Primare SC15 Prisma MK2: Full-featured preamplifier with a built-in network player

The Primare SC15 MK2 Prisma is a versatile preamp that comes with a built-in network player and supports WiSA technology, making it easy to connect your speakers wirelessly. Primare SC15 Prisma has its own network audio player and DAC that supports files up to PCM with a frequency of 384 kHz and DSD128. Accordingly, it can act as a DAC for external sources, including a computer and TVs. In addition, Primare SC15 MK2 Prisma easily connects to mobile devices via Bluetooth and AirPlay 2. But the most interesting thing is that it can be controlled by voice!

Such advanced capabilities of this player appeared thanks to the proprietary Prisma technology – special software from Primare, which combines the usual functions of a streamer and Google Chromecast. The player connects to a local network (preferably via cable, but you can also use Wi-Fi) and connects to any smart speaker that supports Google Assistant via an app on an iPad or Android tablet (for smartphones, it will appear a little later) — for example, the inexpensive Google Home, which becomes a microphone for Primare. After that, you can control all the main functions of the player: turning on, switching inputs, adjusting the volume, searching and selecting music in the library and connected services.

Thanks to Prisma technology, the Primare SC15 MK2 DAC works as a very versatile streamer. It supports many streaming services, including Spotify and Tidal, works with any Internet radio and acts as a Roon client. That is, it does not have the Roon player itself, but the amplifier is paired with devices on which it can be installed, say, computers, and acts as a streamer for them.

As a player of already downloaded files, it is also universal. From USB flash drives and disks, it, of course, plays everything except DSD256 files, which can be played in another way, for example, through the same Roon or another player on the computer, which, in turn, just needs to be on the same network as this Primare SC15 MK2 Prisma. But using USB is not the most relevant way to deliver files to the device today, so this port is located on the back panel to the other connectors.

The main way, of course, is via the network from a local server. If you connect in the simplest way via the UPnP protocol to a shared disk or folder, then the application will display only folders with files. At the same time, searching by titles, artists or albums, as expected, will not work – this is the case for everyone. When installing a DLNA client on a server or computer, everything listed will already be available, and album covers will be displayed large on the tablet screen if their images are prudently placed in folders with audio files, regardless of whether they are registered in tags or not. The company promises that soon after updating the software, in addition to this, text information about the artist and album will also be loaded. And in this case, full voice control will be available through a smart speaker.

If you play music from a computer on which Roon is installed, everything will be even cooler. Both the information and the loaded images (in addition to the covers) will be initially, and the sound on difficult-to-decode files will be even better. Of course, there will be no format restrictions at all. Moreover, for the user, the listening procedure with this method will not differ from using a standard application, except for the design on the screen and the additional features that appear. Just select the Roon application on the tablet – and everything you need will be connected automatically.

This is exactly the most “delicious” thing about the Primare SC15 MK2 Prisma — the capabilities of the most advanced network devices available today combined with sound quality that is unavailable to most of these devices by definition. And, what is important, the increase in sound quality in this case applies not only to music on files or in streaming, but also to everything that can sound and that can be connected to this device. After all, this is not a player, but an amplifier. It has a lot of inputs, both analog and digital, for every taste and color. You can connect a computer directly via USB Type B, or a disc player via coaxial — this is standard.

Characteristics of Primare SC15 MK2 Prisma

Inputs: 3 x TOSLINK (192 kHz / 24 bit); 1 x RCA (192k / 24 bit); 1 x 3.5 mini-plug
(192 kHz / 24 bit); 1xUSB-B (up to PCM 768kHz/32-bit, DSD 256/11.2MHz)
Output: 1 x RCA (analog in = 48kHz, digital in = pass-through)
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz +0.1/-0.6dB
Signal to Noise: >90dB

Audio Formats: WAV, LPCM, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, MP4 (AAC), WMA,
OGG, DSD
Wired Inputs: USB-A, LAN (up to 192kHz/24-bit, DSD 128/5.6MHz)
Wireless Inputs: Bluetooth®, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in
WLAN: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible; 2.4/5g Hz b, g, n mode
W i SA
24/48-96 kHz high-resolution wireless speaker connection

Control: C25 remote control; RS232; IR in / out; Power off
Power consumption: Standby 0.5 W; Operate 25 W
Dimensions (wxdxh): 350x329x 73 mm with handles and connectors
Weight: 6.4 kg
Color options: Black or titanium