Rupert Neve Designs RNDI-S Stereo Active Transformer Direct Box
Stereo Active Direct Box with Custom Transformers, Discrete Class-A FET Amplifier Circuit, Rugged Steel Chassis, Ground Lift, 3.5mm Stereo Input Jack, and LED Current Consumption Meter
An expanded two-channel version of our best-selling RNDI, providing massive tone & headroom for all of your instruments & stereo sources.
The RNDI-S signature sound is the product of custom Rupert Neve Designs transformers and class-A biased, discrete FET amplifiers. The carefully orchestrated union of these two elements is key to the unique response of the RNDI-S, delivering a powerful and vibrant direct sound capable of reproducing the full harmonic depth of basses, guitars, keyboards, acoustic instruments, professional line-level sources and consumer devices with a 3.5mm jack.
With portable, powerful, larger-than-life tone, the RNDI-S is ready to make your stereo or mono direct sources shine.
Active + Passive: The Best of Both Worlds
The RNDI-S and RNDI’s signature sound is the product both of new custom Rupert Neve-designed transformers and class-A biased, discrete FET amplifiers. The carefully orchestrated union of these two elements is key to their unique response.
THE TRANSFORMERS
The custom transformers provide superior passive isolation while adding musical harmonics and dimension to the sound. The low impedance, transformer-balanced output excels at driving long cable runs, and performance is immensely consistent regardless of the connected equipment. This is very important for both live and studio environments where the unamplified signal may travel almost 100ft before hitting an amplifier. In other designs, these high-capacitance lines cause major reductions in high frequencies – not so with the RNDI.
THE CLASS-A, DISCRETE FET AMPLIFIERS
The class-A & discrete FET amplifier in the RNDI is powered by 48V phantom, and creates a very high impedance input of 2M Ohms that ensures consistent performance with a wide variety of instruments. The class-A design ensures that zero crossover distortion is added to the signal, which can add upper-order odd harmonics that are musically dissonant in nature. With the RNDI, the overwhelming majority of harmonic content is 2nd order (octave) with some 3rd order present (fifth above octave). These musically relevant harmonics, present in subtle amounts, actually add to the richness of the original signal. And the discrete aspect of the RNDI design means there are no ICs or digital components that can have negative effects on the tone.
CONTROLS & I/O
2x ¼” INPUTS
Hi-Z unbalanced inputs with 2.2M Ohms input impedance.
2x ¼” THRU JACKS
Parallel ¼” jacks used to send signal to an amp or speaker.
3.5MM INPUT
Stereo unbalanced input with 95 kOhm input impedance. Ch 1 = Tip, Ch 2 = Ring.
INPUT SELECT
Selects ¼” Input or 3.5mm Input.
48V POWER LEDS
Indicates that +48V phantom power is present for each channel from the connected mic preamp(s). Power must be supplied independently to both channels.
GROUND LIFTS
Isolates the XLR Pin 1 from the instrument input ground.
OUTPUT
Transformer-balanced XLR output. Impedance <40 Ohms. Phantom power to the RNDI-S is supplied through these connections.
CONTROLS & I/O
2x ¼” INPUTS
Hi-Z unbalanced inputs with 2.2M Ohms input impedance.
2x ¼” THRU JACKS
Parallel ¼” jacks used to send signal to an amp or speaker.
3.5MM INPUT
Stereo unbalanced input with 95 kOhm input impedance. Ch 1 = Tip, Ch 2 = Ring.
INPUT SELECT
Selects ¼” Input or 3.5mm Input.
48V POWER LEDS
Indicates that +48V phantom power is present for each channel from the connected mic preamp(s). Power must be supplied independently to both channels.
GROUND LIFTS
Isolates the XLR Pin 1 from the instrument input ground.
OUTPUT
Transformer-balanced XLR output. Impedance <40 Ohms. Phantom power to the RNDI-S is supplied through these connections.
SPECIFICATIONS
NOISE
Measured Output, un-weighted, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, source impedance 150 Ohm.
Better than -110 dBV
INPUT IMPEDANCE
Instrument Setting: 2.2 Meg Ohm
3.5 mm Input: 95 Kilohm
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE
Less than 40 Ohms
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
+/- 0.25 dB from 30 Hz - 63 kHz
+/- 1 dB from 12.5 Hz - 120 kHz
-3 dBu @ 5 kHz
MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL
Instrument = +20.5 dBu
MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL
+11.5 dBu output at maximum input level
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE
@ 1 kHz, -20 dBu Input Level, no load : 0.009% Typical (2nd and 3rd Harmonic)
@ 1 kHz, +20 dBu Input Level, no load : 0.35% Typical (2nd and 3rd Harmonic)
@ 20 Hz, -20 dBu Input Level, no load : 0.9% Typical (2nd and 3rd Harmonic)
CROSSTALK @ 10 kHz
Instrument Input: -115 dB
3.5 mm Input: -108 dB
POWER REQUIREMENTS
Phantom power, 4.5mA @ +48VDC
WEIGHT
1.5lbs
DIMENSIONS
7” long x 5”wide x 1.75” high
MOUNTING OPTION
19” Rack Shelf, 4 hole pattern (bottom of unit) for 6-32 machine screws
