We have tested the Primare SPA23 AV amplifier!

We have tested the Primare SPA23 AV amplifier!

Primare, a Swedish company founded in the 1980s, is widely recognized and highly regarded by audio and hi-fi enthusiasts around the world. The brand has become synonymous with exceptional sound quality and meticulous craftsmanship. Many of its products have received prestigious awards—unsurprising, given that the company’s engineers and designers prioritize both optimal sound performance and customer satisfaction above all else.

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Features

The Primare SPA23 amplifier is 5.1 channel and has a power of 5 x120 Watts. The external design of the amplifier is decorative and sophisticated, the aluminium housing is large and rugged, which provides stability against vibrations. Thanks to the shorter signal paths, a clearer and more precise sound is achieved in the metal housing. The weight of the device is 15 kg. The extra-thin remote control has a logical layout and is clear. The front panel has two dials, a control knob and four additional pushbuttons. The letters on the display are a bit small, but it can still be read from distance. The look was given the style typical of the Primare brand.

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Features

The rear panel of the unit has a clean, minimalist layout—far from overcrowded with ports and connectors. It includes both optical and coaxial digital inputs, as well as five HDMI 1.4 inputs and two HDMI outputs, offering versatile connectivity for various multimedia devices.

Additionally, the AV amplifier is equipped with four pairs of analog RCA inputs, a subwoofer output, three trigger outputs, one trigger input, an RS232 port, and an infrared input—providing comprehensive control and integration options for advanced home theater setups.

The on-screen menu is informative and easy to navigate. Users can manually adjust settings such as crossover frequency and sound pressure level. While all configurations must be done manually, speaker and subwoofer setup is intuitive and straightforward.

The amplifier supports 1080p video processing and outputs surround sound from formats such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, and more. Rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms, it delivers solid, clean power. Inside, you’ll find high-quality components such as a 24-bit / 192 kHz Wolfson DAC and Burr-Brown operational amplifiers from Texas Instruments—both known for their linear performance and low cut-off frequencies.

This Class D amplifier is highly efficient and operates with minimal energy loss. It uses Ultra Fast Power Device (UFPD) technology, which applies a consistent 26 dB of negative feedback across the entire audio frequency range. This adaptive feedback ensures optimal performance, regardless of the output load.

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What Is UFPD (Ultra Fast Power Device)?

Traditional Class D amplifiers often deliver dynamic, punchy sound, but prolonged listening can lead to ear fatigue. Primare’s SPA23, equipped with UFPD technology, overcomes this by performing both control and feedback operations simultaneously—allowing for direct and precise influence over the output signal.

The amplifier dynamically responds to changes in the output filter’s load by regulating current flow according to real-time feedback levels. This ensures consistent performance across the full frequency spectrum, effectively suppressing resonance and maintaining exceptionally low distortion.

Thanks to UFPD, frequency response remains stable regardless of speaker impedance, making the amplifier suitable for a wide range of speakers. It also consumes less energy, optimizes thermal performance, and ensures smooth, fatigue-free sound reproduction.

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PFC – Power Factor Controller

PFC – Power Factor Control

With Power Factor Control (PFC) technology, the amplifier benefits from a more stable and efficient power supply. Unlike traditional designs that draw current only at voltage peaks, PFC allows the device to pull power more continuously. This results in lower current spikes, reduced voltage drops, and the preservation of voltage peaks—benefits that are especially noticeable when compared to amplifiers without PFC.

Essentially, the DC voltage output becomes far less dependent on the quality or stability of the incoming mains power. As a result, an amplifier with PFC performs reliably even if the mains voltage fluctuates—for example, whether it’s 230V or drops as low as 160V, performance remains largely unaffected.

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Limited Features

The amplifier lacks certain modern features. It does not include network connectivity, USB input, an automatic room calibration system, or a microphone for acoustic measurements. While these omissions may not be critical to audio performance, the amplifier’s premium price might justify expectations for such features—now considered standard in many high-end home theater models.

That said, it’s important to recognize that automatic room calibration systems are only truly effective when the room’s acoustics are already well-optimized. These tools can fine-tune performance but cannot compensate for poor room design or untreated surfaces.

Test

We first tested the amplifier for music. We listened to Linkin Park’s hit Numb. We had a dynamic, precise and clear musical experience courtesy of SPA23, and it can even be said that the instrument really provided a premium sound production. The basses were in place, they sounded intense and powerful, the other ranges were absolutely fine too, the music sounded beautiful, even and harmonious.

We then watched the 2015 action comedy, the Spy. We got an extensive stage image and realistic, detailed sound. We can’t complain about surround sound at all either. Clarity remained even at higher volumes. We tested the Primare amplifier paired with the Danish-made Dynaudio Confidence 20-stand speakers. The collaboration between the High-end speakers and the high-quality amplifier resulted in a fantastic and truly flawless production of quality sound.

Conclusion

The Primare amplifier boasts a premium quality design and flawless sound. It can reproduce detailed, precise, realistic and distortion-free sounds. Thanks to the integrated advanced amplifiers, energy consumption and performance are also optimal. It is very important, of course, to pair the amplifier with good quality speakers and a subwoofer, as this is the only way to get a satisfactory end results. The acoustic treatment of the walls, ceiling and window surfaces of a given room is not to be neglected either. The SPL23 AV amplifier is suitable for both home theatre systems and music. But to remain a little critical, I would note that more features would be expected in this price range.