Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Channel Strip – Recently Serviced, Barely Used. £2800 Brighton / London

[Dons]

I'm moving studios and plenty of unused gear has to go.. here goes.. : 

 

One of the most coveted channel strips ever made, highly sought after for all the right reasons. Known for its silky preamps, musical EQ, smooth compressor, and legendary Silk/Texture circuit, this unit brings the unmistakable Rupert Neve sound into a modern, versatile package. This was one of the final designs Rupert Neve personally oversaw before his passing (not to be confused with later not-similar editions..) — a true piece of recording history that is likely to appreciate in value over time.

Condition & Service:

Lived in a smoke-free (greasy fingers free !) climate-controlled studio rack, with very little use.
Professionally serviced in 2024 by Audio Circuit (Brighton). All modules were replaced (routine for high-end analog gear) The unit was stored out of use ever since ! Invoice included for peace of mind — no additional service needed for years.
Safely stored in SKB case (available for purchase separately at discount if interested ).

Why Sell?

I absolutely love this piece — it’s incredible for tracking vocals, strings , bass, guitar , synth etc, mixing, EQ shaping, de-essing, compression, passing, and adding that unmistakable Neve warmth and depth to anything you can think of really ! Unfortunately, my current work flow and touring doesn’t put this unit to much work and it’s taking up valuable space. Otherwise, I would never sell. 

 

Now , for bass - electric and double. - this is unbelievably HUGE ! the silk switch adds such subtle saturation (or extreme ) and along with compression and flexible EQ you have one of the best channel strips that done well  - by a long shot !  if you are doing any remote recording or sessions - this is very much at the top and meeting any client demands easily and with true Neve quality ! 

If you’re reading this, you might know what this unit can do. Rarely available on the market. UK-based, fully serviced, barely-used Portico II Channel.

Stereo Power:
If you have another unit, they can be linked for true stereo operation, giving you a world-class front end or mix buss chain. Dual Portico II’s deliver massive 3D stereo width, cohesive glue, and the unmistakable Rupert Neve depth that mastering engineers chase. Whether across your mix buss, stem groups, or mastering chain, a stereo pair transforms your setup into something truly world-class.

Additional Notes

- SKB case not included by default; can be added for £80 extra - please contact if interested
- Minor scratch on top occurred during first rack installation.(still hurts..)
- Insured,signed tracked delivery to the UK only, or happy to meet in person in London or Brighton. 
- I am not in a rush to sell this and it is listed in various places elsewhere so ad might get pulled abruptly.

📦 Ships fully insured, carefully packed. (If you choose to buy the SKB case it'll add extra protection !)
🔧 Includes service invoice and original manual. No original box.

While shipping to UK only. EU/Worldwide please get in touch beforehand if interested.

For UK can meet in any London or Brighton station or along M1/M6 up to Manchester and across towards end of August.

Highlights

- Pristine RND Class-A mic preamp
- Incredible 4-band EQ with variable Q
Compressor/Limiter with blend control, De-esser,
Low-Cut for vocal tracking.
Texture/Silk modes for harmonic enhancement
Stereo link option for dual units
Built like a tank, with Rupert’s uncompromising design philosophy
DI + 48V Phantom
UK + US kettle lead
For UK buyers - Not dealing with import tax.
Collection in person possible !

 

Feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks !


From Neve :

Portico II Channel
The Portico II Channel was created using the high voltage topologies from the 5088 to create a channel strip with the ultimate sound quality. Comprised of a fully-featured mic preamplifier, 4-band EQ, compressor-limiter, “texture” control and level metering, the Portico II Channel includes a bevy of features including Variable Silk with Texture control, a fully tunable “de-esser”, multiple VCA filtering and detection options, a transient-optimized swept HPF and parallel compression blending.

Technical Specs:

Portico II Channel Mic Pre / EQ / Compressor / Texture
For recording and mixing engineers, the greatest challenge will always be to capture and transform disparate 2-D elements into an engrossing 3-D vision that elicits the same raw emotions and compelling vibrance as the live performance. With the Portico II Channel, every possible attention has been paid towards producing the most accurate, sweet-sounding audio topologies, while enabling engineers with the tools they need to boldly shape or fine tune tracks to the limits of their imaginations.

The Portico II Channel was created using the high voltage topologies from the 5088 to create a channel strip with the ultimate sound quality. Comprised of a fully-featured mic preamplifier, 4-band EQ, compressor-limiter, "texture" control and level metering, the Portico II Channel includes a bevy of new features including; Variable Silk with Texture control, a fully tunable "de-esser", multiple VCA filtering and detection options, a transient-optimized swept HPF and parallel compression blending. With its simple yet powerful topologies and extensive feature set, every element of the Portico II: Channel is geared towards empowering recording artists to realize these visions.

Input Section
Input signals may be derived from any of three sources; Microphone, Line or DI. The Microphone input has a 10K Ohm non-reactive input resistance that handles a full 26dBu signal without the need for a pad. A primary Gain control provides 66dB of gain in 6dB increments for easy recall with a +/- 6dB Trim for fine adjustment. A transient-optimized HPF variable from 20-250Hz is included. Additionally, a 48V Phantom Power switch, Phase Inversion, Signal Present indicator and a Mute switch are included. The pre-amp is a TLA non-reactive design that precludes the loading of microphones with limited driving capability and which maintains a 2 dB noise figure over a wide range.

Inserting a plug into the DI input selects a 3M Ohm discrete FET DI circuit with a transformer-coupled topography that optimizes both the microphone and DI inputs, allowing low impedance microphones and high impedance sources like electric guitars and basses to sound their very best. Primary Gain and Trim controls are fully operational. A "Thru" jack on the front panel that duplicates the unaffected source signal allows the use of an external amplifier if required. A "Line" switch selects the independent Line XLR non-reactive input circuit that includes the HPF and Level Trim controls.

Texture
One of the key developments in the Portico II Channel is the new Texture section. Building on the "Silk" mode found in the original Portico Series mic preamplifiers, Texture is designed to adjust the actual amount of musical harmonic content from the source material - in effect, providing countless tonal options in one device. The texture section can vary from barely audible to dramatic, all controlled by a single knob. With that said, Rupert Neve has taken great care to ensure that the musical integrity of source material itself will not be compromised by these harmonic controls - these are not to be confused with controls from other manufactures that may "incinerate", "demolish" or "destroy" source material.

Specifications
Frequency Response:
Main Output, no load
-3 dB @ 2 Hz
-3 dB @ 160 kHz
Noise:
Measured at Main Output, unweighted, 22Hz-22kHz,
Terminated 150 Ohms.
With gain at unity better than -92 dBu
With gain at 66 dB better than -56 dBu
Equivalent Input Noise better than -123 dBu
Gain:
Unity to +66dB in 6 dB steps,
Trim continuously adjustable from -6dB to +6dB
Line Input:
Trim continuously adjustable from -6dB to +6dB
Maximum Output Level:
Maximum output from 20 Hz to 40 kHz is +25 dBu.
Phantom Power: 48 Volts DC +/- 1%
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise:
@ 1kHz, +20 dBu output: Better than 0.002%
As above, Silk Engaged: Better than 0.2% Second Harmonic
@ 20Hz, +20 dBu out Better than 0.004%
@ 20Hz, +20 dBu out Better than 0.020%
IM Distortion: Better than 0.002%
Slew rate Better than 4 V/uS
High Pass Filter:
Frequency: Continuously Variable from 20 Hz to 250Hz
Slope: 12 dB/Octave Bessel