The HIFIMAN Prelude is a fully balanced, pure Class-A analog headphone and preamplifier, developed in collaboration with the Chinese amplifier specialist Goldenwave (now part of HIFIMAN). Prelude is a sonically outstanding headphone amplifier with very high power output, designed to drive the best headphones in the world. It is not intended for use with in-ear monitors.

Prelude is a versatile powerhouse: On the front panel, it provides the user with three balanced outputs. The two 3-pin XLR inputs nevertheless allow for the connection of headphones with classic 6.35 mm jacks, two at the same time. Available options include a 4.4 mm connection, a 4-pin XLR connection, a connection for 2x3-pin XLR, and the latter can also accommodate standard 6.3 mm jack plugs.

The independent, discrete input stage utilizes a precise symmetry conversion circuit that converts the also-supported RCA signal into a fully balanced signal. Both the preamplifier and headphone amplifier stages are implemented in a Class-A MOSFET design.

The high-performance toroidal transformer, tailored to the system, delivers immense power. An output of 6 watts at 60 ohms makes Prelude the first choice for pairing with HIFIMAN’s legendary SUSVARA magnetostatic headphones and other headphones that rely on ultra-powerful amplification.

The side ventilation slots of the solid aluminum housing are not merely decorative. Serious work is happening inside, and the unit requires proper ventilation. The housing becomes warm, and you should neither place anything on top of the Prelude nor enclose it in a way that restricts ventilation.

The Prelude is easy to operate with four controls: the durable potentiometer handles volume control, and three buttons control input, output, and gain, respectively. An easy-to-read OLED display provides information about the active inputs and outputs as well as the gain level. You can use either the headphone amplifier function or the preamplifier function.

Note – the Prelude reaches its sonic optimum in a few minutes. Please do not leave the device switched on permanently.

Frequency response: 20 - 50 kHz, ±1 dB @ 1 kHz

SNR: -113 dB @ 1 kHz

THD+N: 0.0009%, low gain, @ 1 kHz

Headphone amplifier
Power (0.1% @ 1 kHz): 10 W @ 32 Ω, 1 W @ 300 Ω, 560 mW @ 600 Ω

Preamplifier: 4 Vrms per channel, balanced

Maximum power consumption: <50 W

Dimensions: 330 x 56 x 270 mm³

Weight: 6.3 kg

Herstellerangaben:

HIFIMAN Electronics
2602 Beltagh Ave.
Bellmore
11710 , NY
USA
customerservice@hifiman.com

Verantwortliche Person:

Sieveking Sound GmbH & Co. KG
Plantage 20
28215 , Bremen
Germany
contact@sieveking-sound.de