Vitus RI-101 MK2

The RI-101 Mk.II is the entry point to the world of Vitus Audio — and entry point is perhaps the most misleading description in high-end audio. This is an integrated amplifier that delivers 300W per channel into 8Ω and 600W per channel into 4Ω, built around the same engineering disciplines — zero global negative feedback, fully balanced architecture, SMD component implementation — that define the entire Vitus Audio range from the Signature Series upwards. It is, in the most precise sense of the phrase, a reference-level amplifier that happens to be the least expensive product in the catalogue.

The Mk.II revision brought a substantially updated input stage and preamplifier section, a significantly lowered noise floor, and the incorporation of the higher-resolution volume control derived from the SL-103 and MP-L201 — components that sit considerably further up the Vitus Audio range. The result is an amplifier of greater transparency and control than its predecessor, one that rewards the finest sources and loudspeakers without reservation.

Fully Balanced Architecture

The RI-101 Mk.II is designed around a fully balanced circuit from input to output. Three XLR balanced inputs and two RCA single-ended inputs provide connectivity for a complete high-end system, and the fully differential signal path ensures that common-mode noise is rejected at every stage. This is not a feature added for specification purposes — it is a fundamental design discipline that is audible as a blacker background, finer retrieval of low-level detail, and a more stable and precisely defined soundstage.

Updated Input Stage and Preamplifier Section

The most significant change in the Mk.II is the revised input stage and preamplifier section, which delivers a measurably and audibly lower noise floor than the original RI-101. The incorporation of the higher-resolution volume control from the SL-103 and MP-L201 — components that sit at a significantly higher price point within the Vitus range — gives the RI-101 Mk.II a degree of low-level precision and channel balance that is extraordinary at this level.

Zero Global Negative Feedback

The RI-101 Mk.II operates with zero global negative feedback throughout the signal path — a topology shared with every amplifier in the Vitus Audio range, from the RI-101 Mk.II itself to the SM-011 monoblock. This discipline demands exceptional component matching and engineering precision, but delivers a transparency, timing integrity, and sense of musical immediacy that feedback-corrected designs cannot replicate. The RI-101 Mk.II does not merely amplify a signal; it preserves it.

Optional DAC Board

The RI-101 Mk.II can be specified with an optional DAC board, adding a streamer input via Ethernet, an S/PDIF input via RCA, and an AES input via XLR. This transforms the RI-101 Mk.II into a genuinely complete one-box solution for the listener who wants to stream, play digital files, and amplify — all from a single chassis of exceptional quality. For those who prefer a dedicated digital source, the Vitus RD-101 DAC is the natural partner within the Reference Series.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The RI-101 Mk.II is for the listener ready to commit to a single integrated amplifier of genuine reference quality — one that will anchor a system for a decade or more without the temptation to upgrade. It partners naturally with the Vitus RD-101 DAC as a digital source, and with the Vitus RL-102 Phonostage for those with a vinyl collection worthy of the amplifier's resolution. For those considering stepping up within the Reference Series, the Vitus RS-101 Stereo Power Amplifier makes an illuminating comparison at our Norwich showroom.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. The RI-101 Mk.II is available to audition at our Norwich showroom — speak to Dave or Chris, who know the Vitus Reference Series in depth and can guide you through the choice of configuration, DAC board option, and system matching. An amplifier at this level deserves a proper audition, and we will ensure you get one.

Contact us at [email protected], call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.