|
2 channel
integrated amplifier
The I32 is an upgradable two x
120 watt integrated amplifier
utilising proprietary UFPD power
technology. It is designed to
provide high power output with very
low distortion and system control
for Primare’s new 30 series range of
hi-fi separates. UFPD’s
instantaneous rise time results in a
naturally fast, clean and agile
sound over a much wider frequency
range and with exceptional headroom.
Ecologically the I32 is far superior
to conventional Class A/B designs
being extremely efficient without
generating excessive heat. In
addition it provides a special
eco-friendly standby mode of just
0.2 W.
Audiophile Topology
The I32 houses two discrete UFPD
amplifiers housed in a heavy gauge
alloy steel chassis, which provides
strength, rigidity, and screening,
while being effective at damping
vibrations from external sources. To
reduce distortion the pre-amp
section is isolated from the power
section as far as possible, being
fed by a dedicated power supply. The
I32 incorporates 2 pairs (L,R) of
low-noise balanced XLR inputs and 3
pairs of RCA inputs. There are 2
pairs of RCA outputs: pre-out and
record. There will also be the
option of an upgrade board offering
MEDIA/streaming connections like USB,
iPod, LAN etc. All signal paths are
as short as possible and all signal
treatments (source selection, volume
and channel balance trims) are
performed purely in the analogue
domain. Unbalanced inputs are
converted to balanced signals by a
conversion stage buffered by the
excellent sounding Burr Brown
OPA2134 op-amps and fed to volume
and balance controls employing
closely matched LM1972 attenuators
in a balanced configuration. Source
selection is via high performance
signal relays.
Ultra Fast Power Device (UFPD)
Class-D Amplifier
The use of switch mode power
electronics is gaining in popularity
as the result of its lower energy
consumption and as a way to squeeze
more amplifier channels into smaller
spaces. Unfortunately Class D
amplifiers and their switch mode
power supplies have traditionally
deserved a reputation for poor audio
quality, characterised by rising THD
with frequency. Primare’s UFPD
(Ultra Fast Power Device) technology
provides for the possibilities of a
full-range ‘audiophile’ Class D
design. It is a Class D technology
which has a consistent 26dB feedback
loop gain across the entire audio
bandwidth and is stable way beyond
the audible frequencies. This is
quite easy to achieve in
conventional linear ‘continuous
signal’ amplifiers, but much more
difficult in ‘non-continuous’ high
speed switching amplifiers. Rather
than have the amplifier and then the
filter as discrete stages, the UFPD
design integrates the two, making
control with feedback much more
immediate and accurate. The UFPD
amplifier actively adapts the loop
gain to keep the total loop stable
during start up, clipping and
current limit. It senses the changes
to the filter output and compensates
by applying the precise amount of
feedback. This adaptive pole control
allows for several more dBs of
constant loop gain across the audio
band and maintains performance
irrespective of load (impedance)
variations. Primare’s UFPD treats
all signals equally regardless of
frequency or slew rate and has the
ability to suppress the filter
resonance entirely. Consequently THD
is kept very low at all frequencies.
With a very wide ‘load independent’
frequency response UFPD is able to
drive any speaker while maintaining
control and accuracy. Primare has
optimised the performance of its
innovative UFPD design with the
precise selection of circuit
component values and quality,
verifying the design with extensive
measurement and listening.
Summary
- UFPD displays:
- Wide bandwidth
- Flat frequency response
- Load independant frequency
response
- Low output impedance in the entire
audio band
- Low THD in
PFC Power Supply
Although switch mode power supplies
have gained a reputation for noise
and unreliability, the theoretical
advantages of the design are well
known. The rails can be regulated
with precision and current demand
from the mains is lower as the
result of high efficiency and the
absence of current spikes: energy is
taken from the mains over a larger
period of the sine wave. In
conjunction with UFPD, Primare uses
an isolated PFC (Power Factor
Control) technology in the power
supply, which controls the current
from the mains voltage so that it is
a pure sine wave with the same
frequency and phase as the mains
voltage. This means that even if
1000W is taken from the mains, other
equipment in the room will not be
affected. Its presence becomes
virtually invisible to the mains
voltage! The isolating stage of the
converter works in a ZVS mode and as
a result, the switch flanks contain
a lower quantity of harmonics,
providing lower EMI and a clean
environment for the amplifiers to
work in.
Ultra
low-power standby
The I32 incorporates a very low
power eco mode for standby. Power
consumption is just 0.2W.
Upgradable Design
A media upgrade will be
available, which offers up to 24
bit/192 kHz streaming of files from
Internet, NAS or PCs; Internet radio
content and also digital audio input
from a range of devices including CD
players, smart phones, personal
players, sat boxes etc. See spec for
full list of inputs/outputs.
 UPGRADE
A high quality aptX Bluetooth
upgrade for the PRE60 preamplifier,
NP30 network player and the MM30
equipped network streaming versions
of the I32 integrated amplifier and
PRE32 pre-amplifier. It takes the
form of a small internal circuit
board and external antenna (for
improved reception), which installs
easily, the threaded antenna input
replacing the FM/DAB terminal on the
MM30 fascia and using a vacant (pre-prepared)
portal on the back panel of the
PRE60 and NP30.
For compatibility with Primare’s
high-performance audio design, the
receiver-only module supports high
quality Bluetooth via aptX, AAC, MP3
but rather than use an integrated
DAC (as employed by other BT
upgrades) the output is fed to the
product’s own Sample Rate Converter
and up-sampled to 192kHz for optimum
performance through the existing
high resolution DACs. In this way
Primare’s Bluetooth Upgrade is among
the most audiophile available,
adding excellent Bluetooth sound
quality to the convenience of
wireless Bluetooth connections.
Following an easy software update
via the PrimareApp, the BT input is
added to the product control menu in
a discrete BT section, which allows
for the renaming of the input for
the product display and the also the
BT connection. The OLED display will
show the device name and also
indicate if the device supports AAC
or aptX.
Bluetooth Product features
- Supports aptX, AAC, MP3 for high
quality Bluetooth audio.
- The upgrade comes with an external
antenna for better reception.
- The Primare BT Upgrade is a
receiver only. The incoming signal
is fed to the product’s SRC, is
up-sampled to 192kHz and then runs through the product’s high performance
DACs.
- Installation is easy; software
update is through the PrimareApp or
from the MENU.
- BT input is added to the product
MENU, BT-input name and Bluetooth
name are editable
- OLED display will show device
name.
- If the device supports AAC or aptX
it will pop up on the OLED display.
Easy User Interface
An easy set-up menu is available via
the I32’s graphical display, which
is dimmable in four steps. The
display auto-dims after a few
seconds and return to programmed
brightness at the touch of a control.
Set-up includes power-up volume,
input re-naming (up to 6 characters),
input disabling
and trim function (volume and
balance) for each input in steps of
1dB.
De DAC/Media Module is een extra optie.
Meer info over deze module
vind u
hier >
 
Te gebruiken met de Primare app
voor IOS en Android
Meer info over deze app
vind u
hier > |
