Primare R15 MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

The Primare R15 MM/MC Phono Preamplifier is designed to deliver high-fidelity amplification for both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges. Based on the acclaimed circuit design of the flagship R35, the R15 provides a precise, low-noise signal path to extract the finest details from your records. Housed in Primare’s elegantly minimalist 15 series chassis, this award-winning phono stage brings the renowned Scandinavian design ethos to your turntable setup, ensuring effortless operation and exceptional musicality.

Key Features

• High-Fidelity Phono Preamp: MM/MC compatible with flexible gain and loading options
• Precision Engineering: Based on the flagship R35 circuit for superior clarity and detail
• Low-Noise Performance: Carefully designed circuitry minimizes interference and preserves signal purity
• Scandinavian Design: Compact, three-quarter size chassis with an intuitive, understated aesthetic
• Ideal System Integration: Adjustable input settings allow for seamless pairing with a variety of cartridges

Design & Build

Primare products embody the Scandinavian philosophy of “lagom”—not too much, not too little, just right. The R15’s brushed aluminum chassis is not just about looks; it’s designed to reduce external vibrations and electromagnetic interference. This results in a cleaner, purer audio signal that allows your vinyl collection to shine. The unit’s compact size makes it a perfect fit for any hi-fi system, proving that great things do come in small packages.

Performance

The R15 is a purely analog component, free from digital distractions. Its fully discrete circuitry ensures that every note, every breath, and every microdetail on your records is faithfully reproduced. Whether you’re spinning classic jazz or bass-heavy electronic tracks, the high-gain, low-noise architecture ensures breathtaking clarity and dynamic expression.

Technology

The R15 is engineered for transparency and accuracy, faithfully amplifying the delicate signal from your phono cartridge without coloration. Flexible input adjustments allow for precise matching to virtually any MM or MC cartridge, ensuring optimal playback performance. Designed with the same attention to detail as its larger sibling, the R35, this phono preamplifier balances warmth, resolution, and musical depth.

Versatility & Compatibility

The R15 isn’t a one-size-fits-all phono preamp—it’s built to adapt. Adjustable impedance and capacitance settings make it compatible with a wide range of cartridges, from high-output MMs to low-output MCs. The RCA inputs and outputs ensure easy integration into any stereo or home audio system, whether you’re running a minimalist vinyl setup or a full-fledged hi-fi rig.

R15 Circuit Design and RIAA Performance

The R15's circuit architecture is derived from the flagship R35, sharing the same fundamental design principles in a more compact package. The fully discrete circuitry provides a pure analog signal path from input to output, with no digital processing in the chain. RIAA equalization accuracy is rated at +/- 0.2dB across the full 20Hz to 20kHz range, ensuring that the complex frequency correction applied to vinyl recordings is handled with precision. Total harmonic distortion plus noise measures less than 0.02% for MM and less than 0.03% for MC across the audible bandwidth. Channel separation reaches 80dB at 1kHz for MM and 77dB for MC, delivering excellent stereo imaging. The subsonic filter, rolling off at -3dB/12Hz with a 12dB per octave slope, protects downstream equipment from low-frequency rumble and warp signals without affecting the audible bass range.

Gain, Loading, and Cartridge Compatibility

The R15 provides flexible gain and loading options that accommodate a wide variety of cartridges. MM gain is adjustable at 40 and 45dB, while MC gain offers 60 and 65dB settings, both via RCA outputs with a maximum output level of 11V rms at 100 ohms impedance. Input impedance for MM is switchable between 2.5k ohms and the standard 47k ohms, while MC impedance loading is adjustable across six steps from 30 ohms to 500 ohms. Capacitive loading for MM cartridges offers four settings (100, 200, 300, and 400pF), and MC capacitance is switchable between 100pF and 1nF. Signal-to-noise ratio measures 83dB for MM (A-weighted at 1kHz with 5mV input) and 74dB for MC (A-weighted at 1kHz with 0.5mV input). These specifications ensure the R15 handles everything from popular Ortofon and Audio-Technica moving magnets to more demanding low-output moving coil designs.

R15 Build Quality and System Integration

Housed in a brushed aluminum three-quarter width chassis measuring 350 x 313 x 73mm and weighing 6.5kg, the R15 is built to the same standard as the rest of the Primare 15 Series. The aluminum enclosure serves a dual purpose: it provides an attractive, understated aesthetic that matches companion components like the I15, CD15, and DD15, while also acting as effective shielding against external electromagnetic interference. This is particularly important for a phono preamplifier, where the signals being processed are measured in millivolts or even fractions of a millivolt. Available in black or titanium finishes, the R15 uses RCA connections for both input and output, keeping integration simple and direct. The compact footprint makes it easy to position near your turntable to keep cable runs short, which further reduces the opportunity for noise pickup in the delicate phono signal path.

Explore More Primare Products

The R15 pairs naturally with other components in the Primare ecosystem. Explore related products:

• Primare R35
• Primare I15 Prisma MK2
• Primare I25

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 R15 Specifications