Violectric DHA V590²
The DHA V590² blends a smooth, AKM-led voicing with serious desktop versatility: DAC, preamp and balanced headphone amplification in one exceptionally solid component. Alpha Audio highlights its separated analogue/digital power supplies, 256-step reed-relay control and broad connection set, while resampling and reclocking target a clean, low-jitter signal. It is a refined control centre for systems that value engineering depth and flexibility.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
77/100
Build Quality
84/100
Features Usability
87/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Substantial, professional-grade construction with separate analogue and digital power supplies and tidy internal execution.
Highly flexible all-in-one design combines DAC, preamp, analogue inputs and balanced or single-ended headphone connections.
256-step reed-relay volume control and resampling/reclocking architecture support precise level adjustment and careful digital signal handling.
Cons
The pre/post volume-routing option requires careful setup, as the reviewer notes that incorrect use can risk connected equipment or hearing.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 77/100
The available coverage focuses more on the DAC architecture and internal engineering than on extended listening comparisons. It points to a smooth-leaning AKM implementation and careful reclocking, but offers limited direct evidence on real-world drive, silence with sensitive earphones, or performance across different headphone loads.
Transparency Resolution
76/100
Alpha Audio discusses resampling and reclocking as means of reducing jitter-related artifacts, and notes that the AKM DAC family is widely respected. However, the review provides little direct listening commentary about resolution, separation, openness, or low-level detail from the DHA V590² itself.
Tonal Balance Musicality
79/100
The AKM DAC approach is described as having a somewhat soft character, broadly aligned with the analogue character Violectric associates with its amplifiers. There is no detailed account of bass weight, midrange timbre, treble balance, or long-session listening comfort.
Dynamics
75/100
The review describes a DAC architecture designed for very high theoretical dynamic range and low distortion. It does not provide meaningful listening evidence on transient attack, punch, headroom, or the amplifier's sense of effortlessness with demanding headphones.
Noise Floor
78/100
The published material lists a low A-weighted noise figure and describes separately supplied analogue and digital sections with clean power delivery. Direct reports of background silence, hiss with sensitive IEMs, or hum in normal use are not provided.
Headphone Compatibility
75/100
The DHA V590² is presented as a headphone amplifier, DAC and preamplifier, but the supplied review does not document pairings with high-impedance dynamics, difficult planars, or sensitive IEMs. It also says little about gain behaviour and usable volume range with efficient headphones.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
84/100
Alpha Audio describes an impressively heavy, professional-looking black enclosure with extensive controls and indicators. It also highlights Talema power supplies, separate analogue and digital power sections, and tidy internal execution with substantial capacitors.
Features Usability
87/100
This is an integrated DAC, headphone amplifier and preamplifier rather than a bare-bones analogue amp. The review specifically notes a 256-step reed-relay volume control and Amanero USB implementation, while the supplied material gives limited detail on the full input, output, gain, and remote-control complement.
Value for Money
85/100
At $3,299, the DHA V590² sits in a premium desktop category, with integrated DAC and preamp functionality alongside the headphone section. The supplied review does not directly compare its asking price with competitors or offer a clear verdict on value.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Item number:
- 1008068
- Attenuator Make
- 4x 8 Transistors (true balanced)
- amplifier make
- < -102 dBu (A-bew.)
- Volume Knob
- 4x 8 Transistors (true balanced)
- color
- black
Manufacturer's Description — Violectric
Premium headphone amplifier with internal state-of-the-art D/A converter
The Violectric DHA V590² is a powerful monitoring combination of headphone amplifier, D/A converter and preamplifier. Digital audio signals are fed in via XLR, RCA, USB or optical input, translated into the analog world by ESS-Tech ES9026 PRO converters and played out on up to three different headphones. Formats up to 384 kHz and DoP can be converted. Elegant ALPS controls regulate the volume and balance.
The pre-gain circuit adjusts the level to the impedance of the headphones being used. The carefully selected components are installed by hand in a high-quality housing with a wide range of connection options. The Violectric DHA V590² is therefore perfectly suited as the central element of a home audio system.
An included remote control offers maximum ease of use.
Inputs & outputs
Inputs analog, stereo
-> 2x RCA unbalanced
-> 1x XLR female balanced
Inputs digital
-> USB-B
-> Opto
-> Coax
-> AES/EBU
+++ Inputs switchable on front with button +++
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
-> 1x XLR male balanced
+++ Outputs switchable on front with button (HEAD / MUTE / LINE) on rear with button (Line Pre / Post) +++
Built-in top-class digital-to-analog converter
Connect the Violectric DHA V590² 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.
4 digital inputs, bal, coax, opto with up to 24 bit and 192 kHz, USB with up to 32 bit and 384 kHz for PCM signals, DSD 64 - 256
Balanced headphone outputs
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
The headphone amplifier is positioned between the music source and the headphones. The source can be of varying power and the headphones of varying sensitivity. The Lake People 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.
The PRE-GAIN adjustment is located on the rear of the Violectric HPA V340 and can be set individually in 7 stages (-18, -12, -6, 0, +6, +12, +18 dB)
Perfect headphone protection
Various circuits protect the headphones from unclear operating states, DC voltage, excessive operating temperature and overload:
Delayed ON, Instant OFF
Every headphone amplifier causes interference when it is switched on and off. This interference can damage the connected headphones. The headphones are connected to the amplifier with a delay via relays and the associated electronics and disconnected again immediately after switching off. In this way, the headphones themselves are protected from the device electronics as long as no clearly defined conditions are to be expected.
DC monitoring
The outputs are monitored for harmful DC voltage. As soon as a predefined value is exceeded, the headphones are switched off.
Overload monitoring
The power consumption is constantly measured during operation. If predefined parameters are exceeded, the headphones are switched off.
Remote control
Control the Violectric DHA V590² remotely with its beautifully designed remote control milled from a solid piece of metal. Infrared gives you access to the most important functions of the device:
- Volume
- Mute
- Input selection (XLR / RCA1 / RCA2)
- Output selection (headphones / LineOut)
Violectric's unique technology
- Lowest noise - thanks to very low internal amplification. This means that the amplifier's own noise is 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
- 4 digital inputs / AES/EBU, Opto, Coax with up to 24 bit and up to 192 kHz / USB with up to 32 bit and up to 384 kHz for PCM signals, DSD 64 - 256
- PRE-GAIN: 7-stage internally adjustable gain
- 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 V590²
- 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