Volumio Motivo
The Motivo brings spacious imaging, a remarkably black background and deep, controlled bass to an elegant touchscreen streamer. The Hans Beekhuyzen found its focus and detail exceptional for the class, while Alpha Audio highlights sturdy construction, dual-impedance headphone outputs and extensive balanced, analogue and digital connectivity.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
89/100
Features Usability
88/100
Value for Money
89/100
Pros
Open, spacious and highly focused presentation with deep bass, controlled sibilance and an unusually quiet background for its class.
Excellent stereo imaging and detail; its I2S transport performance matched a Magna Mano Ultra MK3 in the reviewer’s system.
Sturdy enclosure, sharp colourful touchscreen, and dedicated outputs for both low- and high-impedance headphones.
Cons
The touchscreen uses a web-style interface that is less comfortable than the app for larger hands, with icons noted as small.
Combined XLR/headphone sockets use an unconventional female XLR arrangement, so standard XLR cables require the supplied or separate adapters.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers found the Motivo unusually accomplished for a compact streamer, combining deep bass, an open and spacious presentation, strong focus, and a notably quiet background. It is described as detailed and refined without problematic sibilance, with imaging among the best heard in the review system.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
Hans Beekhuyzen found the Motivo immediately impressive and described it as sounding genuinely great despite its compact format and integrated display. Bass was said to reach deep, while a slight mid-bass emphasis did not compromise the open stereo image; sibilance also remained well controlled.
Resolution Detail
94/100
The reviewer heard even more detail in the second setup, alongside greater spaciousness and stable image focus. Stereo imaging was described as among the best heard in that system, pointing to particularly strong separation and spatial definition.
Digital Performance
94/100
A deeply black background was singled out as unusual at this price, helping fine details and space emerge clearly. Used as a digital transport over I2S, the Motivo was judged equal to the Magna Mano Ultra MK3 in the review setup.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The Motivo combines a large touch display and app-based control with broad streaming, network, digital-output, and headphone facilities. Its two dedicated headphone connections and unusually comprehensive output options make it especially flexible for desktop, headphone, and conventional hi-fi systems.
Streaming Software
87/100
The Motivo can be operated directly from its sharp, colourful touchscreen or remotely through the free Volumio app on a phone or tablet. Reviewers confirm straightforward network access through Ethernet or Wi-Fi for internet radio, streaming services, and music held on a computer or NAS, although they say little about long-term app stability or library management.
Features Connectivity
92/100
The specification includes balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs, USB, coaxial, optical, and I2S digital outputs, Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and extensive format and service support. Alpha Audio particularly welcomed the two headphone outputs, separately optimised for low- and high-impedance headphones, alongside the balanced connections.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
89/100
Alpha Audio describes a sturdy, confidence-inspiring enclosure, along with a neat internal layout with clearly labelled sections. The review also notes more substantial Ethernet isolation and attention to power-supply and isolation work, while long-term durability is not discussed.
Value for Money
89/100
At €1,749, Hans Beekhuyzen considered the Motivo absolutely worth every cent. That endorsement is supported by his praise for its detailed, spacious sound, black background, and extensive connectivity, though the reviews do not make a broader best-in-class value claim.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Audio
- Analog Balanced and Unbalanced Output RCA: 2V RMS up to PCM 384kHz/24bit and DSD256 XLR: 4V RMS up to PCM 384kHz/24bit and DSD256
- USB DAC Port
- USB Audio Output: up to PCM 768kHz/32 bit and DSD256 (USB DAC required)
- Coaxial and Optical S/PDIF
- Digital Output: up to PCM 192kHz/24 bit
- Headphones
- Stereo Headphone Amplifier, dual output optimized for High and Low impedance Headphones: up to PCM 384kHz/24bit and DSD256
- I2S over HDMI Output
- Digital Output: up to PCM 384kHz/24bit and DSD256
- Power & Connectivity
- USB DAC Port 2x USB 2.0 current up to 900mA per port LAN Gigabit 10/100/1000M Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4G and 5G) Bluetooth 5.0
- Additional Info
- Supported Formats DSD, WAV, FLAC, Alac, Aac, Vorbis, Cue, Mp3 and others UPNP DLNA Renderer with Open Home support Supported Services Airplay via Shairport Sync, Spotify & Spotify Connect, TIDAL & TIDAL Connect, QOBUZ Available Plugins Youtube, Squeezelite, Radio Paradise, Podcasts, Pandora, Fusion DSP, Roon Bridge, Soundcloud, Mixcloud CPU Broadcom BCM2711, Quad Core 1.5 GHz RAM 2 GB DDR4 Internal Storage 16 GB EMMC Power Supply 9V, 4A
- Design
- Designer Design Narratives Ltd. Weight 2.5 kg Dimensions 19.5x19.5x5.5 cm
Manufacturer's Description — Volumio
MOTIVO IS A STREAMER
Motivo pairs the high-performance ESS Sabre 9038 DAC with a bespoke connection that we co-developed with Amanero Technologies.
This combination potentially results in the best assembly of components, expertly orchestrated by our Volumio OS customizations, to extract the finest sound from Motivo’s analog outputs.
The result is an analog streamer that will astonish you with its sound quality and detail.
MOTIVO IS A TRANSPORT
Motivo integrates the same technology transport technology found inside Rivo, and improves it.
Thanks to a mix of dedicated reclocking, galvanic isolation and separate PSU rails for each digital output, Motivo has been designed to extract the maximum performance from any DAC.
It also features I2S over HDMI output, and it’s the only transport on the market that supports all protocols and pinouts.If you want to experience the best your DAC has to offer, Motivo is its perfect companion.
MOTIVO IS A DUAL HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
Motivo features a no-compromise headphone section, designed to excel with any headphone setup.
The onboard TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier from Texas Instruments is powered by a dual-rail linear regulators and features two output connectors: one designed for high-impedance headphones and one for low-impedance headphones.
The combination of state-of-the-art streaming and a no-compromise headphone amp will deliver memorable listening sessions.
MOTIVO IN THE PRESS
"compared to many of its streamer competitors there's a lot on offer here - in particular that large touchscreen and integrated control knob mechanism, to deliver a product unlike anything else out there. I want one already. "
Mike Lowe
"The Motivo is a streamer and headphone amplifier made with audiophiles in mind."
Mark Sparrow
"The Volumio Motivo therefore offers an insanely high level... Frankly, we wonder what else anyone needs."
Jaap Veenstra
8.0" INCH IPS MULTIPOINT TOUCH DISPLAY
Motivo combines striking visuals with intuitive interaction, rekindling your connection with music in a tactile, engaging way. With a simple swipe or tap, navigate your music library as if flipping through vinyl records or CDs. For versatility, seamlessly integrate Motivo with our mobile apps and web browser for easy control how and when you want.
EASY SETUP
Getting started just takes a couple of minutes with the Volumio official iOS and Android apps
MADE IN ITALY
All Volumio products are proudly designed and assembled in Florence Italy
ROON READY
All Volumio products are Roon Ready certified by Roon Labs. allowing seamless integration with Roon * Certification expected Q3 2024
ENJOY MUSIC FROM YOUR FAVORITE SOURCES
There’s little if nothing the Motivo can’t play. Motivo lets you stream your favorite music services, internet radios, hi-res files, CDs and more.
VOLUMIO PREMIUM BUILT IN
Motivo requires no additional subscriptions to enjoy the full goodies of Volumio Premium, as all premium features are already included.
With it's AI-powered DJ you can ask Motivo what you want to listen to and Volumio will take you off on a musical tangent: your own personal radio station.
Multi-room capabilities, CD Playback and Ripping, Play to SONOS and Chromecast and advanced music metadata.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX
- Volumio Motivo
- XLR Cables
- User Manual
- Quick Start Guide
- 9V/4A, Power Supply
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Volumio Motivo
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Audio Domain — online and in-store — Stadtbezirke I, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AV Connection — in-store — Roodeschool, Groningen, Netherlands (website)
- Douglas HiFi — online and in-store — Osborne Park, Western Australia, Australia (website)
- Elite Audio UK — online and in-store — Pittenweem, Escocia, United Kingdom (website)
- Homecine Solutions — online and in-store — Compiègne, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
- Just Hifi — online and in-store — Glückstadt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (website)
- King Audio — in-store — Velp, Gelderland, Netherlands (website)
- Living Entertainment — online and in-store — South Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia (website)
and 5 more verified dealers