Rupert Neve RNHP Precision Headphone Amplifier

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories Headphone Amps
622

This was the post that got me willing to try this.

Thanks to giova05, Valentine_Luke, Mon, Andrew_Davis and everyone else in this thread.

Holy shit!!!

I’ve spend the past few days lowering my expectations and trying not to let that color my opinion.

There was no subtle difference for me. A really dramatic upgrade in sound quality for me over the Monolith 887.

I took a chance and the unit I bought had a capacitor upgrade along with the new dial. Not sure if that is what is accounting for what I’m hearing, but here’s my best description of the pros and cons.

Pros

Fuller overall sound (by a hair)
More vivid and detailed
Separation is better
Crisper and quicker? (not sure if that is dynamics or decay) The Wife noticed this the most as well
Bass is more defined (wife said the same in her own words)

Cons
A bit less sound stage

Sound good with Fostex tr-00x but really shine with the Kennerton Vali 2019. A great pairing. RNHP enhances everything the Vali does well.

That’s my initial assessment. Selling the 887. Noticeable sound quality upgrade with RNHP.

Thanks, Gang! :slight_smile:

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623

Glad you are enjoying it :+1:

The rnhp gang grows stronger each day

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624

RNHP

RNHP gang!

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625

That’s awesome to hear! I haven’t heard of anyone that was disappointed with the RNHP. They’ve all pretty much heard that ‘magical’ quality that’s hard to articulate.

I’m glad you’re enjoying it so much. :+1:t4:

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626

I just realized that the one DAC that from a quality AND design perspective fits perfectly with the rnhp is the soekris 1421. They both look like a no-nonsense product aimed not at consumers but professional’s.

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627

The 1421 is a relatively neutral r2r, still enjoyable but a bit more relaxed sounding actually. Pretty nice dac and would pair decently well with the rnhp, I just wish it had balanced out to use the balanced in on the rnhp

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628

It is on my shortlist for dac’s to consider, as I need one for when I join the rnhp gang :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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629

What’s your affordable R2R rec, M0N? I know the Ares 2. Any others?

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630

@Andrew_Davis, the Schiit Bifrost 2 $699 (not r2r, but Multibit) has been highly recommend to me. And it’s balanced.

Here’s a detailed thread:

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631

Yes the Bifrost 2 is great, very nice

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632

Define affordable lol?

633

Haha! Good point. I dunno, let’s stay in the Soekris 1421/1521 zone? 900-1300 ish? Maybe more for fun?

634

Hmmm. The bifrost 2, soekris 1541, MHDT Labs Orchid and Denafrips Ares II come to mind for a new dac. With used your options will widen

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635

A legendary, out of production D/A chip and tube output? Well played, sir!

636

It’s a very nice dac for sure, pretty sweet

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637

Sorry to get so off topic.

I have to say that most of my objectivist empiric skepticism has gone by the wayside now that I’ve been doing a side by side with the RNHP and the SPL Phonitor for a few weeks now. There is some magic in the RNHP. More dynamics, more fullness, more (dare I say) musicality. Not to say that the SPL isn’t awesome in it’s own way. Just no sexiness in it like the RNHP.

May the ghost of Francis Bacon now strike me down and damn me to an eternity of unverifiable subjectivity.

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638

Hm, yes, I have to agree. It’s hard to look at the rnhp without blushing.

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639

Yeah, looks so much better in person.

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That’s kinda why I end up preferring it over higher end studio amps for mastering, as it allows me to get a better sense of life in what I hear via headphones. It’s just the right balance of analytical and musical where it just comes out natural for me. If I want crazy detail or something I have other ways lol

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641

My Enog2 Pro keeps looking at me wondering why I don’t look at it the way I used to, lol.

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