Rupert Neve Designs Announces The RNHP: Precision Headphone Amplifier

[TedB]

I use the RNHP primarily as a neutral, resolving, critical listening platform for a large speaker system, whereby it is part of a system with front end consisting of:

PC (HQ Player) -> Holo Audio Cyan 2 DAC -> Holo Audio Serene KTE preamp

The RNHP (used with AKG k712 PRO and Drop HDD 6XX) provides another perspective in evaluating changes made to the front end of the system, without EQ, amp, speakers, and room acoustics in play.

Given the reports here by those who've used an improved power supply, I believe I will buy one of these (24V):

Studer 900 Circuit LPS

I have one of these relatively inexpensive units, which feature good voltage regulation with low ripple, that I use with a WiiM Mini streamer. I've seen one independent test showing ripply for this circuit to be in the range of 1μV. Being purely analog, the RNHP should not be as sensitive to PS quality as sensitive digital devices like DACs and streamers.

 

[Joaqu2n]

Rupert Neve received yesterday and tested with the following system:

Samsung Galaxy S7 tablet with Qobuz and USB Audio Player Pro -> Audioquest Dragontail cable -> iFi USB Mercury cable -> iFi Micro iUSB Power -> Audioquest Cinnamon USB C cable -> Fiio Q7 -> iFi 4.4 to XLR cable -> Rupert Neve -> Focal Elegia with stock pads.

The question is: why the hell didn't I buy the Rupert Neve years ago?

Absolute excellence. And for those who doubt its "low power": you can never turn up the volume above 11 o'clock with the Focal Elegia... achieving at 11 o´clock a similar volume to 50/120 with the Fiio Q7 through a 4.4 output in Ultra High Gain (3W)... but with SUPERIOR quality!

The Rupert Neve is an absolutely phenomenal amp, sounding better than anything I've ever tried.

 

[SunRa Fan]

Rupert Neve received yesterday and tested with the following system:

Samsung Galaxy S7 tablet with Qobuz and USB Audio Player Pro -> Audioquest Dragontail cable -> iFi USB Mercury cable -> iFi Micro iUSB Power -> Audioquest Cinnamon USB C cable -> Fiio Q7 -> iFi 4.4 to XLR cable -> Rupert Neve -> Focal Elegia with stock pads.

The question is: why the hell didn't I buy the Rupert Neve years ago?

Absolute excellence. And for those who doubt its "low power": you can never turn up the volume above 11 o'clock with the Focal Elegia... achieving at 11 o´clock a similar volume to 50/120 with the Fiio Q7 through a 4.4 output in Ultra High Gain (3W)... but with SUPERIOR quality!

The Rupert Neve is an absolutely phenomenal amp, sounding better than anything I've ever tried.

I continue to come back to my own Neve amp even after moving on to a tube amp and much more expensive Solid State amp. The Neve is special...a keeper.

 

[activestatic]

I continue to come back to my own Neve amp even after moving on to a tube amp and much more expensive Solid State amp. The Neve is special...a keeper.

Honestly, I’d like to find a used RNHP to use at home AND at work. I bought a RNHP about 2 years ago. And I bought a Geshelli Archel 3S Pro amp with Sparkos 2590 op amps on all outputs. The RNHP smokes it for clarity and detail. The Geshelli sounds ok and I love their DACS. The Geshelli amp seems to get distorted at higher volumes and it also needs to be turned up more than the RNHP to achieve similar volumes. I tried using it in my work setup for two months but I could never achieve enough volume at a decent level without it being harsh when recording and monitoring my vocals. I work in radio and voice and produce commercials so I sneak in some personal listening between production tasks. The photos represent my work setup. All I did was swap out amp units and all other sources remained the same throughout assessment. Vocals were monitored directly from the board and bypassed the EQ and DAC.

 

[SunRa Fan]

Honestly, I’d like to find a used RNHP to use at home AND at work. I bought a RNHP about 2 years ago. And I bought a Geshelli Archel 3S Pro amp with Sparkos 2590 op amps on all outputs. The RNHP smokes it for clarity and detail. The Geshelli sounds ok and I love their DACS. The Geshelli amp seems to get distorted at higher volumes and it also needs to be turned up more than the RNHP to achieve similar volumes. I tried using it in my work setup for two months but I could never achieve enough volume at a decent level without it being harsh when recording and monitoring my vocals. I work in radio and voice and produce commercials so I sneak in some personal listening between production tasks. The photos represent my work setup. All I did was swap out amp units and all other sources remained the same throughout assessment. Vocals were monitored directly from the board and bypassed the EQ and DAC.

The RNHP's usually go for around $350 used and they turn up all the time, so that shouldn't be too hard to make that happen.

 

[activestatic]

Based off this picture of the board, which op amps are associated with the XLR outputs? Also, would you swap out the stock op amps with Sparkos Audio SS3601, SS3602 or SS2590 op amps? Would I need single or dual op amps?

 

[Magic77]

Based off this picture of the board, which op amps are associated with the XLR outputs? Also, would you swap out the stock op amps with Sparkos Audio SS3601, SS3602 or SS2590 op amps? Would I need single or dual op amps?

The 5532 is a dual opamp. But, this would be very difficult to do being that they are surface mount components. I’m not sure if the Sparkos opamps would actually fit. You would need some kind of adapters.

 

[activestatic]

The 5532 is a dual opamp. But, this would be very difficult to do being that they are surface mount components. I’m not sure if the Sparkos opamps would actually fit. You would need some kind of adapters.

Would this do the trick?

 

[Magic77]

Would this do the trick?

Yes, those would be the ones, but you would have to remove the original 5532s from the board, not easy. I don’t know what your soldering skills are.

 

[activestatic]

I work in radio and I’m good friends with our chief engineer. I would be asking him to perform this job.

 

[Magic77]

I work in radio and I’m good friends with our chief engineer. I would be asking him to perform this job.

OK, hopefully you guys can get the job done. It would be really interesting to see the end result and how the amp looks and sounds with the Sparkos opamps.

 

[TedB]

Based off this picture of the board, which op amps are associated with the XLR outputs? Also, would you swap out the stock op amps with Sparkos Audio SS3601, SS3602 or SS2590 op amps? Would I need single or dual op amps?

I suspect four of the six may be input buffers, (1) 3.5mm jack, (1) RCA, (1) XLR-L, (1) XLR-R, each being in close proximity to its respective connector. I would want to get a more educated eye to confirm this, as only the input you use would be relevant for experimentation. If my estimation turns out to be correct and the remaining two are in higher gain positions, those may be more impactful to the sound.

 

[John Buchanan]

I work in radio and I’m good friends with our chief engineer. I would be asking him to perform this job.

Have a look at the Burson V7 - they may fit better.

 

[Alfredo3001]

It’s been a while, and I’m thinking about picking up the RNHP for the third time. I previously used it with the Bifrost 2 OG. Lately, I’ve been shifting things around, selling off more expensive gear and trying to stay under $3K (not including headphones, RIP my V550 and Berkeley DAC2) and experimenting with more budget-friendly gear to find synergy.

What are some chains that can really bring out the RNHP’s potential? Feel free to include cables, power supply, or source recommendations.
I still have access to a DAC2 (on loan), but I don’t think it won’t pair well with the RNHP.

Potential chain I’m considering (overkill?):
Laptop > FTA Callisto USB> Holo Red > Boomslang AES > Yggy A2 or Yggy A1 or Pontus II > XLR (Below $500) > RNHP (Power supply?) > Clear OG and JOAL

What I’d probably end up doing, or if I get bored or want to spend the least amount of money overall:
Laptop > AQ Forest(Own) or AQ Carbon or Excalibur > Holo Red > I2S (generic Monoprice) > uDAC > XLR (under $100 or keep my WBCs) > RNHP > Clear OG and DT1990 MkII (if it pairs well with the RNHP).

 

[benjifx19]

Had the RNHP for about 4 years. I thought about selling it a few times but i just cant do it.

On the Abyss JOAL with Musician Draco DAC on Qobuz.

Many amplifiers cost more and dont have the clarity/separation abilities of this amp.