Rupert Neve RNHP Precision Headphone Amplifier

Here is the datasheet of the main driver chip in the RNHP.
It is as high-end as TI audio stuff goes.

The only other chip that reaches to HiFi levels (by design) is the TPA152

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Yeah, I’ll predict it’ll measure well, but I don’t think it’s aggressively adding ‘corrective signals’ to the output stage to phase out noise either. So it probably won’t measure as well. But it’ll be interesting to see how it does.

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I’m glad you sent one- thank you! I’m sure it won’t knock Amir’s socks off, though… My guess:

-Low output impedance
-Good channel balance
-Excellent inter-modulation distortion and linearity,
-300mw power at 50ohm
-SINAD in the low 100s, limited by noise not distortion.

Amir’s conclusion: considering the price and measurements there are other options that present better value like the THX or the JDS labs Atom.

Verdict- Arms crossed panther.

Outlaw 2200 monoblock balanced home theater amplifier Audio Review

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The pink panther is the best thing about ASR. :grinning:

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Loving all the predictions. :laughing:

However the numbers turn out, I’m looking forward to having them to correlate with what I think of the RNHP when I get it. Bonus that I’ll know exactly how my amp measures.

Personally, I look at numbers as an important part of the story, but still only part of the story. I prefer to think of an audio playback chain as a system that converts digital music files into emotional response. Numbers can point out when there’s a potential problem in the system, but the emotional response can also reveal when the numbers become unimportant (e.g., beyond the threshold of “good enough”), or when the numbers fail to adequately explain the emotional response.

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Yea…
The way I look at it, actual reality is full of chaos and way too many variables to really predict exact outcomes. The measurements are useful to some respect…
But, IMO, part of the appeal to a ‘scientific approach’ is acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers. And to be constantly trying to look for those answers…
The mindset of ‘ASR’ seems to be the opposite… “We have the answers… and anything else can be answered by placebo or delusion”. It kind of kills that whole aspect of looking for different approaches and perspectives and actually trying to find out how these things work.

So yeah, I appreciate the measurements, but I think they really have to reconsider their mindset and approach to things.

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Yup.

The most important factor is the enjoyment of the experience.

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Curious to see how this will compare to the new Rebel Audio amp (the shiny green one) since they’re in the same price bracket. Guessing that one is more ‘warm’ and this more neutral and clean. Zeos seems to love the leprechaun amp and I’m surprised he didn’t mention this one in the review.

Z isn’t really that enthusiastic about the rnhp, so I’m not surprised. I think the most likely closest competitor for the leprechaun amp is the asgard 3, but idk

The asgard is less than 1/2 the price.
The RNHP is at least price comparable, even though it’s a very different amp.

The Leprechaun amp (Funny that we are calling it that now) is also designed by what seems to be a fairly novice designer and new startup. Looks like he did his ‘homework’ relying on generally reliable designs that already exist and using as good of parts as he can, though. Will have to wait and see how it compares, reallly.

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IDK, just saying lol

Some of the audio GD stuff might be a more direct competitor, I can’t really think of a lot of comparable off the shelf designs.

Well I hope it’s better than audio gd products lol

Audio GD stuff…don’t get me started! :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:

Then I will…
What’s wrong with Audio GD?

Mostly power, lacking a lot of finesse. They sound fairly unrefined imo, with issues like def noticeable dynamic range compression, 2D staging, and not great detail and presentation. Just kinda not something I would recommend to people. Their higher end products are better but even then I would suggest something else over audio gd amps imo.

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They’re lower tiered entry level stuff has multiple issues…mostly distortion, high noise floor, and the ESS IMD hump is much more audible on the NFB-11 and NFB-11.28, and it results in an audible glare/brightness from 2 KHz all the way through 20 KHz (I owned one for 3 years).

I think that they have some benefits like power, nice switches and front I/O panel…especially the higher tier stuff…but the entry level gear has some design issues. I’m still bummed out about my old NFB-11.28, which I did sell about 1.5 years ago.

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Klaus Heinz (from Hedd Audio), Paul McGowan, and Andrew Jones all say measurements should only be used to find any mistakes. Measurements do not necessarily equate to what you exactly hear. So I would take those with a grain of salt, especially if the measurements are unexplained.

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It is a good example where the measurements actually correlate, as both the measurements and real life sound are not the best lol

Otherwise I absolutely agree. I just find it funny that some objective and subjective can agree it’s not the best option lol

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