Group Test Winner - Hi-Fi Choice Magazine
"Best of All Worlds" Complete Digital Music Player
Primare's CD35 Prisma is an award-winning complete digital music media player. It provides superior playback of CD discs plus stored and streamed digital music, offering wired and wireless connectivity and control capabilities provided by the Prisma network streamer technology.
Each component part of CD35 Prisma – the drive, the DAC, the output stage, Prisma network player technology – work together in balance and harmony, contributing to what is simply the best digital music player Primare has ever offered.
At the heart of CD35 Prisma is a state-of-the-art dedicated TEAC CD drive supplying a jitter-free digital signal to an all-new DAC stage utilizing a superb-sounding eight channel ESS Sabre chipset to convert that signal to analog for delivery to a finely tuned output stage.
"Its Sonic Assets Are Truly All-Encompassing"
In a Hi-Fi Choice magazine Group Test shoot-out with other players in its price class, the CD35 was the winter. Think reverse perfect storm, a rare union of positive attributes – let’s call it best-of-all-worlds syndrome – that combine to nail 'dead right,' raves reviewer David Vivian. "The CD35 is supremely confident and comfortable in its own skin and its sonic assets are truly all-encompassing.
Two Output Modes and Upgradeable Modular Design
The CD35 Prisma offers two output modes. In fixed output mode it is a complete disc, stored, and streaming digital media source for even the finest system, In variable output mode, it serves as both source and control center for a powered speaker-based system.
Additionally, the modular design allows for the possibility of adding new modules and features as they become available.
Prisma Network and Multiroom Technology
Prisma is a bundle of technologies that provide the broadest range of network music player features and functionality. It was created to allow everyone anywhere in the household to explore, discover, and share the deeply satisfying experience of high-performance music playback. Prisma provides multi-room/multi-zone connectivity and control of stored and streamed media, whether wired or wireless, all managed from mobile devices through the dedicated Prisma system control app.
In addition to AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Roon Ready (with future update), and Spotify Connect, Prisma features Chromecast built-in, a unique streaming portal allowing effortless direct connection to hundreds of streaming applications and services, including voice control, for the best possible performance and user experience.
Sleek Scandinavian Design
Every aspect of Primare products – the way they look, the satisfying feel of the controls – contributes to the overall experience. As a result, Primare products exude the hallmarks of Scandinavian design, featuring a simple, elegant look with approachable and easy-to-understand functionality.
An example of this are the control buttons, carefully crafted to provide the best tactile sense when used – not too large or too small, too soft or too stiff, nor to close to or far from the surface of the faceplate – or as they say in Swedish, lagom, meaning 'not too much not too little, everything in balance, proportion, and harmony.'
Modular Design and System Building
Primare's philosophy is to offer modularity whenever possible in order to have just the right features – both now and for the future. Modular design is featured in the I25 and I35 integrated amplifiers, as well as the PRE35 preamplifier, all of which can be updated with DAC and Prisma modules, as well as the CD35 CD player that can have the Prisma module added, either at the time of purchase or at a later date. As a result, the company is able to offer a carefully considered array of models and configurations in order to allow for device selection that best fits any system need.
For example, a CD35 with Prisma module installed can be paired with an I35 integrated amplifier, allowing for a separation of analog and digital stages. Or an I35 with DAC and Prisma modules installed can be paired with a DD35 CD transport, allowing for multi-room and multi-zone playback of every input, whether analog or digital source.