Primare CD35 CD Player

A disc player built like the discs still matter

The Primare CD35 pairs the same TEAC CD 5020A-AT transport used in the DD35 with an ESS ES9028PRO converter and a balanced analogue output stage. It is a finished CD player rather than a transport looking for a partner, and because the chassis takes the SM35 Prisma module, streaming can be added at any point without changing the box.

Why You'll Love It

• Balanced out, properly. XLR outputs at 4.4Vrms into 200Ω feed a balanced preamplifier or integrated the way it was designed to be fed, with RCA at 2.2Vrms for everything else.
• A serious converter. The ESS ES9028PRO is the same class of chip used in dedicated DACs costing what this whole player does, and here it only ever has one job.
• Streaming is a later decision. The SM35 Prisma module can be retrofitted, so you are not paying for network features today if all you want right now is a disc player.

Under the Hood

• TEAC CD 5020A-AT transport mechanism feeding an ESS ES9028PRO digital to analogue converter, with signal to noise better than 110dB and THD plus noise below 0.01%.
• Balanced XLR analogue output at 4.4Vrms into 200Ω and unbalanced RCA at 2.2Vrms into 370Ω, with coaxial and optical digital outputs also fitted.
• Frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz within -0.3dB, from a fully shielded power supply feeding separate digital and analogue sections.

CHT Insider Verdict

This is the disc player to buy if your collection is large enough that ripping it all is never actually going to happen. It is quiet, unfussy and it does not editorialise, which is exactly what you want from a source. The step up to the CD35 Prisma only makes sense if you also want it acting as the system's streamer, because the conversion and the transport are identical.

Pro Tip: If your amplifier has balanced inputs, use them. The CD35's XLR output runs at roughly twice the voltage of the RCA output, which means less gain needed downstream and a quieter result at normal listening levels.