Rupert Neve 545 500 Series Primary Source Enhancer

The Rupert Neve 545 is an absolutely indispensable addition to any setup where feedback or reverberation are problematic. Based around the circuitry in the acclaimed Portico 5045 – which has benefited countless tours, arenas, houses of worship and broadcast stages worldwide – the 545 is exceptionally useful at reducing feedback without negatively impacting the sonic integrity of the source.

The 545 shares some traits with conventional “noise gates”, but operates on a different principle. One common aspect is that both reduce the gain during the absence of signal – or more specifically, both begin to attenuate when the level of a signal falls below a certain user-defined threshold. The 545 senses when someone is speaking or singing into the mic and allows the signal to pass through, and senses when the person has stopped talking or singing and reduces the gain appropriately, thus reducing the system’s tendency to feed back.

Importantly, the 545 does not utilize filtering or digital processing to achieve its significant benefits. Built around Rupert Neve Designs’ custom input and output transformers, its all-analog circuitry provides superb control and sonic performance without compromising the integrity of the source material. This makes the 545 the most intuitive, natural-sounding and effective method of feedback reduction available on the market.

With a minimal control set, the 545’s ease of use makes it ideal even for circumstances where a full-time or experienced engineer is not readily available, and allows for rapid adjustments on-the-fly even during performances.

Rupert Neve 545 Features

• Power status LED
• Process Engage button
• Process Active indicates when 545 is actively affecting signal
• Depth knob controls how much attenuation applied after input signal falls below threshold
• Fast control selects between 2 available time constants
• Select between RMS and Peak detection modes

• 545 500 series primary source enhancer1

• Maximum Input and Output Level+24 dBu
• THD and Noise
  • 1 kHz, +20 dBu Output Level, no load: better than 0.001%
  • 20 Hz, +20 dBu Output Level, no load: 0.1% typical (2nd and 3rd Harmonic)
• Noise (un-weighted, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 40 ohm balanced source)
  • Primary Source Enhancer Bypassed: better than -100 dBu
• Frequency Response (30 ft. Cable on Main Output)
  • 30Hz to 58kHz: +/-0.25 dB
  • 18.5 Hz: -3dB
• ThresholdContinuously variable from -18 dBu to +12 dBu
• DepthContinuously variable from 0 dB to -20 dB
• Time Constants
  • RMS Mode
  • Attack and Release
  • Slow (FAST push-button OUT): 100 mS
  • Fast (FAST push-button IN): 200 mS
  • Peak Mode
  • Attack (fixed): 20 mS
  • Release
  • Slow (FAST push-button OUT): 1 S
  • Fast (FAST push-button IN): 200 mS
• Power Consumption (+/-16 VDC)80 mA
• Shipping Dimensions7.75" x 10" x 3"
• Shipping Weight2 pounds