Primare DD35 CD Transport

One job, done without compromise

The Primare DD35 is a disc transport and nothing more. There is no converter and no analogue output, because the entire budget and the entire chassis go into reading the disc accurately and handing the data to whatever you have chosen to convert it. The mechanism is a TEAC CD 5020A-AT sitting in Primare's full width 35 series casework, feeding coaxial and optical outputs.

Why You'll Love It

• No wasted circuitry. If your amplifier, DAC or streamer already has conversion you rate, paying twice for a second converter makes no sense. This is the honest answer to that.
• A proper mechanism. The TEAC CD 5020A-AT is a dedicated audio transport rather than a repurposed computer drive, mounted in a rigid chassis that keeps vibration away from the read process.
• It matches the rest. Same 35 series casework, same remote, same finishes, so it stacks with a PRE35, I35 or CD35 without looking like an afterthought.

Under the Hood

• TEAC CD 5020A-AT disc transport mechanism with vibration controlled mounting inside a full width steel and aluminium chassis.
• Coaxial RCA and optical Toslink digital outputs carrying 44.1kHz 16-bit CD data, with no analogue output stage fitted.
• Control via IR in and out, RS232 and 12V trigger, so it drops into a system controller or a multi room installation without extra hardware.

CHT Insider Verdict

Transports are a niche and this one knows it. Buy the DD35 if you have a DAC or a Prisma equipped amplifier already doing conversion, and you want a disc source that will not become the weak link. If you do not have a converter in the system, the CD35 costs more but leaves you with a finished product rather than half of one.

Pro Tip: Use the coaxial output rather than the optical one where you have the choice. Toslink is convenient and galvanically isolated, but coaxial generally holds jitter down better over the short runs you will actually use.

Specifications