Primare SP32 User manual

SP32 PRE-AMPLIFIER/SURROUND PROCESSOR
INTRODUCTION
The SP32 is an audiophile balanced eight channel pre-amplifier/processor featuring full RS-232 control,
comprehensive video switching via 1.3 compliant HDMI and powerful custom configuration. It is the natural
successor to the successful SP31, which was recognised around the world for its high performance and
innovative user interface. As the first of a new generation of Primare home entertainment products however, the
SP32 represents a considerable evolutionary advance in terms of design, performance, user flexibility and
versatility. It is one of the first Primare products to offer a truly modular design platform, which allows for entire
audio, video and control sections to be upgraded easily by superior Primare versions of the latest technologies.
MODULAR DESIGN
The SP32’s comprehensively shielded heavy-duty steel chassis houses a newly developed modular design that
allows for DSP, video and connections to be upgraded easily with proprietary Primare boards, incorporating
thoroughly evaluated and optimised versions of the latest technologies and connectors. This makes the SP32 an
ideal high-end audio and video processing platform for many years to come (for upgrade features see
inputs/outputs section).
In every instance we have taken special care to keep signal paths short and layouts uncomplicated. Together with
high performance FFC-wiring, these techniques give the unit an extremely high performance and the highest
possible signal-to-noise ratio. The finest audio grade semiconductors and capacitors have been used whenever
possible. All parts that are known to interfere with each other are isolated by shielding, dedicated signal paths and
power supplies.
OPERATIONAL VERSATILITY
Almost every parameter in the configuration of the SP32 can be user defined. Any input can be assigned a name
and associated with any audio and video source. Surround format, trigger activation and input sensitivity can be
specified for the input. Individual levels, speaker types, crossover frequencies and delay configurations including
bass management can be selected for each of the major surround formats. A 140mS global delay system, with
dedicated DSP, is incorporated in order to achieve the best possible picture to sound synchronisation. For the
highest possible installation flexibility, all the SP32’s functions can be controlled in three ways: from the front
panel, IR or RS232. more…

INPUTS/OUTPUTS
The SP32 launch model has three HDMI v1.3 inputs for audio and video, incorporating a user-selectable audio
processing and bypass function (see Technical Information).
HDMI v1.3 capability is significant because it carries uncompressed multi-channel PCM audio from a Blu-ray
player through the SP32’s DACs to the amplifiers and loudspeakers. This means that even without Primare’s
proprietary HD audio board upgrade, HD audio in its highest resolution can still be processed through the SP32.
Eight pairs of unbalanced and two pairs of balanced analogue audio inputs are provided together with seven
digital audio inputs (incl. AES/EBU). Via the ‘input settings’ menu, any audio input can be assigned to any of the 3
Component, 3 S-Video and 4 Composite video inputs, for simultaneous output to the Component, S-Video and
Composite analogue video outputs. 7.1 channel analogue audio inputs are also provided for the connection to
older DVD-A / SACD players. Both balanced and unbalanced pre-amplified audio outputs (FL, FR, C, SUB, SR,
SL, SBL, SBR) are provided for connection to any type of power amplifier. Three 12V high current DC-triggers are
provided, as well as IR and RS232 inputs.
HD audio and video upgrade features for SP32
Audio Upgrade (available now and included on all new SP32s)
•Onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Codecs.
Video Upgrade (availability TBA)
•HDMI up-scaling to 480P/576P, 720P, 1080i, 1080P, 1080P/24 over 24/50/60Hz
•Five HDMI inputs, two HDMi outputs (not simultaneous): the user selects which output
to use (1 or 2).
•Analogue video up-conversion to HDMI with OSD. Setup menu available on HDMI. HD
component input signals are supported. Analogue video conversion remains the same, composite, S-
video and component to composite, S-video and component outputs.

BLU-RAY DISC AND HD AUDIO
Blu-ray players can be configured to output uncompressed multi-channel PCM from any Blu-ray Disc. The SP32
will perform accurate D/A conversion on the multi-channel LPCM bit-stream.
•Blu-ray Disc is the only source of 5.1 or 7.1 channel HD audio currently available
•Most film soundtracks are mastered in 5.1-channel, 24-bit/48kHz PCM
•LPCM has the highest bit rate of all three lossless codecs*
•Currently 26% of Blu-ray discs carry a native multichannel PCM soundtrack+
•Most Blu-ray players can be set to decompress (unpack) Dolby and DTS HD audio formats and output
them as uncompressed multichannel PCM audio. Even if the Blu-ray Disc doesn’t carry the PCM
soundtrack, it’s still available from the player.
Blu-ray lossless audio formats*
Three are available currently: multichannel LPCM, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Multichannel LPCM – Linear Pulse Code Modulation: LPCM (often referred to as PCM) is used for the lossless
encoding of audio data in the compact disc Red Book standard; has been defined as a part of the DVD and Blu-
ray standards and is used by HDMI. On Blu-ray it offers a maximum bit rate of 27.648Mbps, up to 8 channels of
24bit/96kHz audio and up to six channels of 24bit/192kHz audio. Under the standard, players must have the
capability to support LPCM.
Dolby TrueHD: lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio, built on MLP technology. It offers a maximum bit
rate of 18.64Mbps, up to 8 channels of 24bit/96kHz audio and up to six channels of 24bit/192kHz audio. Under
the Blu-ray standard, support is optional.
DTS-HD Master Audio: lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio. It offers a maximum bit rate of 24.5Mbps,
up to 8 channels of 24bit/96kHz audio and up to six channels of 24bit/192kHz audio. Under the Blu-ray standard,
support is optional.
Blu-ray and LPCM+
Currently 84.36% of all Blu-ray Discs offer lossless multichannel audio, split this way: 13% LPCM, 51% DTS-
HD:MA, 20% TrueHD http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/Stats.php
SP32 Technical information
Video circuit
All analogue video inputs are converted to digital by the Texas Instruments 10bit TVP5146 video encoder, where
OSD from the Sanyo LC74763 OSD generator is added. The digital signal is then converted back to analogue by
the 10bit Cirrus CS4955 decoder. By performing all the video conversion in the digital domain using 10bit
processing we can maintain high quality video at all outputs and at all times regardless of the selected input
source. This is a significant improvement over the SP31, which could only switch component video and convert S-
video to composite, entirely in the analogue domain.
more…

HDMI
The SP32 launch model incorporates a three input HDMI repeater based around the Silicon Image SIL9135,
which incorporates digital audio extraction over SPDIF or I2S format. It supports both multi-channel PCM audio
from Blu-ray,SACD or DVD-players and the more commonly used Dolby D and DTS formats, which are fed over
high quality FFC cable to the DSP processor. A user selectable bypass function for HDMI audio is also available,
telling the SP32 either to process or forward HDMI audio to a display device. A user-configured default function
addresses any other audio input source, if there is no signal on the defined HDMi input.
DSP
The SP32’s DSP is performed by a Freescale DSPC56371 24bit processor, which is able to fast lock and decode
all the commonly used multichannel formats (with up to 192kHz sampling frequency). A slave Freescale
DSPB56367 24bit processor handles all delay functions, including the global 140mS delay used for perfect
synchronising of picture and sound. Analogue signals for Dolby Pro Logic IIX or DTS NEO processing are first
converted to digital by a Burr Brown PCM4202, which incorporates an automatic level sensing circuit eliminating
the need for manual ADC adjustments, as used in the SP31.
DACs and analogue circuits
The audio DACs are 24bit, 192kps WM8740s from Wolfson, used in conjunction with Burr Brown OPA2134 and
Texas Instruments NE5532 operational amplifiers for the analogue, semi-balanced, DC-servo controlled, buffering
and filtration circuits. These feed the purified audio signal into an eight-channel low distortion, half passive volume
control CS3318 from Cirrus. Lesson learned from the SP31: for the SP32 we have located all the gain stages and
DC-servo circuits before the volume control in order to achieve a much better signal to noise ratio. An eight and 2-
channel analogue bypass mode bypasses the DSP completely, are still available, for the analogue fans.
Power Supplies
In order to achieve the best possible signal-to-noise ratio for both audio and video circuits, the power supplies in
the SP32 are designed entirely in the linear domain. To save power, the SP32 uses two separate power supply
circuits: a small perfectly-tuned supply is used in standby mode to drive the standby functions while in operation
we use a large 300VA toroid transformer, which incorporates separate windings for all the different sections of the
SP32, such as video, digital and analogue. For the video and digital sections we use dedicated, custom-designed
linear regulation technologies. For the delicate analogue section we use rectification and regulation in two steps:
voltages are first regulated down to a moderate level and then down to perfection by a fast-acting half discrete
circuit. For the low voltage/high current supplies used by the DSP engine, HDMI circuits and other digital parts, we
use local regulation techniques in order to achieve fastest possible regulation while keeping disturbance levels at
an absolute minimum.
SP32 Features
•Modular Architecture.
•Fully Balanced Analogue AV Preamplifier & Digital Controller
•Dolby® True HD, DTS Master Audio, Dolby® Digital, Prologic IIX, EX 7.1, dts®, dts-ES 6.1, Neo6
•1080p HDMI Switching (3in/1out)
•Component / Composite / S-Video
•DVD-A & SACD 5.1 Input,
•Multi Channel PCM Compatible
•Fully Configurable & Format independent Bass Management
•Two Balanced Source Inputs,
•7.1 Balanced Outputs
•Discrete IR & Full RS232 Operation,
•Programmable Triggers
•Upgradeable Architecture.
•Available in Black or Titanium
•Dimensions W x D x H mm: 430 x 385 x 180
•Weight: 12 kg
more…

Technical Specifications
General
Analogue Inputs
Digital Inputs
Video Inputs
Balanced Analogue
outputs
Analogue Outputs
Analogue Record
Output
Analog Zone2
Output
Digital Output
Video Output
Video Output
Zone2
Modes
Decoding Formats
Samping rates
2 Balanced, 8 R A, incl
7.1 inputs
1 Balanced, 3 R A, 3
TOS-Link
3 HDMI, 3 omponent,
3 S-Video, 4 omposite
Front (left and right)
enter, Sub, Surr (left
and right)
Surr back (left and
right)
Front (left and right)
enter, Sub,
Surr (left and right)
Surr back (left and
right)
1 R A (left and right)
1 R A (left and right)
1 R A, 1TOS-Link
1 HDMI, 1 omponent,
1 S-Video, 1 omposite
1 S-Video,1 omposite
Stereo
Bypass
Party
Dolby Prologic IIx Music
Dolby Prologic IIx Movie
DTS NEO:6 MUSI
DTS NEO:6 INEMA
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital EX
Dolby Prologic II
Dolby Prologic IIx
DTS-HD Master Audio
DTS
DTS ES
DTS Neo:6
DTS 96/24
MULTI/2 H P M/LP M
32KHz,44.1KHz,48KHz,
88.2KHz,96KHz,192KHz
(AES/EBU)
Video
Other out-/inputs
Power onsumption
operate:
Power consumption
Standby:
Analog Data
THD
Signal-to-Noise
Frequency Response
Input Impedance
Input Impedance
Output Impedance
Digital Data
Frequency Response
THD+Noise
Dimensions (WxDxH)
Weight
10 bit digital video
conversion system
supporting NTS /PAL,
omponent, S-video
and omposite, with OSD.
1 IR Input
3 12v outputs (triggers)
1 RS232
<60W
<5W
<0.005%, 20 Hz-20kHz
-110 dB
10 Hz-100 kHz, 1dB
47 KΩ, unbalanced
3 KΩ, balanced
47 R unbalanced
47R Balanced
20 Hz-20 kHz+ 0.2dB
0,005% @1 kHz(AES17
filter)
430 x 385 x 180 mm
12 Kg
Ends 17 March 2011