Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Audio Images

Summary:
I think my system is finally done, for now. I've had been for a while, slightly disappointed with my former DM604 S2's but had not been willing to really admit it, or take any steps towards buying anything better. But when a chance to get a pair of these for $1100 presented itself, it seemed like the opportunity I needed and not the kind of thing to pass up. I went back the next day and bought them.

Now, don't get me wrong, the 604s are still a great speaker for the price, but working at a dealer that sells the Vienna and Sonus Faber lines had me constantly aware that no matter what I used to run the 604s, that they would never cross the boundaries into the high-end realm.

When I got the Primare L-25s home the differences weren't as immediate as I had hoped for them to be. I guess it was me being too eager to HEAR a difference instantly... I was trying too hard. Then as I spun a few more tracks, subtle nuances began to obviate themselves in a way the 604s never had. I noticed for the first time, a prolonged decay on crash cymbals, strings sounded more true to life, and piano recordings rang through with an eerie realism. THIS is what I had been longing for all along.

The bass response is also quite formidable for a relatively small speaker. They have a strong presence down to around 40Hz in my room. Tympani and concert bass ring through with power and clarity. My "vintage" Velodyne ULD-15 takes care of the rest.

All in all I'm very happy with them. And I will no longer say my equipment is outclassing mt speakers (the older 604s)

Strengths:
Depth of soundstage, bass (in my room anyway), midrange clarity.

Weaknesses:
I can't think of any at this time.

Similar Products Used:
B&W 604

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Second hand

Summary:
IMPORTANT NOTE: This review is of the Primare L25 NOT the Primare L30....

It is however almost the same speaker as the L30. The L30 has a 6,5" "subwoofer" that is missing on the L25. Some data of the speaker.
Principle: Classic 2 way bass reflex floorstander
Crossover point: 3300 Hz
Impedance: 8 Ohm
Frequency Response: 32 Hz-30 kHz
Powerhandling: 250 W max.
Tweeter: 1" mm Fabric cone
Mid & bass driver: 6,5" coater fiber cone with ultralight chassis
Dimensions: (HxWcD) 850x200x355 mm
Weight: 16,5 kg

The speakers listed above under "Similar Products Used" are speakers that I compared the L25 with before I bought them. My previously own speakers are amongst other Cervin Vega, Kef, Jamo. At the price I paid for them this is a catch (they cost 1350 $ new in 1999).

The sound is clear and detailed. With a fast & tight bass (however not extremly deep) and very fine mids and highs. No part in the music stands out in a negative way. Instead the sound is always homogeneous. They sounded better than all of the other speakers compared it with. And some of them were a lot more expensive (at least compared to a pair of used L25).

Although the L25 sound very good in almost all the parameters involved in "good HIFI" the most impressing thing about them is the way they puts the music first. It's extremly fun to listen to music with these. I enjoy every minute of music playing since they entered my home. They really brought out the fun of listning to music...

If you run into a pair for sale; listen to them yourself. You won't regret it!

My system
Sony CDP XP930 CD player
Sony TA FB920R Integrated amp
(I have also listen to them with a Micromega Tempo 2 amp. The sound got even more detailed, but not as dynamic as with the Sony.)

Strengths:
Clear sound, tight and fast bass, easy to listen to, focus on the music

Weaknesses:
Isn't the most detailed speakers I have heard

Similar Products Used:
Amongst other: Dali 8008, B&W DM603 S3, Audiovector M1 & M3, JMLab Chorus 725, Sonus Faber Concerto, Tannoy R2 & R3

Summary:
When we listen to music, we want to be swept away and not analyse the timbre, depth etc. This is the first speaker, that I have heard in it's price range and a little beyond of say up to US$3,000, that allows me to forget that I'm listening to Hi-Fi. And that's since my first hi-fi seperates system since 1977! It's a wolf in sheep's clothing! Music is giver proper height as well as width. It's a soundstaging champ that lets you place the musicians in depth, width and I swear to you, height! The only speakers I've heard better it is the Dunlevy range! And, that's saying something. It was a close match to it's own sibling the L20 (see review). But in the end, the L30 is my ticket to music. The only caveat, if any, is that it is a stable 4 ohm speaker. So those low-powered SET amps probably can drive it. My 30 watter Luxman SQ38 Signature amp (EL34 pentodes in push-pull config) drives it well enough -- this amp thrives on quality not quantity. Enough Said!

Strengths:
Holographic 3-D sound stage

Weaknesses:
Maybe the wood veneer - not up to the finish of say the Jamo Concert 8 or Sonus Faber

Similar Products Used:
Jamo Concert 8, Sonus Faber Grand Piano