Primare’s home cinema line, featuring the SPA25 Prisma multi-channel integrated amplifier and SP25 Prisma multi-channel preamplifier processor, is crafted with precision to deliver an exceptional home cinema experience for both cinephiles and audiophiles. Every design choice reflects a balance between cutting-edge technology and real-world usability.
Thoughtful Video Design Choices
The SPA25 Prisma and SP25 Prisma include eARC from the HDMI 2.1 build list and support HDMI 2.0b specifications — enabling 4K 60 Hz UHD HDR video switching with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+. However, they do not support 4K 120 fps or 8K 60 fps.
This decision was deliberate. When development began, available HDMI 2.1 chipsets were unreliable and in short supply — a risk for a boutique manufacturer like Primare. Time has proven this cautious approach wise, as some early chips were later revealed to have critical flaws preventing full performance.
Why We Focused on Real-World Performance
Our design philosophy is rooted in practicality, not just chasing the latest specs. We asked ourselves key questions to guide our decisions:
1. What truly matters for high-performance home cinema?
HDMI 2.1 offers many features tailored to gaming, but eARC stood out as the only essential addition for superior home cinema audio.
2. What about HDMI cable limitations?
HDMI 2.1 cables are effective only over short distances (1–5 meters), with longer runs requiring complex solutions like extenders or fiber optics. Direct connections minimize signal loss.
3. Are HDMI 2.1 features always compatible?
No. Some features conflict — VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and HDR can interfere with each other, reducing image quality. Dolby Vision may even be disabled when VRR is active.
4. Can most games deliver ultra-high resolutions consistently?
Rarely. Even games claiming 4K 120 fps often throttle resolution or frame rate during intense scenes to avoid lag.
5. Are current consoles up to the task?
Despite years of promises, most consoles struggle to fully support 4K 120 fps or 8K gaming, even with a limited selection of compatible games.
6. Is high-resolution gaming common in home cinemas?
Competitive gamers prefer custom-built PCs, dedicated gaming displays, and headsets. Party games, more suited to home cinema setups, rarely exceed 4K 30 fps — often running at standard HD.
7. Does higher resolution always improve visuals?
Not always. Ultra-high resolution can expose flaws in game design — much like how Peter Jackson’s use of 48 fps in The Hobbit revealed too much detail, giving the film an “uncinematic” look.
The Future-Proofing Fallacy
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of “future-proofing” by chasing the latest specifications — like HDMI 2.1 or the upcoming HDMI 2.2 — but the reality is more complicated. Technology moves quickly, and new standards are often introduced before the previous ones are fully adopted or even functional.
For example, HDMI 2.1 was marketed as a must-have for future-ready systems, yet many early chipsets failed to deliver on their promised performance. Now, with HDMI 2.2 on the horizon, it’s clear that no specification alone can guarantee future-proofing — especially when real-world use cases, like gaming and streaming, still struggle to catch up to these extreme resolutions and frame rates.
Rather than relying on a “future-proof” label, Primare focuses on practical, high-performance design — ensuring seamless audio and video experiences today while maintaining flexibility for tomorrow.
The Gaming Industry’s Perspective
Being based in Malmö, a gaming hub, we consulted game developers and industry experts. They confirmed that ultra-high resolutions are still challenging to implement — often requiring lower frame rates or throttled visuals to maintain stability, even on advanced platforms.
Our Recommendation for High-Performance Gaming Setups
For those pursuing high-resolution, high-frame-rate gaming, we recommend:
• Directly connecting the gaming console to the display for optimal video quality.
• Using eARC to send audio from the display to the SPA25 Prisma or SP25 Prisma — unless using gaming headsets.
• Lowering the resolution when needed to maintain consistent gameplay.
This dual-connection approach isn’t new, and is the recommendation the gaming industry experts we consulted — and one we’ve advocated for it since the transition from SD to HD - bypassing unnecessary processing to preserve both audio and video quality.
A Word of Caution About HDMI 2.1
It’s important to scrutinize HDMI 2.1 product specs carefully. The HDMI organization warns that just because a device is labeled “HDMI 2.1” doesn’t mean it supports all features — some may offer compressed video when uncompressed performance is assumed.
As the HDMI organization states:
“Version numbers alone cannot define product capabilities. Features must be clearly listed.”
Looking Ahead
Concerned that the SPA25 Prisma and SP25 Prisma may become outdated without full HDMI 2.1 support? Don’t be. Trends show that video displays will remain the main source of high-resolution video, with multi-channel preamps and amps focused primarily on audio processing — a role we’ve prioritized with eARC integration.
Many of our customers still use older Primare systems, some with SD video switching, because they continue to deliver outstanding sound, reinforcing that audio performance remains at the heart of home cinema.
That said, we’re committed to the future. With improved chip availability and evolving gaming technology, we’ve postponed the launch of our SP35 Prisma processor to ensure it includes higher video resolution capabilities and advanced features — expected by late 2025.
For More Information
• Learn more about HDMI 2.1: HDMI organization website
• Explore the latest on high-resolution gaming: What HiFi article
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