There's something a bit oddball about the notion of a $16,500 integrated amplifier—until you stop to consider that the market is fairly drenched with preamps and power amps that, together, cost that much and more. And putting both pre- and power amp in a single chassis cuts down on storage (one less shelf), accessories (one less pair of cable), and electrical outlets (one socket freed up).

There's something a bit oddball about the notion of a $16,500 integrated amplifier—until you stop to consider that the market is fairly drenched with preamps and power amps that, together, cost that much and more. And putting both pre- and power amp in a single chassis cuts down on storage (one less shelf), accessories (one less pair of cable), and electrical outlets (one socket freed up).

"I have a really special loudspeaker I want you to hear," said Immedia's Allen Perkins at Home Entertainment 2006.

"I have a really special loudspeaker I want you to hear," said Immedia's Allen Perkins at Home Entertainment 2006.

"I have a really special loudspeaker I want you to hear," said Immedia's Allen Perkins at Home Entertainment 2006.

"I have a really special loudspeaker I want you to hear," said Immedia's Allen Perkins at Home Entertainment 2006.

"I have a really special loudspeaker I want you to hear," said Immedia's Allen Perkins at Home Entertainment 2006.

At $2295, the CD31 is the most expensive integrated CD player from Swedish manufacturer Primare, and an evolution of their D30.2, which I <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/604primare">reviewed</A&gt; in the June 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>. I knew that the CD31 wasn't a clean-sheet design, but my first look suggested that it wasn't even much of an evolution&mdash;a comparison of its and the D30.2's spec sheets matched almost line for line. When I asked Terry Medalen of Sumiko, Primare's US distributor, about the similarity, and if the CD31 was just a mild tweaking of the D30.2, he said, "Well, yes and no. You really need to listen to it."

At $2295, the CD31 is the most expensive integrated CD player from Swedish manufacturer Primare, and an evolution of their D30.2, which I <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/604primare">reviewed</A&gt; in the June 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>. I knew that the CD31 wasn't a clean-sheet design, but my first look suggested that it wasn't even much of an evolution&mdash;a comparison of its and the D30.2's spec sheets matched almost line for line. When I asked Terry Medalen of Sumiko, Primare's US distributor, about the similarity, and if the CD31 was just a mild tweaking of the D30.2, he said, "Well, yes and no. You really need to listen to it."

At $2295, the CD31 is the most expensive integrated CD player from Swedish manufacturer Primare, and an evolution of their D30.2, which I <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/604primare">reviewed</A&gt; in the June 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>. I knew that the CD31 wasn't a clean-sheet design, but my first look suggested that it wasn't even much of an evolution&mdash;a comparison of its and the D30.2's spec sheets matched almost line for line. When I asked Terry Medalen of Sumiko, Primare's US distributor, about the similarity, and if the CD31 was just a mild tweaking of the D30.2, he said, "Well, yes and no. You really need to listen to it."