Vitus RI-101 MK2 Ex-Demonstration

This is an ex-demonstration example of the Vitus Audio RI-101 Mk.II — one of the most accomplished integrated amplifiers in the Reference Series, and a component whose engineering credentials place it among the finest one-box amplification solutions available at any price. Available now at £14,000, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a Reference Series Vitus Audio integrated amplifier at a saving on the new price, with the full reassurance of Martins Hi-Fi's support and ongoing manufacturer backing.

The RI-101 Mk.II delivers 300W per channel into 8Ω and 600W per channel into 4Ω, built around zero global negative feedback, a fully balanced architecture, and SMD component implementation — the same engineering disciplines that define every product in the Vitus Audio range from the Reference Series upwards. The Mk.II revision brought a substantially updated input stage and preamplifier section, a measurably and audibly lower 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, control, and musical authority 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 providing connectivity for a complete high-end system. The fully differential signal path ensures that common-mode noise is rejected at every stage, and the result is a background of extraordinary blackness from which low-level detail and fine spatial information emerge with a precision and naturalness that single-ended designs consistently fail to match. This is not an incidental benefit of the balanced topology — it is the fundamental reason Vitus Audio build every product in the range around a true differential circuit.

Updated Input Stage and Volume Control

The most significant advance in the Mk.II is the revised input stage and preamplifier section, which delivers a measurably lower noise floor than the original RI-101. The incorporation of the higher-resolution volume control from the SL-103 and MP-L201 — components positioned considerably higher in the Vitus Audio range — gives the RI-101 Mk.II a degree of low-level precision and channel balance that is extraordinary for an integrated amplifier, and that allows it to resolve the finest micro-details in a recording with a completeness that integrated amplifiers at this price point do not typically achieve.

Zero Global Negative Feedback

The RI-101 Mk.II operates with zero global negative feedback — a topology shared with every amplifier in the Vitus Audio range, from the RI-101 Mk.II to the SM-011 monoblock. This discipline demands exceptional component matching and engineering precision, and it delivers a transparency, timing integrity, and musical immediacy that feedback-corrected designs cannot replicate. The RI-101 Mk.II does not merely amplify a signal — it preserves it, with a fidelity to the original musical event that defines the Vitus Audio house sound across every product in the catalogue.

Optional DAC and Streaming Module

The RI-101 Mk.II can be specified with an optional DAC and streaming module — and this ex-demonstration example is supplied with the DAC and streaming module fitted, adding Ethernet streaming, S/PDIF via RCA, and AES via XLR to the already comprehensive analogue connectivity. This transforms the RI-101 Mk.II into a genuinely complete one-box solution, allowing the listener to stream high-resolution audio, connect a computer source, and amplify — all from a single chassis of reference quality.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

This ex-demonstration RI-101 Mk.II is for the listener ready to commit to Reference Series Vitus Audio amplification — who wants a complete source-to-speaker solution of extraordinary quality, and who recognises that an ex-demonstration example of this amplifier at this price represents an exceptional opportunity. It partners naturally with the Vitus RP-102 Phonostage for those with a vinyl source worthy of the amplifier's resolution, and with the Vitus SD 025 MK2 for those who prefer a dedicated digital front end of equivalent ambition. For those considering stepping up to a Signature Series separates system, the Vitus SIA-030 and Vitus SS-103 Power Amplifier make illuminating comparisons 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. This ex-demonstration RI-101 Mk.II has been used in our Norwich showroom and is available to hear in the context of a full Vitus Audio system — speak to Dave or Chris, who know the Reference Series in depth and can advise on partnering components, DAC and streaming configuration, and the considerable musical merits of this amplifier. An opportunity of this quality will not remain available indefinitely.

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.