Short answer
Both are desktop amplifiers, $799 against $699.
The Aune S17 Pro EVO reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here, the Rupert Neve RNHP on 566.
| Specification | Aune S17 Pro EVO | Rupert Neve RNHP |
|---|---|---|
| Power into 32Ω | 2.0 W | 262 mW |
| Power into 150Ω | 464 mW | 175 mW |
| Power into 300Ω | 235 mW | 88 mW |
| Power into 600Ω | 117 mW | 44 mW |
| Output impedance | 1 Ω | 0.08 Ω |
| Output noise | not published | 8.03 µV |
| Price | $799 | $699 |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | 567 | 566 |
Not published means the maker leaves it out, so that axis cannot be compared.
| Balanced | Aune S17 Pro EVO | Rupert Neve RNHP |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | XLR4 and 4.4mm | no separate rating |
| Power into 32Ω | 7.5 W | — |
| Power into 300Ω | 918 mW | — |
| Output impedance | 1 Ω | — |
| Output noise | not published | — |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | 567 | — |
Only the Aune S17 Pro EVO has a separate balanced rating from its maker; through it, it reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here. The Rupert Neve RNHP may still have a balanced socket — its spec sheet simply gives no figure for one, so there is nothing to put beside it.
| Load | Aune S17 Pro EVO | Rupert Neve RNHP |
|---|---|---|
| 32 Ω | Published | Derived |
| 150 Ω | Published | Published |
| 300 Ω | Published | Derived |
| 600 Ω | Published | Derived |
Both makers publish a power rating. Aune S17 Pro EVO publishes at 32 Ω, at 150 Ω, at 300 Ω and at 600 Ω; Rupert Neve RNHP at 150 Ω. The other rows are worked out from those.
So the two columns are not equally firm row by row: at 32 Ω, at 300 Ω and at 600 Ω only the Aune S17 Pro EVO figure is the maker’s own. On those rows the derived number is the one to doubt first.
1 headphone reaches 100 dB on the Aune S17 Pro EVO but not on the Rupert Neve RNHP — Symphonium Titan.
15 headphones are left alone by the Rupert Neve RNHP under the one-eighth rule but coloured by the Aune S17 Pro EVO (64 Audio Nio, 64 Audio Volur, Campfire Audio Andromeda 2023, 12 more).
566 of the 567 models here reach 100 dB on both.
Headroom is at a 100 dB SPL peak.
The widest gap on the list is the HiFiMAN HE400se: Aune S17 Pro EVO has +23 dB of headroom there against +15 dB. 8 dB is about 6.6 times the power, which matters for peaks rather than for how loud the music sits.
The hiss columns are empty for Aune S17 Pro EVO because that maker publishes no output noise figure.
| Headphone | Impedance | Needs | Aune S17 Pro EVO headroom | Rupert Neve RNHP headroom | Aune S17 Pro EVO hiss | Rupert Neve RNHP hiss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SE846 | 9 Ω | 0.04 mW | +42 dB | +35 dB | not published | 33 dB |
| Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 | 9 Ω | 4.0 mW | +22 dB | +15 dB | not published | 13 dB |
| Audeze LCD-2 Classic | 70 Ω | 0.79 mW | +31 dB | +25 dB | not published | 11 dB |
| Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) | 250 Ω | 0.63 mW | +27 dB | +22 dB | not published | 6 dB |
| HiFiMAN HE400se | 25 Ω | 7.9 mW | +23 dB | +15 dB | not published | 5 dB |
| Audio-Technica ATH-R70X | 470 Ω | 1.6 mW | +20 dB | +15 dB | not published | -1 dB |
| Sennheiser HD 600 | 300 Ω | 6.6 mW | +16 dB | +11 dB | not published | -5 dB |
| HiFiMAN Susvara | 60 Ω | 50 mW | +13 dB | +7 dB | not published | -7 dB |
The Aune S17 Pro EVO costs $100 more than the Rupert Neve RNHP. Out of the 567 models here, that difference buys 1 more model driven to 100 dB.
It does not run one way only: the cheaper Rupert Neve RNHP leaves 15 models alone under the one-eighth rule that the Aune S17 Pro EVO does not, which is the part worth checking against your own headphones before paying the difference.
Only published figures count here; blank axes are counted separately.
Each in full: Aune S17 Pro EVO and Rupert Neve RNHP.