HIFIMAN PRELUDE Fully Balanced Class A Headphone Amplifier

The PRELUDE is a fully balanced Class A headphone amplifier designed to deliver precise, natural sound with exceptional clarity and power. Its fully discrete architecture incorporates a high-current MOS-FET output stage and a single-ended to balanced conversion circuit, allowing RCA inputs to be rendered fully balanced for superior audio performance. The input stage itself is fully balanced, ensuring accurate signal reproduction and a pure, natural timbre.

An ALPS potentiometer guarantees complete and precise channel balance, giving the listener full control over the stereo image. The pre-amplifier circuit operates independently with a Class A output structure, providing excellent power while preserving musical detail and warmth.

Power is supplied by a customized high-power, low-noise toroidal transformer, paired with a multi-channel high-speed voltage regulator circuit, which ensures clean, stable current for both the headphone amplifier and the fully balanced headphone protection circuitry.

The amplifier is housed in a solid aluminum chassis, crafted from a single piece to minimize unwanted resonance and vibration, enhancing sonic purity and detail. It features multiple input and output options, including 4.4mm balanced output, XLR balanced input and output, RCA input and output, and a 6.3mm headphone output, making it versatile for a wide range of setups.

Specifications:

• Frequency Response: 20–50kHz, +1dB @ 1kHz

• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -113dB @ 1kHz

• THD+N: 0.0009% at low gain, @1kHz

• Power Output (0.1% THD+N @1kHz, balanced): 10W @ 32Ω, 6W @ 64Ω, 2.5W @ 150Ω, 1W @ 300Ω, 560mW @ 600Ω

• Total Power Consumption: <50W

• Inputs/Outputs: 4.4mm balanced out, XLR balanced in/out, RCA in/out, 6.3mm headphone out