Violectric DHA V226
The DHA V226 delivers effortless drive, tight bass authority and a warm, naturally detailed headphone presentation that stays clean under pressure. HiFi News praised its transparency, dynamics and versatility across demanding headphones, while Reviews By WaveTheory found its amplifier stage especially impressive for spacious, smooth listening. A rugged DAC/preamp/headphone hub with serious desktop muscle.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
89/100
Features Usability
88/100
Value for Money
77/100
Pros
Powerful, clean and controlled with demanding headphones, retaining clarity and dynamics at extreme levels.
Warm, smooth presentation combines strong bass control with natural detail, imaging and a spacious soundstage.
Flexible, rugged DAC/preamp/headphone-amp design with logical studio-style controls and balanced headphone outputs.
Cons
The integrated USB DAC is less resolving and spacious than the excellent amplifier section, limiting all-in-one performance.
Digital connectivity is limited to USB-C, with no optical or coaxial input; analogue inputs and pre-outs are RCA-only.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers find the amplifier section controlled, powerful and highly musical, combining a warm, relaxed presentation with convincing detail, imaging and bass authority. The integrated DAC is the clear caveat: one reviewer found it substantially less resolving and spatially capable than the amplifier section deserves.
Transparency Resolution
88/100
HiFi News heard passive-preamp-like transparency and striking instrumental detail, while WaveTheory found the amplifier subtly detailed, textured and resolving. That reviewer also considered the onboard DAC notably less capable with microdetail, timbre and spatial information, limiting the all-in-one result.
Tonal Balance Musicality
90/100
The presentation is described as warm, smooth and relaxed without losing natural detail or textural nuance. HiFi News also praised natural instrumental balance, well-weighted piano and convincing timbres across orchestral music.
Dynamics
93/100
The V226 is repeatedly described as clean, controlled and forceful at very high levels, with enough output for demanding headphones. Reviewers heard strong bass grip, hard-hitting percussion, dramatic orchestral contrasts and good punch from both headphone and preamp outputs.
Noise Floor
80/100
The supplied reviews do not directly address hiss, hum or performance with highly sensitive IEMs. They do report clean, controlled playback at extreme levels, but provide little listener evidence about background silence with sensitive loads.
Headphone Compatibility
92/100
HiFi News found its rated output credible in practice, saying it drove all headphone types tested to extreme levels while remaining controlled. WaveTheory highlights substantial voltage for high-impedance headphones and current capability for lower-impedance planars, while also praising its bass control and authority.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
89/100
HiFi News describes a chunky, rugged, purposeful unit with a logical, studio-influenced control layout. It is presented as a no-nonsense component made for serious headphone use, though the reviews offer limited detail on long-term durability or individual control feel.
Features Usability
88/100
This is a compact DAC, headphone amplifier and switchable preamp/line-output unit, with balanced and single-ended headphone support. USB-C audio supports high-resolution PCM and DSD, but USB is the sole digital input, there is no optical or coaxial connection, and the analogue I/O is unbalanced RCA only.
Value for Money
77/100
At roughly $1,600 in the US and £1,230 in the UK, the amplifier section is regarded as very good, with performance close to the more expensive V281 in some respects. However, WaveTheory found the internal DAC mediocre for the asking price and felt it materially weakens the V226's appeal as an all-in-one component.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Item number:
- 1008175
- Max. Input Voltage
- +21 dBu
- dimensions
- 165 x 54 x163 mm (WxHxD)
- Dynamic range
- > 131 dB (A-bew.)
- Attenuator Make
- ALPS RK27
- Volume Knob
- 38 mm Aluminum
- housing form
- Desktop
- output impedance
- < 0,5 Ohm balanced / 0,25 Ohm unbalanced
- Input Sensitivity
- +6 dBu
- Input Impedance
- 10 kOhm
- color
- black
- signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
- < -102 dBu (A-bew.)
- power supply
- Internal 230 V / 115 V AC
- frequency range
- 5 Hz - 150 kHz
- crosstalk
- -100 / -95 dB (1 kHz / 15 kHz)
Manufacturer's Description — Violectric
The headphone amplifier and DAC for the big moments
The Violectric DHA V226 is a high-quality compact solution for demanding hi-fi tasks. The high-resolution converter unit accepts digital audio with up to 32 bit at 384 kHz and DSD 256 via USB-C. The converted signal is then output by a headphone amplifier in top Violectric quality to balanced or unbalanced headphones via 4-pin XLR, 4.4 mm Pentaconn or 6.3 mm jack. The innovative circuit enables the operation of a wide variety of headphone types, from high-impedance models to low-impedance versions and magnetostats. Lowest noise and minimal distortion allow an exceptionally clear, detailed reproduction. Two analog RCA inputs and an analog RCA output integrate the DHA V226 effortlessly into a hi-fi setup and make it the central hub.
Inputs & outputs
Inputs analog, stereo:
-> 1x RCA unbalanced
-> 1x XLR female, balanced
Inputs digital:
-> 1x USB-C
+++ Inputs switchable to front with switch +++
Outputs headphones:
-> 1x jack 6.3 mm, unbalanced
-> 1x XLR 4-pin, female, balanced
-> 1x Pentaconn 4.4 mm, balanced
Outputs analog, stereo:
-> 1x RCA unbalanced
+++ Outputs switchable on front with switch (Head / OFF / Line) on rear with button (Line Pre / Post) +++
Built-in top-class digital-to-analog converter
Connect the Violectric DHA V226 headphone amplifier directly to your digital streamer or mobile player via USB-C and enjoy your digital music collection or Internet radio quickly and directly.
Convenient switching between sources and outputs
The Violectric DHA V226 is equipped with 2 stereo inputs (balanced via XLR and unbalanced via RCA) and an additional line output (unbalanced via RCA) - on the rear of the device. This allows you to connect 2 independent playback devices such as streamers, CD players, etc. directly to the headphone amplifier and use it as a preamplifier and also drive active speakers.
Balanced headphone output
When listening to music via loudspeakers, you are part of the auditorium. When listening via “normal” headphones, you take the place of the conductor. When listening with “balanced” headphones, you are part of the orchestra.
If headphones are operated symmetrically, the channel separation is increased even further. Balanced headphones usually have a 4-pin XLR connection or a Pentaconn plug.
True balanced operation requires a great deal of effort in the form of four built-in power amplifiers.
PRE-GAIN
7-way adjustable amplification for optimum adaptation to all sources and headphones (Backside, -18, -12, -6, 0, +6, +12, +18 dB).
The headphone amplifier is positioned between the music source and the headphones. The source can have different levels of power and the headphones can have different levels of sensitivity.
The Violectric PRE-GAIN serves to compensate for these differences and to optimize the headphone amplifier for every conceivable combination. This results in minimal noise, the lowest distortion factor and the best channel balance.
Superior sound reproduction
The Violectric DHA V226 has been carefully designed to preserve sound fidelity in its purest form. The advanced audio technology ensures high-resolution and distortion-free sound reproduction across the entire frequency spectrum.
Whether you want to explore subtle nuances in your music or create precise mixes, this headphone amplifier allows you to hear every detail clearly.
Violectric's unique technology
- Lowest Noise - through a very small internal gain. This makes the amplifier's own noise inaudible.
- High output voltage - due to an internal 50 volt operating voltage. Therefore ideally suited for high-impedance headphones.
- High output power - thanks to powerful amplifiers that can deliver far more power than even the most demanding headphones require. Therefore ideally suited for headphones with low impedances and magnetostats.
- High damping factor - due to the lowest output impedance. Therefore ideally suited to drive even the most difficult headphones without interference. The advantage for an uncompromising frequency response.
Violectric - The brand for music lovers
- Violectric brings decades of expertise and the uncompromising quality standards of professional Lake People products to the world of hi-fi - with passion! Music lovers all over the world rave about the seamless integration into their systems: from a convenient and versatile input section to precisely adjustable gain control and digital interfaces with first-class converter technology at broadcast level - no wish remains unfulfilled here.
- The entire Violectric portfolio impresses with intuitive operability that is otherwise only known from professional audio technology. And there are no compromises when it comes to quality: Every single component is carefully selected to guarantee maximum sound fidelity.
- However, Violectric not only stands for outstanding technology, but also for timeless elegance. The products are integrated into an elegant, high-quality housing and fit perfectly into any sophisticated hi-fi setup. For audiophile perfectionists who don't want to compromise, the Niimbus series offers the ultimate - both visually and technically at the very highest level.
Features
- balanced inputs via gold-plated Neutrik XLR sockets
- unbalanced inputs via gold-plated RCA sockets
- 1 digital input, USB-C, with up to 32 bit and up to 384 kHz for PCM signals, DSD 64 - 256
- PRE-GAIN: amplification can be adjusted in 7 stages on the back
- Powerful balanced stereo amplifier (4 output stages)
- Compact and extremely robust aluminum housing
- Made in Germany
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Violectric DHA V226
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- American Audio & Video — in-store — Southaven, Mississippi, United States (website)
- ARK Audio — online and in-store — Borensberg, Östergötlands län, Sweden (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Concierge — online and in-store — England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio essence — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- Audio Excellence (CA) — online and in-store — Markham, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Audiofrenzy BV — in-store — Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands (website)
- AudioPerformance — online and in-store — Stenkullen, Västra Götalands län, Sweden (website)
and 23 more verified dealers