Fidelice Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier

1.299

Stefan Says:

I’ve had this in the Shop for a while but only no, having it between my AudioNote TT1 and AudiNote Cobra do I realise what a gem this thing is!

Description

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THE PRECISION PHONO
PRE-AMPLIFIER

The sound of Rupert Neve comes to your vinyl collection.

The Fidelice Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier is a singular achievement in analog sound reproduction. Based around the classic amplifier topologies that have made Rupert Neve’s microphone preamplifiers the consistently obvious choice for the world’s recording engineers since the early 1970’s, the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier’s MM and MC gain stages have each been painstakingly tailored for an enthralling listening experience with unparalleled accuracy, depth and expressiveness.

Purpose-designed, low-noise discrete Class-A amplifiers are implemented throughout the signal path for both MM and MC cartridges. The passive RIAA filter utilizes exceptional low-tolerance componentry, selectable capacitance for the MM input, and a selectable 18dB / octave Rumble Filter with a corner frequency at 11.4Hz.

“A simply stunning phono stage. My new reference in the mastering room.”

— PETE LYMAN, MASTERING ENGINEER
(CHRIS STAPLETON, JASON ISBELL, BRANDI CARLILE, STURGILL SIMPSON, WEEZER)

BRING YOUR RECORD COLLECTION TO LIFE

Regardless of whether you are listening to pristine classical recordings or the heaviest rock, getting the most out of your turntable system can be a challenge. The Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier is designed to coax out every detail from your pressings and turntable and provide your amplifiers with a complete and unadulterated signal, so you get the most from your vinyl collection.

Both the moving magnet and moving coil gain settings have been optimized to enhance the performance of the cartridge. These Phono stages use carefully-implemented discrete Class-A designs that utilize the highest performance JFETs and BJTs, honed over countless hours of listening and comparison.

“Hi-Fi newcomer Fidelice has landed a real coup with the Precision Phono Pre… If you are looking for a superb sounding phono preamp that is also suitable for everyday use, you can hardly invest any better.”

— JÜRGEN SCHRÖDER, LOWBEATS.DE (GERMAN)

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THE SPECIFICATIONS

The resulting sound quality is technically – and musically – exceptional. The RIAA curve is matched to better than 0.15dB, and frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz is better than +/-0.1dB. Even at 10Hz and 120kHz, there is less than a single decibel of deviation. Dynamic range is a powerful 101.58dB (MM path), and EIN is an exceptionally low -129dBV (MC path).

Beyond its technical feats however, it is the immersive listening experience that sets the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier apart. The soundstage brings out a stunning three-dimensionality from recordings with a combination of a rich low end, pristine clarity throughout the crucial midrange, and a delicately sweet high-end. These are hallmarks of Rupert Neve’s vintage and modern recording equipment, and are exemplified in the Precision Series.

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“…the mid range detail is stunning. In my opinion, a mix lives or dies depending on mid range content. They nailed it!”

— CHRIS MARA
WELCOME TO 1979, MARA MACHINES

CONTROL YOUR TONE

While the Fidelice Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier has an intentionally minimal feature set, there are several options that can adapt the phono stage to your system.

The left-hand switch inserts an 18dB / octave Rumble Filter with a corner frequency at 11.4Hz to remove extremely low-frequency artifacts from the signal, saving your amplifiers and speakers from exerting extra energy in replicating unnecessary sounds below that frequency.

Both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) signal paths are included such that the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier can be used with virtually any cartridge. The MM setting provides an input impedance of 47kOhms, selectable capacitance at 110pF or 220pF to serve a variety of MM cartridges, and 40dB of gain. The MC setting provides an input impedance of 100 Ohms, capacitance of 220pF, and gain of 60dB.

With an elegant mahogany-accented aluminum chassis and sound quality revered by the entire recording industry for generations, the Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier brings true studio sound to your turntable system: always true to the source, but with the hint of magical musicality that only Rupert Neve’s equipment can deliver.

“Rupert Neve knows better than anyone how to build good-sounding discrete circuitry, and again he proves the sonic advantages of this approach.”

— MARNIX BOSMAN, HIFI VIDEO TEST – JULY/AUGUST 2020

SPECIFICATIONS

CONNECTIONS

Analog Inputs: Stereo RCA (MM),  Stereo RCA (MC)
Analog Outputs: Stereo RCA (Line Output)

RIAA ACCURACY

< +/-0.15dB from 20 Hz to 31.5 kHz

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

< -0.2dB @ 10 Hz
< -1dB @ 120 kHz

STEREO MATCHING

< 0.1dB from 10 Hz to 22 kHz

POWER CONSUMPTION

2.04W (24V, 0.085A)

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL

17.6 dBV, 19.86 dBu, 7.62 Vrms

MOVING MAGNET

(Source Z = 20 Ω Unbalanced, BW: 22Hz – 22kHz)

Input Impedance: 47 kΩ, 110 pF / 220 pF
Gain: 40 dB @ 1 kHz
Noise: -82 dBV
Equivalent Input Noise: -122 dBV
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 77 dB
Dynamic Range: 99.6 dB
Crosstalk: -88 dB @ 10 kHz
THD+N (Input: 5mV RMS @ 1 kHz): 0.017%

MOVING COIL

(Source Z = 20 Ω Unbalanced, BW: 22Hz – 22kHz)

Input Impedance: 100 Ω, 220pF
Gain: 60 dB @ 1 kHz
Noise: -70 dBV
Equivalent Input Noise: -130 dBV
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 64 dB
Dynamic Range: 87.6 dB
Crosstalk: -85 dB @ 10 kHz
THD+N (Input: 500μVRMS @ 1 kHz): 0.08%

Brand

Fidelice by Rupert Neve Designs