VITUS AUDIO RI-101

Vitus Audio has released its RI-101 integrated amplifier, which Vitus claims that although being based on the now eight-year-old RI-100 is greatly improved, due to the use of a more efficient 1kVA transformer and a new input stage. ‘ Although the printed circuit boards look almost the same, there are many differences,’ said Hans-Ole Vitus of Vitus Audio. ‘ In order to lower the noise level below that of the RI-100, and to further enhance the level of resolution and blackness, we now use a completely balanced preamplifier stage, powered by a much more complex and lower-noise regulated power supply.’ Another change is the volume control, with the new RI-101 using the same high-resolution volume control used in the Vitus Audio SL-103 and MP-L201.

Vitus rates the power output of the RI-101 as 300-watts per channel into 8 and 600-watts per channel into 4 , both channels driven. The frequency range is quoted as 1Hz–800kHz and the signal-to-noise ratio as >90dB. The optional DAC/ Streamer module that available for the RI-101 is a completely new design for Vitus Audio. ‘ We use the top ESS chip in this DAC, initially based on our wish to fully support DoP, which only very few DAC chips do for real,’ said Vitus. ‘ Many consider this the best-sounding DAC available, and equally as many find it a bit ‘digital’ and ‘cold’: Personally, I stand

somewhere in the middle. Obviously, we created a design around the DAC which gave us the musicality we always strive for, plus we use a very robust streaming technology that delivers the best sound possible from streaming, which we can do from Airplay, Roon, MQA, Tidal, Spotify and more.’

Available now in Australia, the RI-100 (without the optional DAC module) is $21,900 (RRP).

For more information, contact Absolute HiEnd on (04) 8877 7999 or visit www.absolutehiend.com