Rupert Neve Designs makes its debut in the high-end hi-fi sector with Fidelice
Rupert Neve Designs makes its debut in the high-end hi-fi sector with Fidelice
By Editor 5 months ago
The company, based in Wimberley, Texas, draws on more than 50 years of development history in the professional recording studio sector – in fact, the name Neve has been synonymous with quality and excellent sound for recording professionals since the 1960s.
Finally, the Neve sound is now available to audiophile music listeners.
The Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter embeds an AKM converter chip in a flawless circuit to deliver the very highest level of sound. Multiple connection options and an integrated amplifier for balanced and unbalanced headphones make the Precision DAC the control center of the home stereo system. The Precision Headphone Amplifier enables the operation of a wide variety of headphones in excellent quality. Finally, the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier transfers the Neve sound to vinyl playback.
Fidelice: Crowning of a legend
Three products make up the Fidelice series from Rupert Neve Designs, bringing together the combined expertise of over half a century of audio development. The core of the series is the Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter, a top-of-the-line DA converter with integrated preamplifier and headphone amp. The Precision Headphone Amplifier is a reference-class headphone amplifier, while the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier brings legendary Neve sound to vinyl playback.
High-end audio from the recording studio icon.
All three components are designed to bring the high standards of Rupert Neve Designs to home users. In the recording studio world, Rupert Neve has an unparalleled status, with his microphone preamps and equalizers featured on countless legendary albums. Neve mixing consoles have always been considered the gold standard and still enjoy enormous popularity today. There is hardly a music production that does not come into contact with Neve technology at some point – or does not at least try to imitate the unique sound of Neve consoles. This unique sound stems primarily from the specially designed transducers for which Rupert Neve has always been famous. This Neve sound is so ingrained in our listening habits that we don’t even perceive it as sound – that’s just how things sound. With Fidelice, they now sound like that in your living or listening room at home.
The Converter: Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter
The flagship of the Fidelice series from Rupert Neve Designs is undoubtedly the Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter. The high-quality AKM converter chip is integrated into a circuit that uncompromisingly follows the goal of best sound and provides an unparalleled listening experience. The system works with PCM sampling rates up to 384 kHz at 32 bit or with DSD data up to 22.4 MHz via USB. But the Precision DAC is more than “just” a converter: its multitude of analog and digital connections make it an excellent control center for great-sounding entertainment at home. In addition to USB as well as coaxial and optical S/PDIF, one balanced and one unbalanced analog input each even allow the use as a pure preamplifier before the signal is output again balanced or unbalanced. The Precision DAC also offers an analog filter option for adaptation to the respective loudspeakers or spatial conditions. As a headphone amplifier, the Precision DAC operates balanced models via jack connection or unbalanced models via 4-pin XLR or Pentaconn.
The headphone amplifier: Precision Headphone Amplifier
The high-quality amplifier circuitry from the Precision DAC by Rupert Neve Designs refines the circuitry of the RNHP Headphone Amp, which has established itself in professional recording studios. The Precision Headphone Amplifier also makes this particularly precise and refined circuitry available independently of converter and preamp technology for driving headphones of various types. This amplifier was designed with the express purpose of fully exploiting the potential of any headphone model. A balanced input as XLR jack combo jacks, an unbalanced RCA input as well as a 3.5 mm stereo jack input offer a variety of connection possibilities. All inputs can be fed simultaneously, and switching between sources is conveniently done from the front panel of the Precision Headphone Amplifier.
The Phono Pre-Amplifier: Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier
For the first time, the Neve circuit knowledge in the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier of the Fidelice series by Rupert Neve Designs also benefits the reproduction of vinyl records. Separate gain paths for moving-magnet or moving-coil systems allow uncompromising calibration for different requirements. For MM amplification, the capacitance can be switched between 110 and 220 pF to optimally adjust the gain to the respective cartridge. A special rumble filter also removes low-frequency components below 11.4 Hz from the signal if desired. With breathtaking technical measurements, the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier underlines its particularly linear operation and presents the sound of your favorite records exactly as it should be.
Sound legend in a noble retro design
The sonic expertise of Rupert Neve Designs is beyond question; Neve has proven it thousands of times over decades of professional music and audio production. With the Fidelice series, however, Neve technology now also presents itself in an extremely noble design. Solid aluminum combines aesthetic values and material stability, while the mahogany top plate with the engraved signature of the master creates an exciting visual counterpoint. With accentuated styling, elegant materials, and refined technology inside, the three models in the Fidelice Series crown Rupert Neve’s fifty-plus years of creation with a look as outstanding as it sounds.
Pricing and availability
The Fidelice Series models from Rupert Neve Designs are distributed in Germany exclusively by Mega Audio. They are available immediately. The suggested retail prices are 5,794.00 Euro for the Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter, 1,386.00 Euro for the Precision Headphone Amplifier, and 1,386.00 Euro for the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier, each including VAT.
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