Primare PRE35 Balanced Preamplifier - Black

Buy the Preamplifier Now, Add the Rest Later

Primare designs in Limhamn, Sweden, and the PRE35 is the company's modular preamplifier platform. What you buy here is the analog heart of it: a fully balanced line preamplifier with two XLR input pairs, three RCA pairs, and room inside for more later.

That matters because the digital world moves faster than the analog one. A preamplifier's job — switching sources and setting level without adding anything of its own — has not changed in decades. Streaming standards change constantly. The PRE35 keeps those two jobs on separate boards, so one can be replaced without touching the other.

Outputs cover a full system: two balanced XLR pairs and an RCA pair to your power amplifiers, plus a fixed line output for a recorder or a second zone. The chassis measures 430 by 106 by 420mm and weighs 11.3kg.

Where the Upgrade Path Actually Lives

Two module bays sit inside the chassis. The DM36 adds digital-to-analog conversion; the SM35 adds Prisma network streaming. Primare says both can be added to the preamplifier at any time, so the decision is not locked at checkout. Ask us what is current before you order.

The analog signal path is fully balanced from input to output, laid out on a four-layer main board that Primare specifies to achieve the shortest possible signal path. Source selection happens on that same board, so the signal is switched and passed along without ever leaving that board.

Control is deliberately plain. One knob handles volume and setup, backed by the supplied C25 remote. Installers get an RS232 port, a 12V trigger output, and IR in and out on 3.5mm jacks. Black or titanium, with a three-year US warranty.

Who Is This Preamplifier Best For?

• You want the analog side done properly — a fully balanced path, two XLR input pairs and three RCA pairs take every line source you own, so nothing in the rack needs an adapter or a compromise.
• Your amplifiers sit away from the rack — two balanced XLR output pairs and an RCA pair drive power amps at either end of the room, so speaker placement stops being dictated by cable length.
• You buy once and keep it a long time — the digital and network sections are modules Primare can revise, so a shift in streaming standards costs you a board rather than the whole preamplifier.
• You are building in stages — start with the analog preamplifier and fit the DM36 or SM35 later, so the system grows when the budget allows instead of all in one go.
• You need digital inputs on day one — as it ships here the PRE35 is a pure analog preamplifier, with no DAC module and no streaming fitted. Add one of our digital-to-analog converters to an RCA or XLR input and every digital source in the house plays through it.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the balanced XLR outputs to your power amplifier, with Primare's own A35.2 the natural partner, or use the RCA pre-output if your amplifier is single-ended. The fixed line output feeds a recorder or a powered zone without following the volume knob.

Line sources take the two XLR pairs and three RCA pairs. A control system joins by RS232, and the 12V trigger wakes your power amplifier with the preamp. One knob does the rest.

Pairs Well With

Building around the PRE35? Here are some great companions:

• Power Amplifier: Primare's A35.2 completes the stack — see our Amplifiers.
• DAC: Bring digital sources in today — see our Digital to Analog Converters.
• Interconnects: Keep the balanced path balanced — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Speakers: Give a Scandinavian system good company — see our Floorstanding Speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many analog inputs does it have?

Five stereo pairs in total: two balanced XLR pairs and three RCA pairs, all switched on the main board.

What outputs are there for my power amplifier?

Two balanced XLR pre-output pairs and one RCA pre-output pair, plus a separate RCA line output at fixed level for a recorder or another zone.

Can I add a DAC and streaming later?

Yes. Primare designed the PRE35 so the DM36 DAC module and SM35 Prisma network module can be fitted when you buy or at any time afterward. Ask us what is current before you order.

Does it suit a custom installation?

It has an RS232 port for system control, a 12V trigger output on a 3.5mm jack, and IR input and output, so it drops into a controlled rack cleanly.

What are the dimensions and weight?

430 by 106 by 420mm, and 11.3kg. Allow depth behind the rack for XLR plugs, which stand further proud than RCA.

What finishes and warranty are available?

Black or titanium, with a three-year US warranty.

See It in Action

Primare's own channel walks through the PRE35 platform and the matching A35.2 power amplifier:

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