Primare PRE35 Modular Preamplifier

The Primare PRE35 is a fully balanced analog preamplifier designed for audio clarity, flexibility, and long-term system evolution. At its core, the PRE35 offers dual XLR and RCA inputs and outputs, ultra-low-noise circuitry, and the refined control you expect from high-performance Scandinavian design.

What makes the PRE35 unique is its modular architecture. It is available in two versions: a pure analog configuration or a variant equipped with both the DM36 DAC module and SM35 Prisma network player. This allows you to choose the right model for your current system while keeping the door open for future upgrades.

Whether you prefer the simplicity of a high-end analog signal path or want the convenience of digital inputs, high-resolution streaming, and multi-room playback, the PRE35 adapts to your listening priorities without compromise.

Key Features of the Primare PRE35

• Dual XLR Inputs and Outputs: Fully balanced analog preamplification circuitry for low noise and high fidelity.
• Modular Expansion: Ready for DM36 DAC and Prisma SM35 network modules to expand functionality and future-proof your setup.
• Low Distortion Circuitry: Built with a four-layer main board, ensuring ultra-short signal paths for exceptional audio purity.
• Elegant Scandinavian Design: Signature Primare controls and minimalist aesthetics for a timeless and intuitive user experience.
• Two Versions Available: Choose between the analog-only model or the fully equipped version with DM36 DAC and SM35 Prisma network player installed.

Advanced Modular Technology for System Customization

The PRE35 offers remarkable flexibility thanks to its modular design. You can choose between the analog-only version or a variant equipped with both the DM36 DAC module and the SM35 Prisma network player, allowing you to tailor your system to your exact preferences from the start.

• DM36 DAC Module: A full-featured digital-to-analog converter stage supporting up to PCM 384kHz/32-bit and DSD 256, with optional upsampling and MQA decoding. With galvanically isolated USB, optical, AES/EBU, and SPDIF inputs, it ensures pristine digital playback. The DM36 also enables WiSA wireless speaker compatibility, a rare feature in high-performance preamplifiers. 
• SM35 Prisma Module: This award-winning streaming and multi-room platform adds wireless connectivity via AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in, and Roon Ready* support. Stream directly from nearly any app, control playback via voice or the Prisma app, and enjoy seamless multi-room audio across your network.

This modular architecture not only future-proofs your system but allows seamless integration with other Primare components such as the I35 or CD35. Whether you start with a fully equipped unit or expand later, the PRE35 adapts to your evolving audio setup with precision and versatility.

Exceptional Audio Performance

Designed with meticulous attention to audio purity, the PRE35’s low-noise circuitry and four-layer board construction ensure the shortest possible signal paths. This results in a transparent, distortion-free soundstage that brings every detail of your music to life. Its dual XLR and RCA connections, combined with balanced output paths, provide audiophiles with the precision and control they expect from a high-end preamplifier.

Scandinavian Design: Simplicity and Balance

Primare’s Scandinavian design philosophy is evident in every detail of the PRE35. From the satisfying feel of the control knob to the minimalist, balanced proportions of its exterior, the PRE35 embodies the Swedish concept of “lagom”—not too much, not too little. It’s crafted not only to perform exceptionally but to blend harmoniously into any listening space, enhancing the audio experience both visually and functionally.

PRE35 Signal Path and Four-Layer Board Design

The PRE35 uses a four-layer main board, a construction technique more commonly found in high-frequency digital equipment, to achieve the shortest possible signal paths between components. This multilayer approach provides dedicated ground planes that shield sensitive analog signals from noise and interference, resulting in exceptionally low-noise performance. Input switching uses high-quality relays rather than CMOS semiconductor switches, providing better isolation between sources and eliminating the slight signal degradation that can occur with solid-state switching. The fully balanced circuit topology maintains signal integrity from input to output, with separate balanced XLR and single-ended RCA output stages.

Modular Architecture and Future Upgrades

The PRE35's modular design accepts both the DM36 DAC module and the SM35 Prisma streaming module, allowing the preamplifier to grow with your system over time. The DM36 adds high-resolution digital-to-analog conversion with an ESS Sabre DAC supporting PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256, plus galvanically isolated USB, optical, AES/EBU, and S/PDIF inputs with full MQA decoding. Adding the SM35 Prisma module brings network streaming with AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth, and Roon Ready certification. Both modules install internally without affecting the analog signal path when not in use, preserving the PRE35's pure analog performance while adding digital convenience.

Primare PRE35 & A35.2 Video

Primare's Terry Medalen walks through the PRE35 preamplifier and its natural partner, the A35.2 stereo power amplifier. See the fully balanced circuitry, modular expansion options, and how the pair delivers up to 800 watts in bridged mode.

Explore More Primare Products

Complete your 35 Series system with these companion components:

• Primare I35
• Primare A35.2
• Primare A35.8
• Primare R35
• Primare CD35
• Primare DD35

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on trust, not hype. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection.

Primare PRE35 Specifications