When it comes to high-end audio equipment, Hifiman has carved out a reputation for creating products that blend technical excellence with rich, musical soundscapes. Known for its commitment to innovation, the brand continually explores new ways to enhance the listening experience across a variety of price ranges. Over the years, Hifiman has delivered an array of products that cater to both casual listeners and audiophiles seeking refined, high-performance sound. Enter the Hifiman Prelude.
The Hifiman Prelude represents a collaboration between Hifiman and Goldenwave, bringing together the strengths of both companies to create a desktop amplifier that aims to stand out in the crowded world of high-end audio. Positioned as a premium headphone amplifier and pre-amp, the Prelude is designed to deliver the kind of audio fidelity that appeals to serious enthusiasts. This unit not only showcases technical sophistication but also focuses on musicality, ensuring that it appeals to both analytical and emotional listeners.
Combining a robust build with a fully balanced Class A design, the Hifiman Prelude is crafted to deliver clean, powerful output while maintaining the warmth and detail that audiophiles crave. Its MOS-FET high-current output design makes it a versatile option for a range of headphones, providing enough power and finesse to drive even the most demanding models. With thoughtful engineering and a commitment to sonic purity, the Prelude sets the stage for a premium listening experience.
Design and Functionality
The Hifiman Prelude boasts a striking design that balances modern aesthetics with functional elegance. Crafted from a single piece of aluminium, its chassis not only delivers a high-end visual appeal but also serves a practical purpose by minimising resonance that could impact audio clarity. The brushed metal finish gives it a sleek, professional look, while its solid 6.5kg weight ensures stability on any desktop, even when swapping cables or adjusting controls.
The Prelude is a medium-sized desktop unit that commands presence without overwhelming your workspace. Its build quality is impeccable, with every element—from the tactile buttons to the precision volume knob—exuding durability and attention to detail. The curved aluminium casing softens its industrial aesthetic, while the retro-style screen adds a nostalgic touch that blends old-school charm with modern functionality.
The layout of the Prelude is thoughtfully designed for simplicity and ease of use. The front panel is neatly arranged, starting with dual 3-pin XLR balanced outputs, which also support standard 6.35mm single-ended connections. Adjacent to these is the balanced 4-pin XLR output and a 4.4mm balanced port, catering to a wide range of headphone types. At the centre sits the ALPS volume control, known for its smooth operation and excellent channel balance, making precise adjustments effortless.
Further to the right on the front panel are three essential selectors: the input switch for choosing between RCA and XLR sources, the gain selector for toggling between low and high output, and the mode selector that allows users to switch between headphone amplification and pre-amp functions. This straightforward setup ensures that users can quickly adapt the Prelude to their specific listening needs without navigating complicated menus or settings.
The rear panel maintains a minimalist approach, focusing on essential connections for clean signal transmission. Here, you’ll find the power button, a high-quality fuse, the power socket, and both RCA and XLR inputs and outputs. Notably absent are digital inputs, underscoring the Prelude’s dedication to pure analogue performance. This streamlined design promotes optimal audio fidelity, eliminating unnecessary signal conversion that could degrade sound quality.
In terms of usability, the Prelude offers multiple gain settings—low and high—allowing for tailored output depending on headphone sensitivity. This flexibility ensures compatibility with a vast range of headphones, from high-impedance studio models to more sensitive in-ear monitors. Additionally, users can connect multiple headphones simultaneously, though it’s important to note that the pre-amp function and headphone outputs can’t be used together, maintaining signal integrity for each mode.
Key Features
The Hifiman Prelude stands out with its fully balanced Class A amplifier design, which prioritises sonic purity and dynamic range. This architecture ensures minimal distortion while delivering a powerful and transparent sound that remains consistent across a wide range of headphones. Class A amplification is renowned for its ability to produce smooth, rich audio, and the Prelude capitalises on this with a refined, weighty sound signature that remains true to the source.
One of the most notable features of the Prelude is its MOS-FET high-current output, specifically engineered to drive demanding headphones with ease. This high-current capability results in better control over low-impedance headphones while still offering the finesse required for high-impedance models. The result is a versatile amplifier that adapts effortlessly to a variety of audio setups, providing a balanced and engaging sound regardless of the headphones used.
Power delivery is another standout element, with the Prelude offering an impressive 10W at 32 ohms, scaling down appropriately for higher impedance headphones. This power output ensures that even the most power-hungry models, such as planar magnetic headphones, perform optimally. The amplifier’s ability to maintain clarity and composure under heavy loads makes it an excellent match for audiophiles who own a diverse collection of headphones.
At the core of its power system is a customised, high-power, low-noise toroidal transformer, which supports the Prelude’s clean and stable output. This transformer, coupled with a multi-channel, high-speed voltage regulation circuit, ensures a constant flow of clean energy to the amplifier’s critical components. This attention to power management significantly reduces unwanted noise and distortion, further enhancing the overall sound quality.
Another thoughtful inclusion is the fully balanced headphone protection circuit, designed to safeguard both the amplifier and connected headphones. This feature adds a layer of reliability, ensuring that sudden surges or operational mishaps won’t compromise the longevity of your equipment. It’s a subtle but essential touch that highlights the Prelude’s focus on user confidence and product durability.
The ALPS volume control is yet another precision component that elevates the Prelude’s performance. Known for its reliability and smooth operation, the volume knob offers precise adjustments without introducing channel imbalance, even at lower listening levels. Its tactile resistance provides satisfying control, making fine-tuning the volume a seamless experience.
Connectivity options on the Prelude cater to a broad range of audiophile preferences. With both balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs, users can experiment with different configurations to find their ideal setup. The ability to convert single-ended RCA inputs into fully balanced outputs adds versatility, ensuring that even older or less sophisticated source gear can integrate smoothly into the signal chain.
The Prelude’s dual gain settings expand its usability across a wider selection of headphones. The low gain mode is perfect for sensitive headphones and IEMs, while the high gain mode provides the extra power needed for more demanding models. This simple yet effective feature allows users to fine-tune the amplifier’s output to match their headphones’ requirements, ensuring optimal performance across the board.
Experience Using the Product and Performance
Using the Hifiman Prelude immediately reveals its strength in delivering a smooth, natural, and highly dynamic sound. From the moment you connect your headphones, the amplifier’s clean and powerful output brings music to life with an impressive sense of energy and precision. It strikes a balance between technical detail and musicality, offering a sound that is both refined and deeply engaging.
The amplifier’s transparency stands out, allowing the character of your source and DAC to shine through without introducing colouration. This makes it an excellent tool for audiophiles who enjoy fine-tuning their setups, as the Prelude faithfully reproduces every nuance from upstream components. The clarity and separation across the frequency range ensure that every layer of the music is distinct yet cohesive.
Stereo imaging on the Prelude is exceptional, creating a wide and immersive soundstage that gives each instrument its own defined space. The amplifier excels in both width and depth, allowing for a three-dimensional listening experience that makes even complex tracks easy to dissect. Its low noise floor further enhances this, ensuring that quiet passages remain clean and free from background hiss.
In the high frequencies, the Prelude offers a detailed yet smooth presentation that avoids harshness or fatigue. Treble notes extend beautifully, providing the necessary sparkle and airiness while maintaining a relaxed quality that makes long listening sessions comfortable. Even with treble-forward headphones, the Prelude softens any potential sharpness, resulting in a more forgiving sound.
The midrange is where the Prelude truly shines, delivering vocals and instruments with warmth, texture, and natural timbre. There’s a sense of openness and airiness in the mids that adds depth and emotion to vocal tracks, while instruments benefit from accurate placement and subtle detailing. The slightly fuller presentation in this range gives music a richer, more organic feel.
Low-end performance is equally impressive, with the Prelude providing bass that is deep, punchy, and tightly controlled. The amplifier handles sub-bass frequencies with authority, ensuring that the low end feels substantial without overwhelming the rest of the mix. Bass lines are delivered with texture and definition, while kick drums hit with satisfying impact, all without muddying the mids.
Dynamic range is a particular strength of the Prelude, with the amplifier easily transitioning between delicate, quiet moments and powerful, energetic peaks. This ability to handle a wide range of dynamics adds excitement and realism to the listening experience, making live recordings and orchestral pieces especially captivating.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of using the Prelude is its consistency across different headphones. Whether driving low-impedance dynamic drivers or high-impedance planar magnetic models, the amplifier maintains its smooth, weighty sound without strain. Its high power output ensures that even the most demanding headphones reach their full potential, while sensitive models still benefit from clean, distortion-free playback.
The pre-amp functionality also shines, allowing the Prelude to integrate seamlessly into a larger audio system. When connected to powered speakers or external amplifiers, it retains the same clarity and dynamic strength, making it a versatile hub for both headphone and speaker setups. The ability to easily switch between headphone and pre-amp modes adds convenience without compromising sound quality.
The Hifiman Prelude delivers an experience that is both technically impressive and emotionally engaging. It offers a sound that is full-bodied, detailed, and dynamic, with a natural tonality that makes every genre of music enjoyable. Whether used for focused listening sessions
Conclusion
The Hifiman Prelude stands out as a meticulously engineered amplifier that blends technical precision with musical warmth. Its fully balanced Class A design, combined with a MOS-FET high-current output, ensures it delivers clean, powerful, and dynamic sound across a wide range of headphones. From delicate acoustic tracks to high-energy electronic music, the Prelude consistently provides an engaging and immersive listening experience.
Its thoughtful design and solid build quality further reinforce its status as a high-end audio component. The aluminium chassis not only offers durability but also enhances the overall sonic performance by minimising unwanted resonance. Paired with versatile connectivity options and a user-friendly layout, it integrates seamlessly into any audiophile’s setup, whether for headphones or as a pre-amp in a larger system.
Performance-wise, the Prelude excels in delivering a full-bodied, natural sound that retains clarity and detail without veering into clinical territory. Its dynamic range, expansive soundstage, and accurate stereo imaging make it a joy to use across diverse musical genres. The amplifier’s ability to maintain composure, even with demanding headphones, highlights its power and refinement.
The Hifiman Prelude is more than just a headphone amplifier; it’s a statement piece for any audio enthusiast seeking a harmonious balance between technical accuracy and musical enjoyment. With its robust design, impressive power output, and captivating sound signature, it’s an investment that will elevate any high-fidelity listening setup.
