Primare SP33 User manual

Primare AB • Limstensgatan 7 • SE-21616 Limhamn • Sweden • Tel [phone] •
www.primare.net
Design Brief
SP33 Pre-Amplifer/Surround Processor
6 pages
Introduction
The SP33 is an audiophile balanced eight channel pre-amplifier/processor featuring full
RS-232 control, comprehensive video switching via 1.4 compliant HDMI and powerful
custom configuration. It is the natural successor to the successful SP32, 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
SP33 represents a considerable evolutionary advance in terms of design, performance,
user flexibility and versatility. It offers 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 SP33’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.
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.
more…

Primare AB • Limstensgatan 7 • SE-21616 Limhamn • Sweden • Tel [phone] •
www.primare.net
Operational Versatility
Almost every parameter in the configuration of the SP33 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 250mS 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
SP33’s functions can be controlled in three ways: from the front panel, IR or RS232.
Inputs/Outputs
The SP33 has five HDMI v1.4 inputs and two HDMI v1.4 outputs for audio and video,
incorporating a user-selectable audio processing and bypass function (see Technical
Information).
HDMI v1.4 capability is significant because it carries uncompressed multi-channel PCM
audio from a Blu-ray player to the SP33’s DACs and beyond to the amplifiers and
loudspeakers. HDMI 1.4 deployed by the SP33 supports 3D pass-through but not
ARC or 4K UHD.
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 HDMI video input, for simultaneous output to the
HDMI 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 SP33
Audio Upgrade (included on all new SP33s)
The audio board uses a Sharc DSP from Analog Devices (ADSP 21367) capable of
decoding the HD formats such as DolbyTrue HD and DTS-master HD.
New features with the HD audio board:
Improved and more extended trigger options.
Individual HD format settings including Multi-PCM.
Easy lip-sync access using ‘balance´ button.
Upgraded design of the on-screen menu and display of the SPA22 or SP32.
Formats decoded
Dolby Prologic IIx
Dolby DigitalEX, Plus, TrueHD
DTS, DTS-ES, DTS-NEO:6, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution
Audio, 2ch-PCM, Multi-PCM, LPCM
more…

Primare AB • Limstensgatan 7 • SE-21616 Limhamn • Sweden • Tel [phone] •
www.primare.net
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 two channels
of 24bit/192kHz audio. Under the Blu-ray standard, support is optional.
Video Upgrade (included on all new SP33s)
HDMI up-scaling to 1080P, 1080P/24 over 24/50/60Hz, with user selectable bypass for
deep colour signals.
Five HDMI inputs, two HDMI outputs (not simultaneous): the user selects which output
to use (1 or 2).
HDMI Audio support, user selectable feature to have the audio processed by the SP33 or
forwarded to the TV.
Setup menu available on either HDMI output (not at the same time)
Blu-Ray Disc and HD Audio
Blu-ray players can be configured to output uncompressed multi-channel PCM from any
Blu-ray Disc. The SP33 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.

Primare AB • Limstensgatan 7 • SE-21616 Limhamn • Sweden • Tel [phone] •
www.primare.net
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 87% of all Blu-ray Discs offer lossless multichannel audio, split this way: 8%
LPCM, 64% DTS- HD:MA, 15% TrueHD
http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/Stats.php
Irrespective of the studios’ choice, the only lossless audio format that Blu-ray players
must support (because it’s mandatory in the standard) is LPCM. Even so most Blu-ray
players are able to decode (decompress) DTS-HD:MA and Dolby TrueHD and to output
multichannel PCM.
SP33 Technical information
HDMI
The SP33 incorporates a five 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 SP33 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 SP33’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 250mS 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.
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. For the SP33 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 two-channel analogue bypass mode bypasses the DSP completely for the
analogue fans.
more…

Primare AB • Limstensgatan 7 • SE-21616 Limhamn • Sweden • Tel [phone] •
www.primare.net
Power Supplies
In order to achieve the best possible signal-to-noise ratio for both audio and video
circuits, the power supplies in the SP33 are designed entirely in the linear domain. To
save power, the SP33 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 SP33, 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.
SP33 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 (5in/2out)
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

Primare AB • Limstensgatan 7 • SE-21616 Limhamn • Sweden • Tel [phone] •
www.primare.net
SP33 Specifications
General
Video
HDMI with HDvideo pass-thru and
with 3Dpass and HDMI OSD
Analogue
Inputs
2 Balanced, 8 RCA, incl 7.1
inputs
Upscaling
1080p/24
Digital Inputs
1 Balanced, 3 RCA, 3 TOS-
Link
Video Inputs
5 HDMI
Other out-/inputs
1 IR Input
3 12v outputs (triggers)
1 RS232
Balanced
Analogue
Front (left and right)
outputs
Center, Sub, Surr (left
and right)
Power
Consumption
<60W
Surr back (left and
operate:
right)
RCA Analogue
Outputs
Front (left and right)
Center, Sub,
Surr (left and right)
Surr back (left and
right)
Analogue Pre
amp data
Analogue
Record
Output
1 RCA (left and right)
THD
<0.005%, 20 Hz-20kHz
Zone2
1 RCA (left and right)
Signal-to-Noise
-110 dB
Frequency
Response
10 Hz-100 kHz, 1dB
Digital Output
1 RCA, 1TOS-Link
Input Impedance
47 KΩ, unbalanced
Video Output
2 HDMI –individual settings
OSD on both outputs. (not at the
same time)
Input Impedance
3 KΩ, balanced
Output Impedance
47 R unbalanced
Modes
Stereo
Bypass
Party
Dolby Prologic IIx Music
Dolby Prologic IIx Movie
DTS NEO:6 MUSIC
DTS NEO:6 CINEMA
Digital Data
47R Balanced
Frequency
Response
20 Hz-20 kHz+ 0.2dB
THD+Noise
0,005% @1 kHz(AES17 filter)
Decoding
Formats
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Digital
Dimensions
(WxDxH)
430 x 385 x 180 mm
Dolby Digital EX
Dolby Prologic II
Weight
12 Kg
Dolby Prologic IIx
DTS-HD Master Audio
DTS
DTS ES
DTS Neo:6
DTS 96/24
MULTI/2 CH PCM/LPCM
Samping rates
32KHz,44.1KHz,48KHz,
88.2KHz,96KHz,192KHz
(AES/EBU)
Ends June 2014