Have your say & ask the experts

Hello,

Im a newbie to this site and also to the whole posting threads etc... so please forgive if i get this terrible wrong (Im always learning)!

To start, i am currently looking to upgrade my hi-fi to something that is more high-end to what im used to and i think i've found the brand that excites me the way i feel music should. I have just purchased a Primare CD31 to add to my existing system whilst my dealer tries to get hold of some more Primare demo stock.

I was wondering if anyone currently uses 2 x Primare A30.2 power amps in bridge mode to drive their speakers? (Or has ever heard this in a set up?) - Failing that does anyone currently own the Primare A32 and could give an opinion on this amp?

Im looking to spend about £15,000 on the full system (Including cables) - I've been toying with a few ideas at present but as a breakdown im looking at:

Pre-amp - £1500, Power amp(s) - £3000, CD player - £1500, DVD player £1500, Speakers up to £6000.

I quite have my heart set on the Primare gear hence why ive made my first purchase. I like to keep my electronics under the same brand as i feel it helps balance the system well. If anyone has comments regarding the Primare kit that may assist in me making an informed decision that would be fantastic.

 Thank you,

I've run a Primare preamp and a single A30.2 power amp in my home hi-fi system for a couple of years now (although not in bridge mode) and it's been excellent, never letting me down.

Andy,

Thank you for the response, may i ask what speaker you are driving with the combo? The reason i ask is because in my experience of equipment that i have had a demonstration of and bought personally i have found the amps that can generate more power (Or have available) tend to keep a tighter hold of the bass.

I am looking to make a considerable upgrade on my existing speakers hence the question.

Thank you,

Craig

Primare power amps are superb, I write my little bit on this forum reviews section if you have a min to read.

Hi Craig> Next week I'll have a 2nd a30.2 to add to my pre30/a30.2. Intention was to mono block them as I thought the 380W/channel would do exactly as you say (tighter control and better dynamics), but having spoken to my dealer who has tried both biamping in stereo and mono blocking the a30.2s, he said biamping produced better results (Biamping in stereo retains the Primares characteristics (smooth, detailed, gorgeous presentation, emotional communication, enhanced ), whearas with monoblocking some of that was lost (in his opinion). TBH i'd rather not have to open up the cases and modify (as easy as it apparently is) so I'm going to play it by ear. He (the dealer) is going to send up some diagramatic instructions for me to monoblock in case I wanted to experiment :-). If you like I can try and get them up on here when the amp arrives (mid next week). Just post here if you'd like to have a look. :-)

Cheers
Jxn5

Jxn5,

This is the exact reason i joined this site - To get the kind of information you've given above! Thank you for the response its greatly appreciated. I would be extremely greatful if you can upload the diagramatic instructions on to the site as they will be there for me once i've managed to make up my mind on which way to go.

Once you have had the opportunity to experiment with different options in terms of the AMP's would you be able to let me know your findings? Also, are you using RCA connectors or the balanced in/outputs? - Finally, have you by any chance heard the A32? Im keen to see what impact on sound the High and Low frequency outputs have on the Primare's renowed sound =)

Thank you in advance,

Looking at your budget breakdowns I would be tempted to go differently as follows:

CD: £3,000

Pre: £3,000

Power £3,000

Speakers: £5,000

DVD: £1,000

Of course I'm assuming that at that expenditure then cables will be thrown in free, or bought with the discount you manage to secure. I'm a strong believer in a strong source 'what you get out is only as good as what you put in'. But amplification is important and my biamping experiences suggest that as the way to go, and of course speakers can make all the difference.

However, at that cash value, most dealers would bite your arm off, so I would urge a good few hours listening session, obviously you are to go armed with some thoughts and ideas on best prices - see WHF hi-end guide for the likes of Leema, Chord...

Alternatively Argos does a nice Akai mini which would grace many a sideboard

And finally, let me know when you've chosen and I'll pop round and assess it for you, in return for some nice Chateauneuf...(at least!)

 

 

Hi Craig,

I totally understand why you're so taken with Primare gear.

My colleague...& soon to be former friend(who trashed my two re-mastered CD/DVD-A dual-disc versions of Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue' & 'Birth of the Cool') recently took me along to a couple of demo's. he had with some Primare components(CD31,Pre30 & A30.2).

We were both left dumbstruck by the expansive,powerfull & pleasantly warm sound from a CD player/pre./power-amp. combo. costing only £3,500-(inc. speaker cables & balanced interconnects).Particularly when,to stretch their capabilities to the full,we witnessed that the Primare's still managed to keep their composure even when we had them(probably inadvisedly) driving some difficult to drive Sonus Faber Cremona Elipsa's.Which have a nominal impedence of 4 Ohms & cost around 3 times more than the Primare player/pre./power-amp's. combined value!

Not only did he end up gettin' rid of his more expensive Naim gear in favour of the Primare system,but - on the recommendation of one of the guys at his local dealership(who's also a Primare fan & user) - he's now planning to buy another A30.2 power-amp. to biamp. them with his B&W803S's.

In fact,were i not so concerned with realising the potential of the DVD-A & SACD discs in my collection,then i would probably be a satisfied owner of the Pre30/A32 combo. by now.

Just to put it into perspective.I've recently listened to pre./power-amps. worth five-figures & upwards,some of  which would be shamed by the build & sound quality of the Primare's...I just can't rate them highly enough.

So,go for it mate.

All round yours when you do...I'll bring the Chocolate Hob-Nobs! 

BABUR. 

craig.sherriff:

Im looking to spend about £15,000 on the full system (Including cables) - I've been toying with a few ideas at present but as a breakdown im looking at:

Pre-amp - £1500, Power amp(s) - £3000, CD player - £1500, DVD player £1500, Speakers up to £6000.

 Thank you,

Don't Spend less on Pre than power and depending on your room how much should spend on Speakers.

My system is Sugden MasterClass PDT 4 CD player - GamuT D3i Pre/ ECS EA powers - Opera Callas Diva = £15K (rrp).  The Synergy between them is rather good  

 

Babur,

Thank you for the response, funnily enough i first became hooked on Primare after i went in to a shop who had a CD31 and Integrated AMP running on B&W803s. I thought to myself if that sounded as good as it did in that set up just imagine what it would be like if more was put in to pre/power! (Hence my situation now)

Once i track down a store thats got the options im after i need to place my bum firmly in their listening room for several hours until the store closes and im left to giggle at the warm exciting tones these little beauties can dig up =) (I wonder if they will let me take my own Hob-Nobs!)

More to follow soon hopefully.....

Thanks again,

(All - Still keen to hear anyones views on the Primares A32 power monster)

craig.sherriff:

(I wonder if they will let me take my own Hob-Nobs!)

Essential. Primare + Hob Nobs = High End

JohnDuncan:

craig.sherriff:

(I wonder if they will let me take my own Hob-Nobs!)

Essential. Primare + Hob Nobs = High End

...high end scrap metal if you get crumbs in it though...

craig.sherriff:

Hello,

Im a newbie to this site and also to the whole posting threads etc... so please forgive if i get this terrible wrong (Im always learning)!

To start, i am currently looking to upgrade my hi-fi to something that is more high-end to what im used to and i think i've found the brand that excites me the way i feel music should. I have just purchased a Primare CD31 to add to my existing system whilst my dealer tries to get hold of some more Primare demo stock.

I was wondering if anyone currently uses 2 x Primare A30.2 power amps in bridge mode to drive their speakers? (Or has ever heard this in a set up?) - Failing that does anyone currently own the Primare A32 and could give an opinion on this amp?

Im looking to spend about £15,000 on the full system (Including cables) - I've been toying with a few ideas at present but as a breakdown im looking at:

Pre-amp - £1500, Power amp(s) - £3000, CD player - £1500, DVD player £1500, Speakers up to £6000.

I quite have my heart set on the Primare gear hence why ive made my first purchase. I like to keep my electronics under the same brand as i feel it helps balance the system well. If anyone has comments regarding the Primare kit that may assist in me making an informed decision that would be fantastic.

 Thank you,

Wow! Lucky you!!

I would get an Arcam FMJ DV139 (unless you were going Bluray and I would then get the new Denon).
Chord CPA 2500 pre amp - not listened to it but supposed to be great and looks amazing!!
Chord SPM 1050 power amp - "
Linn Akurate 242 speakers.

No idea how this would sound but I'd enjoy demoing them all and it would look fantastic!!

Gerrardasnails,

I've had a quick look at the gear you mentioned, it certainly has its own unique styling doesn't it? - The local dealer in the area stocks Chord so maybe a quick phone call to him won't do any harm. Although my heart seems set on the Primare there's never any harm in having a listen to something else...

Thank you,

igglebert:

JohnDuncan:

craig.sherriff:

(I wonder if they will let me take my own Hob-Nobs!)

Essential. Primare + Hob Nobs = High End

...high end scrap metal if you get crumbs in it though...

...Special care will be taken whilst enjoying my high end hob-nob listening session...