Primare CD22 CD-player
A well-known Swedish electronics manufacturer does not update the model line so often, but if this happens, you should expect something unusual. Primare CD22 player appeared on the market just a few months ago, replacing the highly successful CD21. Like its predecessor, the player is designed for CD-Audio format as the most common for music records. The player is assembled literally in an impenetrable case (weight is more than 10 kg) with a recognizable firm design and three legs-supports. Thus, Primare engineers fight against all sorts of resonant appearances. Asatech drive with Sanyo SF-P101N head is used to read the data. The digital part of the player is built on a PCM1792 converter with parameters of 24/192, which has been successfully and for a long time used in the highest-class technology. It's a pity that in this case SACD is not supported, because a chip can understand a 1-bit DSD stream. In addition to standard recordings on CD, the device is able to play compressed mp3 and WMA files. If desired, external data storage can be connected to CD22 - the USB connector is located on the rear panel.
As usual, we start from listening to CD. The sound of Primare CD22 is maximally organized, clear and detailed. Tonally it is extremely neutral and clean, but sometimes it may have a lack of some plasticity and life at mid frequencies - there is a certain detachment. As for the accuracy of the entire spectrum, the claims are minimal. Within the framework of the company's concept, a lot of details are presented to the listener, but the low-frequency register is especially impressive - sharp and extremely legible. The sound stage is formed exceptionally accurately, but somewhat narrowed in width. Positioning of imaginary sources in space is impeccable, the images are clearly focused and have the correct proportions.
When playing mp3 files via USB, the sound scene, for a wonder, does not change much. Here you can feel only a slightly more simplified structure of the bass and a small loss of naturalness at high frequencies. In general, the sound nature almost does not change.
