Primare R15 MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

Set it up once, for the cartridge you actually own

The Primare R15 is a phono preamplifier for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, with gain and loading you set to match rather than accept. Moving magnet runs at 40 or 45dB, moving coil at 60 or 65dB, and the moving coil loading adjusts across six resistive steps. RIAA equalisation is accurate to within ±0.2dB. Outputs are single ended RCA, so the balanced R35 is the model to look at if your preamplifier is fully balanced.

Why You'll Love It

• Matched to the cartridge, not averaged. Two gain settings per cartridge type and six moving coil loading steps mean you dial in what your cartridge wants instead of living with a compromise.
• Capacitance you can set. Moving magnet capacitance selects between 100, 200, 300 and 400pF, which is the adjustment that decides whether an MM cartridge sounds dull or bright at the top.
• Quiet where it counts. Signal to noise of 83dB on moving magnet and 74dB on moving coil, with RIAA accuracy within ±0.2dB across the band.

Under the Hood

• Moving magnet gain switchable between 40 and 45dB, moving coil between 60 and 65dB, with maximum output of 11V rms.
• Moving magnet loading at 2.5kΩ or 47kΩ with capacitance of 100, 200, 300 or 400pF; moving coil resistance adjustable from 30Ω to 500Ω in six steps with 100pF or 1nF capacitance.
• THD plus noise below 0.02% on moving magnet and below 0.03% on moving coil from 20Hz to 20kHz, with RIAA accuracy of ±0.2dB.

CHT Insider Verdict

The adjustment range is what makes this worth its price, because a phono stage that cannot be matched to the cartridge is guessing. It covers both cartridge types properly rather than treating moving coil as an afterthought. The one limitation is that outputs are RCA only, so if you have built a balanced system around the 35 series the R35 is the correct partner.

Pro Tip: Set the loading by ear on a record you know well, not by the cartridge manufacturer's single recommended figure. That figure assumes a nominal tonearm cable capacitance, and yours will differ, which is exactly why Primare gave you the switches.