For me, none of this is lost in translation. I'm all for folksy adjectives for high-tech equipment. After spending hygge time with the new PRE35 Prisma preamplifier, I…
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Hygge might not be the first word that comes to mind when contemplating the Primare PRE35 Prisma preamplifier, but in Limhamn, Sweden, that is how Primare likes to describe their products. It means "cozy," and it's a very important concept in the Nordic countries, almost a way of life. Another term that appears in Primare's product descriptions is lagom, which loosely translates as "not too little, not too much—just right."
Upstairs
I have three separate audio systems, at three price levels. This allows me to introduce a component under review into a matching system, where components complement each other harmoniously and musically.
What I had been calling my reference system, I am now calling the upstairs system. This system is built around the Wilson Audio Sasha DAWs, which I reviewed in December 2019, driven by the mighty McIntosh MC462 solid state stereo amplifier, which I reviewed in April 2019. Phono stage and preamplifier are tubed, from Audio Research. The upstairs system is where I…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Streaming D/A processor/preamplifier. Digital inputs: four TosLink (supports up to 24/192), two RCA (supports up to 24/192), one USB-A (supports up to 24/192 and up to DSD128), one USB-B (supports up to 32/768 and up to DSD256). Analog line inputs: three pairs unbalanced (RCA), two pairs balanced (XLR). Analog outputs: one pair unbalanced (RCA), one pair unbalanced fixed-volume line-out (RCA), two pairs balanced (XLR). Digital output: one pair (RCA). Connectivity: two Ethernet LAN ports, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas. Streaming: AirPlay, Bluetooth,…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: VPI HW-40 turntable, VPI 12" Fatboy tonearm, Pro-Ject Classic EVO turntable, Lyra Etna cartridge, Ortofon Bronze Cadenza cartridge, Sumiko Amethyst cartridge.
Digital sources: MacBook Air running Qobuz, Bricasti M1SE DAC, Musical Fidelity M1 CDT transport, Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T transport.
Preamplifiers: Audio Research Corporation REF3SE phono preamplifier, Audio Research Corporation REF6SE preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: McIntosh MC275 VI stereo tube amplifier, McIntosh MC462 Quad Balanced stereo amplifier.
Loudspeakers:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Primare PRE35 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system, repeating some tests with the magazine's higher-performance APx500 system. Looking first at the analog inputs, the balanced and single-ended line input impedances are specified, respectively, at 30k ohms and 15k ohms. I measured, for the balanced inputs, 29.6k ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz, and for the unbalanced inputs, 14.8k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz and 13k ohms at 20kHz.
The maximum gain at the balanced outputs was 16.7dB for the balanced inputs and 22.75dB for the single-ended inputs. There are…
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Every product listed here has been reviewed in Stereophile. Everything on the list, regardless of rating, is genuinely recommendable.
Within each category, products are listed by class; within each class, they're in alphabetical order, followed by their price, a review synopsis, and a note indicating the issues in which the review, and any subsequent follow-up reports, appeared. "Vol.45 No.6" indicates our June 2022 issue, for example. "WWW" means the review is also posted online.
Stereophile's Recommended Components list is concerned mainly with products available in the US…
How To Use The Listing
The classes each cover a wide range of performance. Carefully read our descriptions here, the original reviews, and (heaven forbid) reviews in other magazines to put together a short list of components to choose from. Evaluate your room, your source material and front-end(s), your speakers, and your tastes. With luck, you may come up with a selection to audition at your favorite dealer(s). "Recommended Components" will not tell you what to buy any more than Consumer Reports would presume to tell you whom to marry!
Class A Best attainable sound for a…
Turntables:
A+
J.Sikora Reference: $47,000 w/o tonearm
This Polish company's top-of-the-line turntable is a nonsuspended, high-mass design, weighing 253lb. The dynamically and statically balanced platter alone weighs 40lb! Drive is with four square belts spun by four Papst DC motors. MF found that the plinth was immune to knuckle raps and motor start-up noises and wrote that the Reference was very quiet. He decided that this J.Sikora 'table had been superbly tuned to extract deep, well-controlled bass free of overhang or excess. The measured speed accuracy was impressive, as…
Tonearms:
A+
SAT CF1-09Ti: €88,000
SAT CF1-12Ti: €92,000
These two cost-no-object tonearms appear outwardly identical to the Swedish manufacturer's original CF1 arm. However, there is now a titanium tube running through the carbon-fiber armtube and the CF1's removable carbon-fiber headshell has been stiffened with a frame made from titanium. The 9" arm was auditioned, but the 12" arm should be just as good (but longer). Prices are when purchased separately; when the arms are purchased with the SAT XD-1 turntable (see "Turntables"), the prices are €50,000 ('9Ti) and €60,000 ('…