Primare AB • Renvägen 1 • SE - 35245 Växjö • Sweden • Tel +46 470 729215 • www.primare.net
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sound of the piano, perfectly stable in space. Again, the energy of the sub-bass communicates the
deeply resonant character of the concert instrument. Similarly, the attack of the notes are well
defined and continuous with those that follow.
With the album Fourplay, the Primare system gives full force to the timpani beats that punctuate the
introduction. It does justice to the sound of the mallet striking the huge stretched skin, then its
relaxation, creating the characteristic pressure on the eardrums. The attack of Lee Ritenour's guitar
is perfectly recognisable, the Primare system does not simplify it, but highlights it. We can raise the
volume without concern. Hyper-dynamics and an exceptional sub-bass foundation are always in
sync.
With the introduction of Millénaire, and in an excerpt from Pôle Ouest by Michel Jonasz, the electric
bass is portrayed with a great intensity: a real acoustic pressure and subjectively impressive. We
ask how a 2 x 80 W amplifier can transcribe with such intensity and such transient speed the quality
of low frequencies while retaining perfect control of the bass drivers in low output speakers as well
as those with higher output. The voice of Michel Jonasz remains as a warmer, more convincing
entity, devoid of nasal intonation. No wheezing or explosive passages are accentuated. Intelligibility
is not disrupted by the effects of inter-modulation, despite the rather apocalyptic attack of the bass.
Summary of the Sound Aesthetic
Primare’s engineers truly have an exceptional
mastery of digital and analogue circuit
configuration. They prove it not only with the
CD22 player’s quite exceptional analytical
capability and well structured rendering of
timbres, but also with the I22, defying all the
prejudices regarding switch-mode power
supplies and switching power levels. Thanks
to their very interesting UFPD architecture
(creating unconditional stability of operation
regardless of the type of speakers) and the
selection of sampling frequency from the
CD22, the reproduction allows listening in
complete serenity, without aggression, from
these two perfectly matched electronics.
REVIEW: I22 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER AND CD22 CD PLAYER
Noise minimum at -130 dB, expect definition
and dynamic capacity!
