The Volumio Preciso was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links
The price of the Preciso is €799 and you can order it directly from Volumio. The price includes shipping, import duties and sales taxes but not the remote control which is a €39 optional purchase.
The Volumio brand
For those unfamiliar with the Volumio brand and its renowned Volumio OS, here’s an overview written by AI.
“Volumio is an Italian technology company specializing in high-quality digital music playback solutions.
Founded in 2013, Volumio is best known for its open-source music player software, designed to deliver audiophile-grade sound performance across a wide range of hardware platforms.
The Volumio OS combines advanced digital audio processing with a user-friendly interface, supporting local libraries, network storage, and major streaming services.
In addition to its software, Volumio also develops premium hardware products, such as the Volumio Rivo and Volumio Integro, which integrate seamlessly with its ecosystem.
Through its focus on innovation, transparency, and community-driven development, Volumio has established itself as a leading name in the world of high-fidelity networked audio.”
Now that you’ve read the introduction, it’s time to know the brand by exploring past reviews of Volumio products.
Volumio Preciso
After the release of the much acclaimed Volumio Rivo and Rivo Plus network streamers, as well as several other all-in-one audio devices with streaming capabilities, time has come for Volumio to present the market with a pure DAC without streamer.
The Volumio Preciso is a standalone high-performance DAC, featuring dual mono SABRE DACs, dual linear power supplies and a MEMS clock for ultimate audio purity.
Technical highlights
The Preciso features dual ES9039Q2M DAC chips by ESS in a true dual mono design with perfectly mirrored and isolated circuits for absolute channel separation, lowest crosstalk and the shortest signal path.
Both DACs are driven by a single, high-accuracy, MEMS clock while the I/V analog stage is utilized with dual OPA1612A high quality op-amps, one per channel, for the purest audio output.
Volumio has made sure to equip the Preciso with a true linear power supply with independent analog and digital regulations for a noise-free signal. The power supply doesn’t have an internal transformer but relies on an external 5V swinging power adapter that could be of higher quality. Volumio uses rectification with more than 5000μF of total filtering capacitance that are mainly split in 14×330μF Rubycon capacitors to achieve the lowest possible ESR.
Not surprisingly, the Preciso uses the same dedicated USB ASIC found inside the Volumio Rivo Plus for bit-perfect, ultra-low jitter data transfer, precise clocking, and optimal analog performance. The performance is further enhanced when these two devices are connected through the I2S HDMI interface.
The main controller is essentially a Raspberry Pi unit that runs a custom developed software. The Preciso has an impressive measured performance of -122.5dB THD+N and 128dB SNR.
Hardware gain control
The Preciso also includes an integrated hardware gain controller so it can be used with a fixed-gain power amplifier. This gain controller allows fine signal adjustments from 0.0 dB to -99.0 dB in precise 0.5 dB steps so there is no need to use an additional preamplifier.
You can easily adjust the output level with the aid of the rotary volume knob or even more conveniently with the remote control.
Design and build quality
Just like other Volumio devices, the Preciso is designed by the expert hands of “Design Narratives Ltd”, a company that specializes in industrial design.
The Preciso has the same minimalistic yet classy design of the Rivo/Rivo Plus models, with elegantly curved sides and the characteristically recessed front-panel. Not by a coincidence though as these devices are intended to be used together.
The black colored faceplate of the Preciso is equipped with a small 1.3” OLED display and two aluminum rotary knobs in a metallic silver-gray color. The slim and compact chassis (27x15x5cm), that is made from high quality aluminum alloy, can fit virtually anywhere, from a TV furniture to a HiFi rack.
The Volumio Preciso is a well made device with a simple yet premium appearance that reflects the famous Italian gusto.
Connectivity
As a standalone DAC, the Preciso is equipped with balanced XLR and single-ended RCA stereo outputs, as well as USB, optical, coaxial and I2S HDMI digital interfaces. They are all located at the back together with 3.5mm trigger in/out ports and the DC input. An AES/EBU connector is missing but I guess that it was impossible to fit in such a limited space.
This is a pure wired DAC without Bluetooth connectivity that would cause interference and compromise the advertised purity of the audio signal.
Interface and operation
The Volumio Preciso supports sampling rates up to 768kHz/32bit PCM and DSD512 from the USB and I2S HDMI inputs, as well as 192kHz/24bit PCM from the S/PDIF optical and coaxial inputs.
The maximum level of the output signal is aligned with the industry standards and is 4Vrms for the XLR and 2Vrms for the RCA connectors so it can easily match with various amplifiers.
The OLED display provides real-time information such as gain level, input selection and audio format while it is used to navigate through the configuration menu.
The right rotary knob is for adjusting the volume and powering on/off the device while the left one is for selecting the input method and navigating through the settings.
The user can select one of the eight available DAC filters, enable the NOS mode, swap channels, adjust balance, enable/disable autoboot, dim both the notification LED and the display, set an auto-standby timer and check the firmware version. All functions are also accessible from the remote control.
System set-up
The listening evaluation of the Volumio Preciso was conducted using a reference two-channel audio system in an acoustically treated room. The system features the Audio Physic Spark loudspeakers, the Kinki Studio EX-M1 integrated amplifier and the Volumio Rivo Plus as the streaming source. Additional tests were also carried out with the Flux Lab Acoustics Mentor headphone amplifier and a selection of high quality headphones.
The systems are cabled with pure silver cables by Lavricables. The Volumio Preciso was updated to the latest v1.3.1 firmware.
Listening impressions
The general sonic signature of the Volumio Preciso is exactly as advertised. Crystal clear and neutral sound with flat frequency response and outstanding transparency. The DAC impresses both with its class-leading fidelity and technical behavior that are phenomenal for the category while it makes a statement with its pitch black background and absolute silence.
The bass is extended yet neutral with excellent timing and control. Punchy and impactful, it is not as visceral and weighty as it happens with some other more “sophisticated” DACs, but it is not too lean or dry either. It is exceptionally well defined and textured while it retains its composure and “military” discipline even with the most demanding material.
The same kind of discipline also applies to the mid-range and the higher frequencies where nothing is allowed to escape from linearity. The mids are evenly tuned and well balanced with remarkable clarity and articulation but they don’t sound lifeless or sterile. The Preciso might not impress with its varied harmonic palette or its exceptionally organic timbre but you can’t say that it is not expressive or it lacks emotional engagement. The overall tonality is just right and everything sounds natural and realistic enough without much artificiality.
The treble is both brilliant and energetic with fast transients but not bright or sharp while it doesn’t appear as fake and metallic as it usually happens with other DACs that are made to win the measurement games. The Preciso resolves well and extracts the finest details from the depths of the recording but in a way that works for and not against the music. They are there to make the music feel more natural and lifelike, thus avoiding the sterile character usually associated with analytical DACs.
More listening impressions
The textures are generally refined and rich. There are some traces of digital glare but the Preciso handles this better than comparable DACs from brands like SMSL or Topping. In fact, it sounds less academic and boring than most of its competitors. Volumio has achieved an exceptional tuning balance that combines the Preciso’s class-leading technical performance with a genuine sense of musicality and engagement. This is a reference-grade DAC that not only measures superbly well but also connects the listener to the music.
The soundstage is bold and wide with remarkably good separation and positioning accuracy. The Preciso can successfully assist a high quality amplifier in its task to make the speakers disappear and extend the music outside their conventional boundaries.
The truth is that the Preciso can’t sound as holographic and atmospheric as the system’s reference DAC (Lab12 Dac1 reference) but this is an unfair comparison as it is many times more expensive and designed with much more sophisticated circuitry. The same can be said about its relatively limited harmonic saturation and richness but let’s not forget that we are talking about a €799 D/S DAC that does most things right rather than wrong.
Side note: The Preciso might have a well designed linear power supply but its sonic performance greatly benefits if you swap the generic external power adapter with something of better quality. Like the Silent Power iPower X, the use of which enhanced the clarity of the sound and the blackness of the background. Volumio make their own low-noise 5V/5A linear power supply, the Lineo 5, but I haven’t had the chance to test it.
The NOS mode
When Volumio Preciso was first released, it used the native oversampling (OS) mode of the DAC chip as the method of performing the digital-to-analog conversion. However, at a later time, Volumio decided to add their own NOS mode through a subsequent firmware update. When enabled, NOS mode disables oversampling to deliver a raw, unprocessed audio signal closer to how the music was originally recorded.
I believe that the addition of the NOS mode was a game changer for the Volumio Preciso as it shifted its sound to a more musical and less academic presentation thus giving a clear edge over the competition.
With the NOS mode enabled, the timbre becomes more natural and realistic, the low amounts of digital glare and artificiality that were mentioned above, almost vanish. And the best part is that all these changes happen with just a tiny bit of loss in transparency and technical fidelity.
The NOS mode is not going to make the Preciso sound like an R2R DAC or like if it had vacuum tubes inside but it transforms it into a more musical and engaging DAC than most of the competition. A nice addition that lets the user fine-tune the sound and achieve better system matching.
Where is the remote control?
Honestly speaking, there is only one thing to complain about the Preciso and it is not audio related.
Yes you guessed right, i am talking about the remote control that should have been included as a standard accessory. The truth is that it is not very expensive and many users might not need it at all but since most of the competition comes with a remote, it is not a good marketing move to sell yours as an extra. To be fair, i suspect that this happened because the remote control was produced at a later time and was not available with the first batches of the Preciso so the first buyers didn’t get one.
My Volumio wishlist
Now with the release of the Preciso, the only thing missing is a headphone amplifier with the same form factor and appearance so headphone aficionados can have a full featured but space saving listening station by Volumio. The amplifier, the Preciso DAC and the Rivo Plus streamer.
Then i encourage Volumio to consider making an upgraded Lineo 5 with two 5V DC output taps so it can power both the Preciso and the Rivo Plus simultaneously without the need to buy a second unit.
In the end
The Volumio Preciso is much more than just sounding precise as its name implies. It is a reference-grade DAC in its class that outperforms most of the competition as it manages to combine outstanding transparency and fidelity with plenty of musical expression and tonal realism in a way that most “well measuring DACs” simply can’t.
The truth is that I can barely think of another D/S DAC in this category to sound as natural and cohesive as the Volumio Preciso so it doesn’t come as a surprise that it has become one of my favorite DACs that I use on a daily basis despite having much more expensive or sophisticated options. It is not going to entirely replace them but it has earned its own place in my rack.
Add its minimalistic yet classy design, the small footprint and the I2S port, and it gets perfectly clear why the Volumio Preciso is not only relatively affordable but at €799, it also represents one of the best values currently available on the market.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2025.
+ Class-leading neutrality and fidelity
+ Exceptional technical performance and transparency
+ Doesn't sound as clinical and sterile as some of the competition
+ Low amounts of digital glare and artificiality
+ Complete absence of background noise
+ NOS mode that sounds more natural
+ Wide and spacious soundstage with sharp imaging
+ Very resolving but not analytical sound
+ Plenty of digital inputs and analog outputs
+ Hardware gain control - can be used as a preamplifier
+ Sleek and modern design
+ Excellent build quality
+ Relatively affordable and great value for money
- Limited harmonic richness
- Not the most organic timbre
- The soundstage is not that holographic or atmospheric
- Will not do any favors to bad quality recordings
- Small screen that is difficult to read
- The remote control is not included as a standard accessory
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