Phono RPS 100
The "Raven Phono RPS 100" is the name of the first phono preamplifier from TW Acustic. Thomas Woschnick, the creator of the latest addition to the Herne-based analog manufacturer's product line, launches it with a bold promise: "You will hardly find a phono preamplifier that boasts such a wealth of features while simultaneously guaranteeing such an emotional and realistic music reproduction."
Anyone who has been manufacturing top-quality turntables as long as we have encounters a wide variety of cartridges, step-up transformers, and phono preamplifiers. This includes not only the components we use to develop our Raven turntables and tonearms, but also the products that TW Acustic turntable owners use to play their records. As was inevitable, since no phono preamplifier truly met our sonic expectations, we decided to develop one ourselves. Those who know us know that we don't do things by halves.
The result: a meticulously designed and flawlessly executed tube circuit with two-stage amplification and active equalization. For the input stage, we use extremely high-quality MC transformers and a pair of matched 12AX7 dual triodes, while the output stage employs a matched pair of 6922 tubes. We pay close attention not only to the desired tonal character but also to ensuring that our tube selection exhibits the best possible microphonic and noise characteristics. To guarantee the latter, we utilize a sophisticated, stabilized DC heater system.
We systematically avoid interference by housing the oversized power supply in a separate enclosure. Furthermore, after extensive experimentation with various highly regarded capacitors, we opted for top-of-the-line, high-end British Clarity Caps, which we found to be significantly superior in sound quality. The use of Neutrik XLR input jacks, internal wiring, and Cardas Audio RCA input/output jacks further underscores our uncompromising selection of materials and components.
In terms of ease of use, the Raven Phono RPS 100 leaves nothing to be desired: All adjustments for the three freely configurable inputs (factory default: 2 x RCA, 1 x XLR) are made via six precisely placed buttons on the front panel. The excellently legible display – available in blue or amber – can be switched off and shows the selected settings for MM or MC cartridges for each input. Furthermore, the phase can be inverted at the touch of a button, and a total of five different equalization curves can be selected, including the RIAA and the four most relevant standards (EMI, DECCA, MERCURY, COLUMBIA). As you can see, we've thought of everything to ensure that the discerning vinyl enthusiast can get the very best from the grooves: The Raven Phono RPS 100 offers a highly emotional and breathtakingly realistic listening experience. Its powerful presence, rich tonal colors, speed, and impulsiveness will amaze even the most experienced analog aficionado. The ability to subtly differentiate every type of music and reproduce it with incredible airiness and detail, which is not limited to the high frequencies, undoubtedly makes the Raven Phono RPS 100 one of the best phono preamps you can find on this planet!
Technical Specifications:
- Inputs: 2 x RCA, 1 x XLR (other configurations available upon request)
- Output: 1 x RCA
- MM Gain: 40 dB (selectable for each input)
- MC Gain: 68 dB (selectable for each input)
- MC Termination Impedance: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 Ω (selectable for each input)
- MM Termination Impedance: 47 kΩ (automatic)
- MM Capacitance: 47 pF, 100 pF, 150 pF, 200 pF, 250 pF, 300 pF (adjustable on the chassis)
- Equalization Curves: RIAA, EMI, DECCA, MERCURY, COLUMBIA (selectable for each input)
- Phase: normal/inverted (selectable for each input) Input)
- Display: Switchable
- Display Options: Blue with white text or amber with black text
- Operation: 6 buttons for all settings (adjustments are saved after power-off)
- Tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 2 x 6922
- Housing: Aluminum, black (front & sides 1.5 cm / top, bottom, back 0.6 cm)
- Power Supply Housing: Aluminum, black
- Housing Dimensions: 30 x 14 x 34.5 cm
- Power Supply Dimensions: 17 x 14 x 34.5 cm
- Housing Weight: 12 kg
- Power Supply Weight: 8 kg
- Packaging Dimensions: 65 x 52 x 22 cm
- Weight including packaging: 21 kg
Our products
Music should touch you – with depth, dynamism, and soul. Our turntables, tonearms, and phono preamplifiers are designed to reproduce this emotion authentically. Every detail, every component is crafted with passion and precision to transform sound back into music – authentic, vibrant, and pure.
