Friday, June 5, 2026
Home Review Primare i35 with DM36 dac board

Review Primare i35 with DM36 dac board

7

Pros

  • Sounds nice
  • Fine balance
  • Lots of connectivity
  • Nicely built

Cons

  • App could be better
  • AES or BNC in for DAC

Price: € 4999

Build quality
Usability
App
Sound
Price
Alpha-Audio Approved
Primare i35

The Sound

What a wonderful amplifier the Primare i35 is! The reproduction is powerful, round, rich, tight… very smooth ánd engaging. In short: we are right in.

Audirvana… oh yes!

Now we have to say: when streaming, Audirvana sounds by far the best. Also, Audirvana’s app is more pleasant than Primare’s own. We’ve used Primare’s new app (still in beta during testing) and yes: it’s faster and not bad, but it doesn’t measure up to Audirvana’s app or Roon of course. However: Roon sees the Primare as a Chromecast device. And it doesn’t sound as good as Audirvana controlling the Primare via UPnP.

The Scandinavian Sound

The picture the Primare paints is simply delicious. Is it a resolution monster? No. Is it a sleek kickboxer? No. Is it a nimble balarina? No. What is it? It’s a balance king.

Everything just feels balanced: enough detail. Enough grip. Enough air. Enough speed. Enough focus and depth in the imaging. Really very impressive.

In fact, that balance makes listening very enjoyable. Whether it’s Metal, Rock, Pop or classical…. the Primare knows how to handle it. There is no distraction while listening to your favorite tracks. Calmness… balance….music. Very nice!

Now we could talk endlessly about the balance in the Primare i35, but we don’t think that makes much sense. Just experience it for yourself. Preferably on your own speakers in your own room. But you have been warned…

Check the Sample Test

Type test
Single Test
Inputs
  • Digital Coaxial
  • Digital Optical
Outputs
  • Digital Coaxial
Product type
D/A-converter
Max samplingrate
384 kHz
Max bit depth
24 bit
Dimensions
    Production country
    Sweden
    Amplifier type
    Integrated
    Amplifier technology
    Class D
    Bridgemode
    No
    Amplifier inputs
    • Analog RCA
    • Analog XLR
    • Digital Coaxial
    • Digital Optical
    • Digital USB
    • Streamer Ethernet
    • Streamer wifi
    Amplifier outputs
    • Analog RCA
    Power
    Specification #1
    • Resistance: 8 ohm
    • Value specified: 150 watt
    • Value measured: 170 watt
    Specification #2
    • Resistance: 4 ohm
    • Value specified: 300 watt
    • Value measured: 306 watt
    Dimensions
    • Width: 43 cm
    • Depth: 42 cm
    • Height: 11 cm
    Weight amplifier
    11 Kg
    Build in dac
    Yes
    Production country
    Sweden
    Sound Samples
    Measurements
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Lineairity
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Lineairity
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Jtest
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Jtest
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - interference
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - interference
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - imaging 44 kHz
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - imaging 44 kHz
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Dynamic range
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Dynamic range
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - THD
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - THD
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Crosstalk
    Primare DM36 dac board - line out - Crosstalk
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - response and phase
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - response and phase
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - max power - 8 Ohm
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - max power - 8 Ohm
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - residu
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - residu
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - max power - 4 Ohm
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - max power - 4 Ohm
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - distortion
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - distortion
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - crosstalk
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - crosstalk
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - 8 Ohm
    Primare i35 - 1 watt - 8 Ohm
    Primare i35 - PSU noise
    Primare i35 - PSU noise

    Winkels met Primare

    Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
    2300 Turnhout, BE
    Joseph Bensstraat 21
    1180 Ukkel, BE
    Bredabaan 1031
    B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
    Pelikaanstraat 126
    2018 Antwerpen, BE
    St. Ceciliastraat 28
    5038 HA Tilburg, NL
    Sikkel 40 F
    3274 KK Heinenoord, NL
    Korevaarstraat 2 e-f
    2311 JS Leiden, NL
    Koningsstraat 35
    2011TC Haarlem, Noord Holland, NL
    Theresiastraat 151 - 157
    2593 AG Den Haag, Noord Holland, NL
    Beethovenstraat 9-b
    1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL

    7 COMMENTS

    1. Goedemorgen, mooie test omschrijving van deze versterker. Ik kan ook niet anders dan bevestigen wat jullie bevindingen zijn. Mijn I25 is ook gewoon schitterend.
      App is inderdaad iets minder.
      Ik overwoog even jullie aanbeveling van Audirivana maar dat vind ik niks. Dan moet er altijd een computer aan staan. Ik speel nu via een Nas wat gewoon super handig werkt.

      In de review mis ik wel het verschil tussen de oude en nieuwe dac. En dat is waar ik vooral in geïnteresseerd ben. Aangezien ik deze upgrade overweeg.
      Groetjes pascal

    Alpha-Audio Approved