Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC

Until now, the company Volumio srl. has focussed on streaming solutions, but now, with the Volumio Precisio, it is presenting a pure DAC for the first time.

For a long time, Volumio srl. was regarded as a pure software company. With the Volumio OS platform, it offered a solution that it primarily offered to hardware manufacturers as an OEM provider for their streaming systems or marketed itself as a flexible streaming app. But then, fortunately, the company in Florence decided to enter the hardware business itself and offer its own streaming solutions.

It is therefore all the more surprising that the new Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC is the first pure D/A converter to be launched on the market. What is less surprising, however, is that the Italian company sees it as the ideal partner for selected streaming solutions from its own company, first and foremost for the Volumio Rivo Music Player Transport and the Volumio Rivo Plus.

No compromises

The new Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC explicitly states that it is a solution for which no compromises were made by the developers.

It is a solution designed as a so-called hyper-symmetrical dual-mono DAC, referring to the two ESS Sabre ESS9039Q2M DAC converters from ESS Technology Inc., which are used here in the form of two separate, mirrored, isolated circuits for optimum channel separation.

Precision MEMS clocks form the basis of the signal processing and TI OA1612A from Texas Instruments are used in the output stage, while an SMD design for extremely low interference and maximum stability as well as an ASIC USB interface are also used. This special USB audio controller ensures bit-accurate data transmission, guarantees extremely low jitter and therefore ultimately the best results.

The fact that independent power controllers are used for the digital and analogue sections of the Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC also contributes to this, as the manufacturer explicitly points out.

The Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC is able to process signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 768 kHz, but it is also capable of DSD, up to DSD512.

All relevant interfaces

The Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC is equipped with all relevant interfaces for flexible use. Firstly, a USB 2.0 port type B connection is available for direct connection to the streaming transport devices from Volumio slr. itself or to a PC or Mac.

We should also emphasise the HDMI interface, which functions here as an I2S digital input.

The Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC is also equipped with a coaxial and optical S/PDIF interface and for analogue signals there is both a balanced output in the form of XLR and an unbalanced output in the form of a pair of RCA sockets. Central control with other devices can be realised via 12 V trigger inputs and outputs, which should also be mentioned here for the sake of completeness.

Simple operating concept

The front is adorned with a 1.3 inch OLED display flanked by two rotary encoders. An infrared diode can also be found here, so that the Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC can of course be controlled using an infrared remote control.

Prices and availability

The new Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC should be available from specialist retailers in the next few days. The recommended retail price is listed at € 799,-.

Getting to the point

Even though it is the premiere, the Volumio Preciso Ultra-precise High-performance DAC is the very first D/A converter from Volumio srl, an Italian company specialising in streaming, it is an uncompromisingly designed DAC, featuring two ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DACs, a dedicated audio-grade ASIC and an ultra-low jitter MEMS clock for exceptional clarity and control. With two linear power supplies, TI OPA1612A operational amplifiers and support for 32-bit 768 kHz or DASD512, it is designed for those seeking pristine signal integrity and musicality, according to the manufacturer’s promise. Developed and manufactured in Italy, specifically in Florence, the D/A converter is of course primarily recommended by Volumio srl. for the company’s streaming transport solutions, i.e. the Volumio Rivo and Volumio Rivo Plus systems.