Primare MM15 Phono Stage for I15

The Primare MM15 is a high-quality, Moving Magnet (MM) phono preamplifier module designed specifically to unlock the analog potential of the Primare I15 Integrated Amplifier (MM version). This optional plug-in board transforms your modern, compact amplifier into a complete hub for vinyl playback. Engineered with Primare's signature attention to detail, the MM15 provides a quiet, accurate, and musical signal path, allowing you to connect your turntable directly to your I15 without the need for an external phono stage, keeping your system sleek, simple, and sonically pure.

Key Features:

• Seamless Integration: Designed exclusively to install internally within the Primare I15 Integrated Amplifier (MM version), preserving the unit's compact footprint.
• Moving Magnet Compatibility: Optimized for high-output Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges, the most common type found on modern turntables.
• Low Noise Design: Utilizes high-quality components and careful circuit layout to minimize noise and interference, essential for delicate phono signals.
• Plug-and-Play Installation: Easy to install, instantly adding a dedicated "Phono" input to your amplifier's source selection.
• Primare Sound Quality: Delivers the clean, detailed, and natural sound signature that defines the Primare brand.

A Perfect Fit for the I15

The I15 is a marvel of compact design, and the MM15 module respects that philosophy perfectly. Instead of adding another box, power supply, and set of cables to your rack, the MM15 installs directly inside the chassis of the amplifier. This internal connection ensures the shortest possible signal path and eliminates potential sources of hum and interference often found with external connections. It turns your I15 into a true all-in-one solution for both digital and analog music.

Moving Magnet Mastery

The MM15 is tuned to get the best out of Moving Magnet cartridges. With a standardized 47kΩ input impedance and 40.5dB of gain, it is compatible with a vast array of cartridges from brands like Ortofon, Audio-Technica, and Goldring. The RIAA equalization is precise and accurate, ensuring that your records sound balanced and true to the original recording, with a rich midrange and sparkling highs.

Silence is Golden

Phono signals are incredibly weak and susceptible to noise. The MM15 benefits from Primare's expertise in circuit design, using low-noise components and shielding to ensure that the background remains silent. This allows the subtle details and dynamics of your vinyl to emerge clearly, providing an engaging and fatigue-free listening experience that rivals many standalone budget phono stages.

MM15 Circuit Design and RIAA Equalization

The MM15 employs an ultra-low noise, high-speed hybrid passive and active equalization phono amplification circuit. This hybrid approach combines the best characteristics of both passive and active RIAA correction: the passive network handles part of the equalization curve with inherently low noise, while the active stage provides the necessary gain and completes the frequency shaping with precision. RIAA correction accuracy is rated at +/- 0.2dB across the 20Hz to 20kHz bandwidth, ensuring faithful reproduction of the complex equalization curve applied during vinyl mastering. With 40.5dB of gain at 1kHz, the MM15 provides sufficient amplification for the vast majority of moving magnet cartridges, as well as high-output moving coil designs that produce signal levels in the moving magnet range.

Electrical Specifications and Cartridge Matching

The MM15's input stage presents a standard 47k ohm input impedance with 150pF input capacitance, a combination that works well with virtually all moving magnet cartridges from manufacturers like Ortofon, Audio-Technica, Goldring, and Nagaoka. The signal-to-noise ratio of 78dB (A-weighted) ensures that the background remains quiet enough to reveal the subtle details and dynamic contrasts in your vinyl collection. When installed in the I15, the combined gain to the speaker outputs reaches 83dB, providing ample drive for your speakers without requiring any additional amplification stages. The MM15 replaces the standard line-level A1 input on the I15, and once installed, the amplifier's source selector automatically recognizes the new Phono input, making the transition seamless.

Installation and I15 Integration

Installing the MM15 is a straightforward process that requires basic tools and about 15 minutes. After removing power and the I15's top cover, three wire links (JP1, JP2, and JP3) are desoldered to disconnect the original line-level input from the A1 source. A jumper block is then repositioned to enable RIAA equalization for the phono input. The MM15 board seats onto header plugs on the I15's main circuit board and is secured with four screws into tapped mounting pillars. This direct board-to-board connection eliminates the need for internal cabling, providing the shortest possible signal path between the phono input and the amplifier's gain stage. The internal mounting also means the MM15 benefits from the I15's own power supply and chassis shielding, keeping the entire signal chain protected from external interference. Should you ever want to revert to a line-level input, the process is fully reversible by resoldering the wire links and removing the module.

Explore More Primare Products

The MM15 pairs naturally with other components in the Primare ecosystem. Explore related products:

• Primare I15 Prisma MK2
• Primare R15

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 MM15 Specifications