Violectric HPA V550 Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp

Violectric HPA V550, for this solution Violectric promises nothing less than absolute sound fidelity and thus the best prerequisites for enjoying music in first-class quality via headphones. In addition to the standard version, the Violectric HPA V550 PRO is also available.

Violectric is a brand founded by Lake People electronic GmbH to market high-end hi-fi solutions. At least from a marketing point of view, this is a clear separation from the solutions that Lake People itself offers under its own name, first and foremost Pro Audio Solutions in the studio environment.

However, and this is the fine thing about it, this separation actually applies specifically to the marketing and sales structure; the technical features of Violectric’s solution naturally benefit directly from the many years of expertise of the company from Constance on Lake Constance.

This also applies to the latest solution that Lake People electronic GmbH is now presenting under the Violectric brand, the Violectric HPA V550 Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp.

The new Violectric HPA V550 Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp is, as the name suggests, a new headphone amplifier that belongs to the absolute high-end league. The Violectric HPA V550 is not combined with a D/A converter, as is often the case with the Violectric DHA V590 or Violectric DHA V380. Instead, the Violectric HPA V550 is designed in such a way that it can be used as a preamplifier.

The new Violectric HPA V550 thus consistently relies on a purely “analogue” design; according to the manufacturer, it even represents the pinnacle of the company’s current analogue development. The first-class analogue circuitry is intended to ensure maximum enjoyment of the headphone experience, with every effort being made to ensure that every headphone model can be operated not only without problems, but also optimally.

They state that the new Violectric HPA V550 comes up with an extraordinary technology that amplifies the signal particularly cleanly and transparently. At the same time, this circuit delivers a particularly high power and voltage with enormously low noise values.

Special attention was paid to the control of the volume. The new Violectric HPA V550 uses a motorised Alps RK 27 potentiometer. The developers also use such a component to control the balance.

In addition to the Violectric HPA V550, the company from Lake Constance also offers a pro version, the Violectric HPA V550 PRO, which implements an even more sophisticated control of the volume. Here, volume control is based on a 256-step reed relay circuit.

The new Violectric HPA V550 has three inputs to connect different analogue sources. In addition to two pairs of cinch sockets, there is also a balanced input in the form of XLR sockets.

There are also several options for connecting headphones, so that here, too, you can choose between an unbalanced and a balanced connection.

Special mention must be made of the seven-step level adjustment, which allows an optimal adaptation to the most diverse headphone models, independent of the volume control, thus ensuring the use of in-ear headphones with low impedance and high efficiency, dynamic over-ear headphones with comparatively high impedance and low efficiency, and magnetostatic driver systems under ideal conditions at all times.

Special circuits protect the headphones from DC voltage and overload.

As already mentioned, the new Violectric HPA V550 is not only a headphone amplifier, it can also function as a preamplifier. For this purpose, it is equipped with an unbalanced as well as a balanced output.

A remote control is part of the scope of delivery, because the new Violectric HPA V550, especially in its function as a preamplifier, needs to be controlled comfortably from a distance.

The Violectric HPA V550’s cabinet is of course of the same high quality as the circuitry. The black anodised cabinet, for example, has a front panel made of aluminium with a wall thickness of 8 mm.

By the way, the Violectric brand solutions are also developed and manufactured in Constance. Lake People electronic GmbH thus clearly relies on the “Made in Germany” seal of quality here as well. They also make sure that as many components as possible come from suppliers in Germany.

The new Violectric HPA V550 Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp, just like its big brother Violectric HPA V550 PRO Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp, will be available immediately from specialist dealers. The new Violectric HPA V550 Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp is priced at € 2,399, the PRO version at € 2,999.

Getting to the point

The new Violectric HPA V550 Premium Balanced Headphone Amp and Preamp is, as the name suggests, a new headphone amplifier that belongs to the absolute high-end league. Although the combination with a D/A converter, so often found in the Violectric DHA V590 or Violectric DHA V380 solutions, is dispensed with completely, the Violectric HPA V550 is designed in such a way that it can also be used as a preamplifier.