Primare I25 Prisma vs Primare I35 Prisma Detailed Comparison

Primare I25 Prisma vs Primare I35 Prisma

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Primare I25 Prisma

Integrated Amplifier | 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Primare I35 Prisma

Integrated Amplifier | 150 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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Primare I25 Prisma

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Primare I35 Prisma

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Primare I25 Prisma

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Primare I35 Prisma

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Primare I25 Prisma vs Primare I35 Prisma Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing I25 Prisma and I35 Prisma, two Integrated Amplifiers by Primare. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Primare I25 Prisma and Primare I35 Prisma first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Primare I25 Prisma	Primare I35 Prisma
Brand	Primare Sweden · founded 1986	Primare Sweden · founded 1986
Power	100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 200 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	150 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 300 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class D	Class D
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	No	No
Headphone output	No	No
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
App control	Yes	Yes
Weight	11.00kg / 24.2lbs	11.00kg / 24.2lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	4-1/4" x 17" x 17-15/16" 108.0mm x 432.0mm x 456.0mm	4-3/16" x 17" x 17-15/16" 107.0mm x 432.0mm x 456.0mm

What size room are the Primare I25 Prisma and Primare I35 Prisma Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	Primare I25 Prisma	Primare I35 Prisma
Near-field	Poor	Are you nuts?
Small Room	Poor	Bad
Mid-size Room	Good	Poor
Large Room	Good	Good
Very Large Room	Average	Good

I25 Prisma and I35 Prisma are members of Primare's I series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Primare I Series History

Model	Watts RMS (8-ohms)	Minimum Impedance	Built-in DAC
Primare I15	60 watts	-ohms	No
Primare I25	100 watts	-ohms	No
Primare I35 Prisma	150 watts	-ohms	Yes
Primare I15 Prisma	60 watts	4-ohms	Yes
Primare I25 Prisma	100 watts	-ohms	Yes
Primare I35	150 watts	-ohms	No
Primare I15 MM	60 watts	-ohms	No

The rest of this page covers where each one wins, how they compare in size, their inputs and outputs, the full specifications and a verdict.

Reasons to choose Primare I25 Prisma over Primare I35 Prisma

MSRP Price(*)	4,495USD vs 5,795USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Primare I35 Prisma over Primare I25 Prisma

Watts into 8-ohms	150 watts vs 100 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Watts into 4-ohms	300 watts vs 200 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
USB Input	Yes vs	Connect Sources via USB
Height	107mm vs 108mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Size, drawn to scale

Both amplifiers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.

One scale for both, aligned at the back panels the way they would sit against a wall, so the deeper one visibly stands further out.

Near-identical footprints.

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the Primare I25 Prisma and Primare I35 Prisma differs from each other.

Primare I25 Prisma Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 5
4 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
Ethernet Port

Primare I35 Prisma Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 5
4 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-A (connect to a USB Mass Storage Class)
- USB-B (connect to your computer for playback)
Ethernet Port
XLR Input Port

Primare I25 Prisma Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Stereo RCA (2) Preamp Outputs

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs

Balanced connections

Primare I35 Prisma has balanced XLR connections and Primare I25 Prisma does not. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more it is worth. Whether it also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same either way.

Primare I35 Prisma Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Primare I25 Prisma?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of I25 Prisma:

Integrated amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
Remote control (C25)
2 AAA batteries
2 Bluetooth/WiFi antennas
Two 59-inch Mono-minijack cables
AC polarity pen
Thank You Letter
Safety And Warning Notification

What's in the Box of Primare I35 Prisma?

Here are the items that come with the I35 Prisma:

Integrated amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
Remote control (C25)
2 AAA batteries
2 Bluetooth/WiFi antennas
Two 59-inch Mono-minijack cables
AC polarity pen
Thank You Letter
Safety And Warning Notification

Primare I25 Prisma vs Primare I35 Prisma full specifications

Every spec we hold for both, side by side

Specification	Primare I25 Prisma	Primare I35 Prisma
Overview
Brand	Primare	Primare
Type	Streaming Integrated Amplifier	Streaming Integrated Amplifier
Category	Streaming Amplifier	Streaming Amplifier
Channels	2	2
Amplifier class	Class D	Class D
Output devices	Solid State	Solid State
Released	2019	2018
List price	$4,495	$5,795
Series	I	I
Power and performance
Power into 8 ohms	100 W RMS	150 W RMS
Power into 4 ohms	200 W RMS	300 W RMS
Power, as rated	100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 200 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	150 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 300 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Signal-to-noise ratio	100 dB	100 dB
THD	0.01%	0.01%
Frequency bandwidth	20 Hz-20 kHz	20 Hz-20 kHz
Digital and DAC
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Max bit depth	32-bit	32-bit
Max sample rate	768 kHz	768 kHz
DSD	DSD 256/11.2MHz	DSD 256/11.2MHz
Network and streaming
Wi-Fi	802.11ac	802.11ac
Wi-Fi bands	2.4/5GHZ	2.4/5GHZ
Ethernet	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
AirPlay 2	Yes	Yes
Chromecast	Yes	Yes
Roon	Ready	Ready
BluOS	No	No
HEOS	No	No
DTS Play-Fi	No	No
Multiroom	Yes (via Google Home app and Chromecast built-in devices)	Yes (via Google Home app and Chromecast built-in devices)
Inputs
Analogue inputs	5	5
XLR inputs	–	Yes
Phono input	No	No
Optical digital	4	4
Coaxial digital	2	2
USB input	–	Yes
USB type	USB-A (connect to a USB Mass Storage Class),USB-B (connect to your computer for playback)	USB-A (connect to a USB Mass Storage Class),USB-B (connect to your computer for playback)
Outputs
Preamp outputs	Stereo RCA (2)	Stereo RCA
Pre-out / main-in loop	No	No
Headphone output	No	No
Features and control
CD player	No	No
Handheld remote	Yes	Yes
Remote model	C25	C25
App control	Yes	Yes
App	Prisma	Prisma
Auto power	Yes	Yes
RS232 port	Yes	Yes
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D)	108.0mm x 432.0mm x 456.0mm	107.0mm x 432.0mm x 456.0mm
Dimensions, inches	4-1/4inch x 17inch x 17-15/16inch	4-3/16inch x 17inch x 17-15/16inch
Weight	11.00 kg (24.20 lbs)	11.00 kg (24.20 lbs)
Finishes	Black,Titanium	Black,Titanium
Removable power cord	IEC 3-prong	IEC 3-prong
Parts warranty	3 Years	3 Years
Labour warranty	3 Years	3 Years

A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure, or it does not apply. 54 specifications compared.

Verdict

Siblings in Primare's I range, so they share a design and a house sound. It comes down to power, features and price.

Area	Better	Why
Power	B	Primare I35 Prisma has more power - 150W against 100W into 8 ohms. That is about 1.8dB, which is a small step in loudness but real headroom on peaks.
Room size	depends	We rate Primare I25 Prisma the better fit for desk or near-field listening, a small room and a mid-size room, and Primare I35 Prisma for a very large room. Match the amplifier to the room you actually have, not the one you want.
Grip on hard loads	evenly matched	Both behave much the same into 4 ohms - output nearly doubles (200W and 300W).
Noise floor	evenly matched	Much the same signal-to-noise ratio (100dB vs 100dB).
Built-in DAC	evenly matched	Both have a DAC on board with much the same capability.
Streaming	evenly matched	The same streaming platforms and services on both.
Analogue inputs	evenly matched	The same number of line-level inputs (5).
Room to grow	evenly matched	The same expansion options on both.
Price	A	Primare I25 Prisma costs less - $4,495 against $5,795 at list.

A Primare I25 Prisma B Primare I35 Prisma
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both amplifiers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

The usual trade-off: Primare I35 Prisma measures better, Primare I25 Prisma costs about 22% less. With most speakers in most rooms that gap is smaller in practice than it looks here.

What a spec sheet cannot show: how either sounds with your speakers, how the controls feel day to day, and what the app is like to live with - which is where most all-in-one amplifiers are actually won or lost. Power figures are the manufacturers' own and are not measured to a common standard, so treat small differences as noise. If you can hear both, that will tell you more than any row above.