[器評] 瑞典PRIMARE A35.8 英國AV Forums推薦！Prime級別的八聲道後級
The Primare 35.8 has an unassuming profile. It’s simply a black box with an on/off switch, which is good start. But this is a glorious sounding amplifier. Movies and music are awash with fine detail, and superb imaging and depth of field. What’s more, music sources come off as almost tangible with a delightfully analogue quality for a Class D design. This is all a surprise. As a consumer, you must prepare to spend big on the best amplifiers for a dedicated home cinema room. But also remember that these are the components that will probably find a home in your AV room the longest duration. If you’re at the decision stage for purchasing eight (or sixteen) channels of unbridled power, we say don’t overlook the Primare 35.8.
Pros
- Stunning audio detail
- Immense soundstage
- Versatile bridging capacity
- Classy, understated build
- Compact form factor
Cons
- Assertive soundstage might not be everyone’s cup of tea
What is the Primare 35.8?
Primare is not generally a household name for those scoping out equipment for a dedicated cinema room. But the Swedish company, founded by Bo Christensen, has been around since 1985. Its relatively low profile in AV circles is because it only recently got back into that world again.
The company has won accolades for its bold industrial two-channel component designs (as exemplified in 1986’s 928 Series and 1992’s 200 Series). By the early noughties, Primare began dabbling in AV with a few processors and integrated amps. Today, however, the complete product list includes a variety of network players, CD players, phono preamplifiers, pre- and power amplifiers, as well as the latest AV components.
One Swedish word to characterise the entire range, we are told, is the ‘logom’ (pronounced ‘loah-goam’). This literally means ‘not too much, not too little’. The idea here is that no facet of the product should unnecessarily draw attention to itself. The experience should be in the music interpretation itself, while the technology should disappear.
… no facet of the product should unnecessarily draw attention to itself
The Primare 35.8 launched last year. It’s an eight-channel power amplifier for multi-channel applications, clearly designed to offer most efficacy in home cinemas. Although the company doesn’t shout it from the rooftops, the amplifier uses a Class D architecture, and boasts a maximum output of 1,500 watts. Given that most multi-channel power amplifiers opt for an odd number of channels to accommodate a centre speaker for home cinema, eight channels is an interesting choice. There are reasons for this, though, as we’ll discuss later.
Design
The 35.8 definitely fits into that ‘logom’ lifestyle paradigm. A gorgeous black brushed steel faceplate is only adorned with the Primare name and logo, the latter of which is carved into the surface and surrounds the on/off switch. The 35.8 is, however, also available with a titanium frontage. The faceplate itself looks like it’s separated from the main body due to a recess running around the circumference, which adds a nice touch of design sophistication.
At 43 cm wide, the Primare is ideal for using in an IT or AV rack. At 14.5 cm high and only 40 cm deep, there should be plenty of room behind a standard shelf to manage all your cables. One of the distinct advantages of amps with Class D designs is that they can pack more circuits and heat sink modules into one enclosure and don’t require bulky toroidal transformers as found on Class AB amplifiers. Even the 15 kg weight is quite manageable when compared to models using competing technologies. The chassis itself is formed from a matte black textured steel with square heat dispersion grates populating almost the entire top surface.
The rear plate neatly lays out banks of balanced XLR and RCA inputs, bridge switches and loudspeaker connections. These plastic-shrouded enclosures are intended to make the job of guiding in bare copper terminations easier, but the jury could be out on that one.
Connections and Control
The Primare package comes with a C20 IEC cord, IR/trigger cable and AC polarity pen with batteries (to check for AC plug orientation). There are two 3.5mm 12V trigger ports: one input and one output. You also get an RS232 outboard system control port. In standby mode, a small triangle-shaped white LED is dimly lit just above the on/off switch on the front plate. When switching on, that same light flashes a few times while the internal circuits stabilise before turning steady white. Of course, you can wake up the Primare via the supplied trigger cable.
On the rear, there are flip switches for either XLR or RCA. There is also a three-point flip switch to allow two-channel, bridged or bridged +6 dB modes. Each channel can be connected to loudspeakers with impedance loads of between 2 and 8 ohms, as you might expect.
Features and Specifications
Because of the switches outlined above, there are multiple setup configuration options for the 35.8. For the ultimate in performance, the product can be used as a 2.0 bi-amped system with all pairs of inputs bridged, providing peak power of 4 x 375 watts (or 750 watts per pair) into 8 ohms. Or, you might choose to run a 5.1 system with bridged pairs running left, right and centre, and two unbridged outputs for a pair of surrounds. And so the options for layout go on. Some will choose two of the Primares to power, say, 15 channels in a 9.x.6 configuration with just the centre channel bridged. Total output power from the 35.8 amounts to 8 x 150 watts into 8 ohms, or 8 x 300 watts into 4 ohms.
And so the options for layout go on
The Primare uses four pairs of Hypex Ncore NC500 Class D amplifier modules. Primare says that the circuit layout provides the “most direct delivery and even distribution of power” from the power supply to the modules buried in the heatsinks. This, in turn, should isolate them from power supply noise. This architecture also ensures that both input and output stages are isolated from any noise that the amp modules themselves might produce.
The 35.8 carries the largest power supply the company has yet produced. Dual cables run from the power supply to each pair of amp modules via the shortest possible path, according to the manufacturer. A series of internal red LED lamps flash if clipping conditions are detected. These are visible through the grate on the topside of the amp enclosure.
Set Up and Operation
Whenever a new piece of hardware is inserted into the rack, it means a re-run of Lyngdorf’s RoomPerfect calibration procedure. This had to be performed twice for two separate configurations. It seemed to make most sense to let the Primare power the LCR and two surrounds first using the standard stereo outputs. The second set-up involved bridging three of the Primare outputs for LCR only. Bearing in mind that the loudspeakers used here are M&K S150s with their 4-ohm load, that’s packing quite a punch into each satellite.
Performance
Because the 35.8 shipped to us had already clearly done some of the review rounds, I suspected that the amp wouldn’t need too much of a break-in period. Nevertheless, it’s always the policy here to let an amp warm up for an hour or two at least to allow those circuits and connectors to bed in.
In the first non-bridged configuration, we fire up Spotify channelled through the Lyngdorf to listen to Ron Goodwin’s ‘Miss Marple’s Theme’. The violins dance in and out of the mix and literally soar without so much as a hint of scratchiness or breakdown.
Imaging and depth of field are so precise that you feel you could walk into the recording studio or venue
In every piece of music we play, the soundstage is big and open and rhythm sections feel surprisingly analogue in their exposition. Kick drums and snares register vividly in their attack and impact with rock and jazz selections. Timing on every source is exquisite with visceral transients punctuating every bar of music. All the while, there’s a smoothness and lack of edginess, perhaps a surprise for a Class D-based architecture. Imaging and depth of field are so precise that you feel you could walk into the recording studio or venue.
Moving over to a 5.1 configuration, the portentous chords of Paul McCartney and Wings’ rendition of Live and Let Die(1972, Blu-ray) flood the room with bags of power in reserve, but with a remarkable seamlessness between loudspeakers. In ‘Dance at the Gym’ in West Side Story (2022, 4K UHD Blu-ray), dialogue in between the lucid big band refrains is both melodious and layered.
… the 35.8 has what might have what might be described as an assertive or even aggressive soundstage
Now, it’s worth pointing out that the 35.8 has what might have what might be described as an assertive or even aggressive soundstage. Two-channel audiophiles might baulk at that and consider it a predictable characteristic of a Class D amp topology. But I can tell you now that I would trade my current, albeit aging, reference Class AB power amps for these specific qualities, particularly for filmed entertainment. Overall multi-channel performance from the Primare is mighty impressive stuff.
I can tell you now that I would trade my current, albeit aging, reference Class AB power amps for these specific qualities
After setting up a three-channel bridged LCR layout, I tried out some CDs and more streamed content. Now there’s even more heft and authority to music sources, as one might expect. The piano in the ‘End Title’ of Revolutionary Road (2009, CD) could easily be in the room with me. The pounding of those hammers on the strings and their striking harmonics give way to true-to-life recording studio decays. Delightful.
Video Review
Conclusion
Primare A35.8 Eight Channel Power Amplifier Review
- Should I buy one?
Class D-based power amps have not always wowed this reviewer historically. Without naming names, there have been some less-than-glowing experiences with certain brands and product categories. Two in particular which come to mind sounded so shrill and fatiguing as to render them almost unlistenable. But improvements in Class D technologies are occurring at a lightning pace. The thought of displacing my AB stalwarts in the cinema room would never have been a consideration.
… multi-channel performance from the Primare is mighty impressive stuff
The Primare 35.8 is an absolute corker of a multi-channel power amp. Yes, it’s all about that level of detail, those massive dynamics, that laser-like imaging. It’s also wrapped up in an alluring and classy package of compact design. Quite frankly, this product can leave one’s mouth agape. If you are building out that dream cinema room, we keenly recommend you add the Primare 35.8 to your shortlist.
- What are my alternatives?
Rather than fork out for two 8-channel amps, why not look at our review of the Storm Audio PA 16 Mk2? This 16-channel Class D monster offers up enough power for an entire immersive audio system and makes an obvious choice to pair with a Lyngdorf or Trinnov processor. It’s a little more than double the price of the Primare, so the PA 16 should probably be on your prospects list. It also earned one of our ‘Best in Class’ badges in 2020.
We also checked out the NAD M28 7-channel metal slab which delivers 200 watts into each 8-ohm, or 340 watts into each 4-ohm, loudspeaker, respectively. Incorporating NAD’s hybrid digital tech, and combined with Purifi’s Eigentakt amplifier architecture, the M28 is capable of ‘a serious amount of grunt’. The deck comes in at just under and is a ‘stunning piece of industrial design’.
Scores
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