Primare PRE35 Prisma Balanced Preamplifier

One Box Instead of Three

Primare designs in Limhamn, Sweden, to an idea it calls lagom: not too little, not too much. The PRE35 Prisma is that idea as a product. It is a fully balanced analog preamp, a DAC and a network streamer, in one chassis, under one control knob.

The DAC module runs an ESS ES9068A. It plays PCM to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256, handles MQA, and can upsample if you want it to. Four optical inputs, two coaxial and a USB-B port feed it. A TV, a disc player, a computer and a games console all stay plugged in.

The Prisma module handles the network. You get two Ethernet ports, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready. Pick the music on your phone and the preamp does the rest. No laptop has to be woken up.

Balanced Analog, and a Path Forward

The analog side is not an afterthought. Two balanced XLR input pairs and three RCA pairs run into a relay-switched, fully balanced path. Out the back are two XLR pairs, an RCA pre-output, and a fixed line output for a recorder.

The DAC and network sections are separate modules, and Primare can revise them as streaming standards move on. That is the point of the design. The analog preamp you buy today does not go stale when the digital world shifts under it.

Control stays plain on purpose. One knob handles volume and menus, backed by the C25 remote. RS232, a 12V trigger and IR in and out are there for installers. The chassis is 430 by 106 by 420mm and weighs 11.3kg, in black or titanium. The US warranty runs three years.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Sasha Matson reviewed the PRE35 Prisma for Stereophile on March 31, 2023. It is, he concluded, "a finely honed, well-made, and—considering the state-of-the-art technologies it incorporates—fairly priced streaming preamplifier."

Build quality struck him first. "Its hefty metal chassis is complemented by sturdy, solid knobs," he wrote, adding that its "simple Scandinavian aesthetic belies its rich functionality and flexibility." His verdict: put it "on your short list for audition. Recommended."

Stereophile has since listed the PRE35 Prisma in its Recommended Components, 2026 edition, under Preamplifiers.

Who Is This Preamplifier Best For?

• You are collapsing a stack into a shelf — the preamp, the DAC and the streamer are one box on one power cord, which takes two sets of cables and two remotes out of the room.
• You stream from your phone — AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready are built in, so picking a track never means waking a laptop or minding a separate streamer.
• You run a fully balanced system — two XLR input pairs and two XLR output pairs keep the path balanced end to end, so a long run to the power amp arrives quiet.
• You expect to keep it a long while — the DAC and network parts are modules Primare can revise, so a shift in streaming standards does not strand the analog preamp underneath.
• You play records — the PRE35 Prisma handles line, digital and network sources, so a turntable needs a phono stage ahead of it. Pick one to suit your cartridge from our phono preamplifiers and feed it into any analog input.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the balanced XLR or RCA outputs to your power amplifier, with Primare's matching A35.2 the natural partner. Digital sources join by optical, coaxial or USB, and analog sources by XLR or RCA. The fixed line output feeds a recorder.

Your network arrives by Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and Roon, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect then work straight from your phone. One knob controls the rest.

Pairs Well With

Building around the PRE35 Prisma? Here are some great companions:

• Power Amplifier: Primare's A35.2 completes the stack — see our Amplifiers.
• Phono Stage: Bring a turntable into the system — see our Phono Preamplifiers.
• Interconnects: Keep the balanced path balanced — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Speakers: Give a Scandinavian preamp good company — see our Floorstanding Speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What DAC is inside?

An ESS ES9068A. It plays PCM to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256, handles MQA, and can upsample if you want.

What streaming does it support?

AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready certification, plus Bluetooth, over two Ethernet ports or dual-band Wi-Fi.

How many digital inputs are there?

Seven: four optical, two coaxial and one USB-B, alongside a digital output.

Is it fully balanced?

Yes. Two XLR input pairs and two XLR output pairs, with three RCA input pairs and both pre and fixed line outputs alongside them.

Can the modules be changed later?

Primare designed the PRE35 so the DAC and Prisma modules can be fitted when you buy, or later on. Ask us what is current before you order.

What finishes and warranty?

Black or titanium, with a three-year US warranty.

See It in Action

Andrew Robinson reviews the PRE35 Prisma with the matching A35.2 power amplifier:

Pursuit Perfect System runs the PRE35 Prisma and A35.2 together as a complete system:

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Learn More

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