Whether you’re tracking, mixing, or just listening to music, your headphone amplifier is as important to the final sound quality as your headphones – yet the world is full of headphone amps with compromised sonics, headroom, and power. To address these shortcomings, Rupert and his team at Rupert Neve Designs have developed the RNHP.
Based on the headphone output circuit in the 5060 Centerpiece Desktop Mixer, the RNHP is a dedicated 24V reference-quality headphone amplifier with specifically-calibrated +4dBu balanced line, unbalanced RCA and 3.5mm (1/8”) inputs, housed in a rugged VESA-mountable steel chassis. With effortless, wide-open sonic performance and the ability to drive any pair of headphones without compromise, the RNHP allows you to perform, mix and enjoy your music with a new level of clarity.
For much equipment, the headphone output is an afterthought. Most products with integrated headphone amps have large feature sets, small footprints, and relatively low price points. This leads to compromised power and audio quality of the headphone amplifier itself, which can lead to a number of issues in real world usage such as low headroom, unreliable performance, and a lack of focus.
The RNHP was made to accomplish one simple purpose: making any headphones sound their best. As a dedicated design, the RNHP is tailored to deliver extremely high quality, powerful amplification, with precise calibration for any source input. This exceptional level of quality can be the difference that inspires an artist to give their best performance, lets an engineer make better choices in mic and placement, gives a mix engineer reliable translation of EQ and dynamics adjustments, or lets a music listener appreciate the full depth and detail of a recording.
Specially-Calibrated Inputs For All of Your Devices
In addition to being able to drive a wide variety of headphones without sacrificing performance, the RNHP is also capable of receiving a wide array of signals with its 3 inputs, calibrated for optimum level and impedance. Check the application notes for how the RNHP can be utilized for different purposes.
Here are some common device examples:
Input A: +4dBu Line (XLR or TRS) Devices
Studio Audio Interfaces (Line or Monitor Out)
Headphone Mixers (Line Output or HP Out)
Mixing Consoles (Line, Aux or Monitor Out)
Professional Turntable Mixers (Line or Monitor)
Professional Stereo Digital to Analogue Converter
Professional Cameras
Studio Monitor Controllers
Input B: RCA Devices
CD / DVD Players
Stereo Tuners
Preamplified Turntables
Prosumer Recording Devices / Cameras
Input C: 3.5mm (1/8”) Stereo Devices
Mobile Phones
Portable Music Players
Computers
DSLR Cameras
Handheld Recording Devices
Any 3.5mm headphone output
Maximum Input Levels
“A” XLR I/P: +22.8 dBu @1kHz
“B” RCA I/P: +14.7dBu @1kHz,
“C” 3.5mm I/P: +3.3dBu @1kHz
Output Power:
As measured with typical headphones, Z=44 Ω: 3.617 VAC RMS @1kHz = 300mW RMS
16 Ω typical Load: 1.933 VAC RMS @1kHz = 230mW RMS
150 Ω typical Load: 5.108 VAC RMS @1kHz = 175mW RMS
Output Impedance
.08 Ω @ 1KHz, 16-150 Ω load, 0dBu input
Frequency Response
+/- .2dB from 10Hz to 120KHz
Noise
Measured with typical headphones, Z=44 Ω, BW 22Hz – 22kHz
“A” XLR Input: -101.9dBV,
“B” RCA Input: -100.9dBV
“C” 3.5mm Input: -88.8dBV
Dimensions
6.5” wide x 4.6” deep and 1.9” tall
Power Supply Requirements
24VDC @ 0.25Amp (6 watt) minimum. Use with supplied power adapter, as this has been carefully selected for best output power and noise performance. May be used with a properly configured 24V battery as well.
