The revised version of Primare’s NP5 Prisma network player, the NP5 Prisma Mk2 (£550), has landed. The development of a new model was necessitated primarily by the AKM chip factory fire, causing long-term disruption of the supply of the critical sample rate converter (SRC) chip at the heart of the NP5 Prisma design, which allowed for the selection of output sampling frequencies.
To continue production with the minimum of disruption, the company has sourced a readily available SRC chip and redesigned the circuit to maintain the performance of the original NP5 Prisma while allowing for:
DoP (DSD over PCM) output as an available setting option when using Roon Ready and a DoP ready DAC.
MQA passthrough allowing for Tidal Master and MQA files from a NAS to passthrough for higher resolution processing by a connected MQA capable DAC.
All other features and functionality remain the same as in the original version, with connection and control features that include AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast built-in, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect (including Spotify HiFi when available), and a host of other features.
All future updates will be applicable to both the original NP5 Prisma and the new NP5 Prisma Mk2 models, including much anticipated playback of Tidal Master files and Qobuz at full 24/192 kHz resolution. And while Primare works toward full Roon Ready certification of all its Prisma models, the company is keen to emphasise that Chromecast can be used as a Roon endpoint providing full features and functionality, including Tidal Master file and gapless playback, the only limitation being that file resolution is capped at 24/96 kHz.
Finally, to celebrate NP5 Prisma MK2 availability, Primare will provide a complimentary sixty-day introductory Roon subscription to all Primare Prisma customers writing to info@primare.net with their model’s name and serial number.