The Primare R35 is a sophisticated and powerful phono preamplifier that provides the ideal interface between the low level output of a moving magnet or moving coil phono cartridge and the line level inputs of your system. The Primare R35 phono preamplifier is housed in a massive housing and is a completely analog device without any digital circuitry. To ensure high sound quality and low noise levels, Primare employs a so-called “dual mono” design wherever appropriate, using an optimal selection of discrete lead-free components from the best Japanese and American semiconductor manufacturers.
Primare R35 has standard dimensions, is easier to install and fits better with other Primare products in terms of uniformity of appearance. The increased cabinet size allows the upgraded high-sensitivity components to be better positioned from the influence of the supply voltage, resulting in cleaner and more accurate sound.
To protect sensitive signal circuits from possible interference, the interior of the device is divided into separate sections by shields. The transformer is located in the corner of one section, and the signal circuits are located in the opposite corner of the other section. The transformer features separate windings for the left and right channels (a “dual mono design”), the signals of which are then individually adjusted to provide the different voltages required by the Primare R35. All circuits use tantalum low-impedance capacitors.
Gold-plated Teflon-insulated RCA output and input connectors provide high quality for low-level signals. The Primare R 35 is equipped with a controlled muting circuit for quiet switching on and off of the device.
After a relatively quick warm-up, you can evaluate the sound. The sound of the Primare R35 is light, unobtrusive, with good development of midrange frequencies, but with some warming and softening. The upper frequencies are quite detailed and clean, but sometimes they lack dynamics and brightness. It should be noted that the corrector is doing quite well with bass – there is a lot of it in quantity and it is of quite decent quality, however, just like the rest of the range, the bass is a little soft, a little warm and smoothed out. The sound is comfortable, due to the good balance of softness with decent detail, and overall the picture is quite interesting. The stage is moderately wide and deep, with good detail, but nothing more. As for the frequency range, I would like a more pronounced attack in the upper frequencies and a less soft presentation of the bass and lower mids. If we compare the work with different heads, then the sound, when using MM heads, turns out to be more rich and dynamic, and the high detail, unity and musicality of sound characteristic of good MC heads, with this corrector it is easier to reveal using not the MC section, but an external matching transformer. This corrector is seen in a system assembled from Primare components or in systems where a soft, unobtrusive sound is preferred without claims to high precision.
Specifications Primare R35
Phono type MM/MC
Input impedance 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 ohms and 47 kohms
Output impedance 100 ohms
Gain MM 41.5 dB, MM internally bridged 46.5 dB
MC 62 dB
S/N ratio noise 20 Hz – 20 kHz, unweighted
MM -70 dB
MC -60 dB
THD + noise 20 Hz – 20 kHz
MM <0.02%, MC <0.05%
Inputs 1 pair RCA
Outputs 1 pair RCA
Operating power consumption 11.5 W
Dimensions (WxDxH) 430 x 384 x 92 mm
Net weight 9.5 kg
