dammit. I need to STFU. Stereos! CD players…That’s the ticket! I look forward to ’em all. Please say hello to the lads for me!
ORT