AVID HiFi, the British turntable specialist best known for its high-mass Acutus and Volvere decks, has expanded into a wider electronics range with the AVID OPUS Pre and OPUS Power amplifier. The pair made their public debut at the Hong Kong High End AV Show 2026, bringing technology developed for AVID’s flagship Celsus electronics down to a more accessible price point.
A Flagship-Derived Preamplifier
The AVID OPUS Pre is built around the ALPS RK50 volume control, an attenuator AVID describes as among the finest available, chosen for its transparency and dynamic expression. The preamp integrates AVID’s award-winning Pulsus II phono stage, powered by its own dedicated mains transformer and fully configurable for moving magnet or moving coil cartridges, alongside a built-in headphone amplifier. Connectivity covers two XLR and two RCA line inputs plus a phono input, with both XLR and RCA preamp outputs, and the front panel allows quick switching between sources.
Power comes from a Celsus-derived 500VA toroidal mains transformer, scaled down into the OPUS Pre’s single chassis to deliver what AVID calls an authoritative, holographic soundstage without the multi-box complexity of its flagship separates. Total harmonic distortion is rated below 0.0005%, with a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 103dB on the RCA output.
OPUS Power: Built to Drive Difficult Loads
The matching OPUS Power amplifier is rated at 110W per channel into 8 ohms, backed by a substantial 1,100VA power transformer and 132,000uF of reservoir capacitance, specifications AVID says rival some of its larger amplifiers. Custom-made polypropylene capacitors and a topology built around balanced XLR inputs are intended to keep noise and interference low even when driving demanding loudspeaker loads. The thick aluminium front panel carries AVID’s precision-carved logo, and the steel chassis uses a patterned hole embellishment for additional shielding.
A Matched Pair by Design
AVID positions the OPUS Pre and OPUS Power as a deliberately matched system, sharing the same cabinet width and design language as the rest of the OPUS range, and intended to be bought and used together, though each is sold separately. Both units share the brand’s vibration-resistant casework philosophy, built around a heavy-gauge steel chassis and thick aluminium front panel to isolate sensitive circuitry from external interference, a principle AVID also applies to its turntables like the Atoll IN800 EVO takes with its own integrated approach, though AVID keeps the pre and power stages separate rather than combining them.
Pricing and Availability
The AVID OPUS Pre is priced at £15,995 / 24,995 EUR / $29,995, with the OPUS Power Amplifier at £14,995 / 22,995 EUR / $27,995. Both are available now through AVID’s dealer network; details via avidhifi.com.
Key Specifications
- OPUS Pre: ALPS RK50 volume control, integrated Pulsus II phono stage, headphone amp, 2x XLR + 2x RCA line inputs, 500VA transformer
- OPUS Pre THD: less than 0.0005%; S/N ratio up to 103dB (RCA)
- OPUS Power: 110W per channel at 8 ohms, 1,100VA transformer, 132,000uF capacitance
- OPUS Power inputs: 1x XLR, 1x RCA pair; 4x gold-plated high-current speaker outputs
- Price: OPUS Pre 24,995 EUR; OPUS Power 22,995 EUR
