Primare Allt-i-Ett

Primare has been producing premium quality hi-fi and home cinema separates for several decades and, while not one of the most recognisable brands in the UK, its positive reputation is unquestionable. Which makes the company’s first foray into the world of one-box music systems all the more interesting - the clue is in the name ('Allt-i-Ett' is Swedish for ‘All in One’).

I get the feeling identity matters to Primare – the company’s descriptor line is "the sound and vision of Scandinavia’" and I’m guessing that this is more than just  another fatuous marketing phrase. Here’s an example: the Scandinavian concepts of Hygge (take it easy and enjoy life) and Lagom (not too much, not too little, everything in harmony) are often quoted as being integral elements of the brand. It's a refreshing take on design philosophy.

So to the unit. To lift a quote from the Primare design brief: the Allt-i-Ett is a ‘high-performance sound system designed for those who may not have the space, budget, or desire for separate components’. 

The unit is a gorgeous-looking result of masterful design, taste and engineering, and connects into the home network via wi-fi or ethernet. Within the dark brown-ish/black metal cabinet, advanced digital signal processing (DSP) can tailor the sound to suit your taste and environment, while seamlessly streaming in hi-res from various platforms such as Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz. Radio can be accessed by FM, DAB and the internet, there’s a plethora of inputs (for turntable or CD, for example), including HDMI eARC to connect your TV, and it can link up with your NAS music library via the network. In short, you are not wanting where music sources are concerned - and everything can be easily accessed via an app on your phone, the touch-screen on the top of the unit, or the supplied remote control handset.

Hidden away behind a magnetically attached front cover panel is an impressive speaker array: two tweeters set in waveguide housings to more evenly disperse the high frequencies, plus two midrange and two bass drivers. There are another four bass drivers within the cabinet, two firing backwards and two pointing downwards. Output volume is controlled by an agreeably tactile rotating volume control on the top plate, softly lit from below. In keeping with the rest of the design, this is subtly classy.

In essence, the objective of the Allt-i-Ett is is to provide high quality audio as simply as possible, a safe and friendly route into the world of grown-up musical quality without the inconveniences separates can sometimes throw up.

Sound Quality

The Allt-i-Ett is not something that can be taken out of its box, plugged in and have that be the end of it. There is a degree of fine tuning required that takes some time and experimentation.

Take, for example, the ‘positioning’ setting accessible via the app or the touch-screen. This can be set to 'corner,' 'wall' or 'open'. Think the latter will produce a richer sound in the bass, even though the unit sits only a few cms away from the wall? Think again. Setting it to ‘wall’ improves the output immensely – a tighter, more focused, nuanced presence in the low end, and a much more pleasurable overall result.

Similarly, running the ‘room EQ’ calibration (accessed via the app) proves to be time well spent - it takes just a minute to run through the cycle. In my case, the Allt-i-Ett is sitting in quite a large, open room -and the result after implementing the EQ adjustment is subtle but makes for a more enjoyable, effortless and natural listen.

Overall, the soundstage being produced from this single box is hugely impressive. I reckon that in a blind listening test you  might be hard pushed not to know this wasn’t coming from a traditional, modest, two channel set-up. Even if, admittedly, Primare hasn’t skimped on the drivers here.

Within the DSP there is the option of the 'Bacch 3D spatial audio' setting that's designed to boost up the ‘live’ feeling of recordings. I’m sure for some material it may sound exciting, but I don't enjoy it - I find the sound too much, almost confusing and taxing, and after five minutes I find myself switching back to the more delightful, controlled non-3D option. Perhaps it’s something to do with old ears or the choice of tracks...

Critical for me, with the Allt-i-Ett being in a domestic setting rather than dedicated listening room, is how a unit performs at low volumes - not everyone wants their windows and nerves rattling. Primare has acknowledged this real-world (and no doubt extremely common) situation and included bass management in the DSP system. At low listening levels, it gently increases bass output to maintain a full, rich sound and, as the volume rises, it slightly reduces bass to prevent it from becoming domineering. The system works a treat: I play a wide range of music and I can’t fault the Allt-i-Et on what it turns out, regardless of style and volume. The unit may have emanated from freezing Northern climes but the sound is anything but frigid - it is warm, rich and, most importantly, a delightfully exciting and moreish experience.

Living with the Primare Allt-i-Ett

Possessing discreet, imposing presence may be an oxymoron - but that’s exactly what the Primare Allt-i-Ett is all about. It is large, measuring nearly 700mm in length - a standard hi-fi unit  comes in at 430mm. Yet (and this is the important element) for anyone that has half-an-eye on agreeable design, this is a lesson in subtlety and quiet confidence, it is not something that is shouting "look at me!". Primare is clearly not a company that likes showing off.

As an example, the touch-screen control panel plus the info screen can be elevated to whatever angle you prefer. On paper, it may seem a bit of a gimmick, but in practice it is an excellent feature for seeing what's what without having to get out of your seat. And on the subject of subtlety, there is a removable fabric cover for the front panel - unless you like having a faceful of six drivers, I’d suggest leaving it in place. The barely discernible loss of sonic clarity is worth the elevation in aesthetic value. 

Set-up is super-important to get the Allt-i-Ett to deliver to its fullest - the difference the DSP can make with its positioning and room EQ settings is quite a revelation. In terms of integration, the unit seems just as happy using wi-fi or being plugged into the ethernet network - there is certainly no discernible difference in sound quality. 

I have one slight issue with the ‘standby’ mode: for some reason the Allt-i-Ett  occassionally wakes itself, not playing but with its illumination switched on. And while it looks very attractive in this state, it isn't what I want to see at 3am. Primare is at a loss to explain why the Altt-i -Ett takes on these nocturnal habits but a tap of the ‘factory reset’ and ‘system reboot’ buttons fixes the problem. I think the technical term for it is: "just one of those things..."

The HDMI eArc socket is very welcome - it massively improves the sound of my mediocre TV. I’m not a big TV watcher and can’t claim to have done any critical listening, but it all functions perfectly well. If you want to integrate the Allt-i-Ett with a smart TV, rest assured it will fit in seamlessly with the remote, providing control for both the Allt-i-Ett and - according to Primare -over 160,000 models of smart TV and Apple TV media players.

And though it’s not a unique feature, but I appreciate the ability to connect my very nice wireless headphones simply by swapping the Allt-i-Ett’s Bluetooth mode from 'receive' to 'transmit', again at the tap of a button. There is also a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones, but the wireless option is easy and delivers superb results.

Conclusion

There is bucketloads to like about the Primare Allt-i-Ett and very little that raises an eyebrow. For me, shortcomings are limited to the number of presets for the radio - six seems a bit parsimonious. But  there are tons of presets and favourites accessible in the app, so in practical terms it isn't really an issue.

I’m sure Sound Advice readers are more open-minded than those in the dyed-in-the-wool camp who insist that ‘proper sound’ can only be produced by separates and a two-speaker set-up. Of course, that may be an ultimate - but if space, desire, practicality and harmonious living (hygge, if you like) are important factors, an all-in-one system of Allt-i-Ett quality can come mighty close to the ‘real thing’. 

Plus, it has all of its own advantages – space efficiency, ease of use for all, and an elegance that will look perfectly at home in any setting.

The UK distributor has told Sound Advice that the Allt-i-Ett will be in the shops any moment now – if you want to give it a whirl (and you should) but can’t find one, let us know and we can hopefully point you in the right direction.

Listening notes

The Ayoub Sisters Misirlou/Ah Ya Zein (Qobuz)
Thanks to the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, Dick Dale’s machine-gun delivery of this folksong (first recorded over 100 years ago), is better known, but the two sisters from Glasgow’s version for cello and violin oozes exotic, eastern charm, talent anddramatic depth - it demands multiple listens. The Allt-i-Ett organises every instrument into its right place, while never shirking on excitement

Petelo Vicka et L'Orchestre Nzazi Sungu Lubuka (Bandcamp download)
If is was such a thing as a 'ropey recordings’ chart, this recently released compilation of Congolese rumba - Congo Funk! Sound Madness from the Shores of the Mighty Congo River (Kinshasa/Brazzaville 1969–1982) - would definitely be a contender. But the infectious feel andgreat rhythms are a cert for getting bums off seats and feet onto the living-room floor. There's a considerable capacity for these recordings to sound a complete jumble - but the Allt-i-Ett keeps the bass under control, and in a good way, ensuring a really great fun listen.

Beoga Tradfather (in the room) (Spotify Lossless)
The hugely enjoyable folk band from County Kerry has just released an EP of a few stripped-back versions from their recent Phases album.  This lovely track gives the Allt-i-Ett a chance to demonstrate its ability with subtlety and delicacy, while maintaining the track’s foot-tapping musicality.

Simplicity, convenience, quality, joy, understated sophistication and a large dollop of Scandi flair, without the drama. These are the hallmarks of the Allt-i-Ett , the personification of Hygge - its most tricky feature to get to grips with is its name! Don’t rush - the key is taking your time during set-up to get the most from it. The sound is unforced and is all-encompassing, which is all the more impressive given it comes from just one, slightly large, box.

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