Anyone can be an audiophile; you just need to be passionate and have an opinion. As audiophiles, we are constantly looking for good deals; it’s part of our charm (or annoyance, take your pick) of being such obsessive individuals. We love our music, and we also love good gear at affordable prices. We do our research to find the best gear and sound. You might find us researching speaker cables at 2 a.m. on the web, or diving into early recordings from the shellac era, or even going to great lengths to describe the sound of a particular DAC. We audiophiles feel special, and we are special. I’ll save you the research part; this is a review of the Volumio Preciso DAC (USD 799).

Specifications

Digital USB Input: Up to PCM 768kHz/32bit and DSD512

Digital S/PDIF Optical Input: Up to PCM 192kHz/24bit

Digital S/PDIF Coaxial Input: Up to PCM 192kHz/24bit

Digital I2S over HDMI Input: Up to PCM 768kHz/32bit and DSD512

Stereo Analog Balanced Output: Up to 4 Vrms

Stereo Analog Unbalanced Output: Up to 2 Vrms

Hardware Specs

Input Power: 5V DC / 2A

Input Power Connector: Barrel Jack 5.5mm (outer diameter) / 2.1mm (inner diameter)

Input Power Polarity: Positive

Trigger In Port: 3.5mm jack, positive on tip

Trigger Out Port: 3.5mm jack, positive on tip

USB Input: USB 2.0 Type-B connector

S/PDIF Coaxial Input: RCA connector

S/PDIF Optical Input: TOSLINK connector

Stereo Unbalanced Output: RCA connectors

Stereo Balanced Output: XLR connectors

Tech and Design

Volumio, the Italian company known for its DIY software products, has, for some years now, started to develop hardware. They have quickly made a mark in the market with very good reviews of their products, like the Rivo streamer (two versions), the Primo DAC, their Class D amplifier, the Integro, and even a touchscreen streamer, the Motivo. The Preciso is their newest dual-mono (SABRE ESS ES9039Q2M) DAC. I have been very intrigued since I heard their streamers.

The Preciso is a tech marvel for the asking price:

“Eliminating crosstalk for a wider, deeper, and more natural soundstage. Its hyper-symmetrical architecture ensures precise channel isolation and lifelike imaging, while a THD+n of -122.5 dB reaches the limits of modern audio test equipment for truly transparent sound.”

Salient in these chip DACs and their connectivity is the Gain Control, and the preamp that you have to connect to the power amp. With the Preciso, you need not worry. Volumio comments specifically about it:

“Preciso also includes an integrated Hardware Gain Control, eliminating the need for an external pre-amplifier when paired with a fixed-gain power amp. This gain control allows fine-tuned signal adjustment from 0.0 dB to -99.0 dB in precise 0.5 dB steps.”

This DAC has a hyper-symmetrical dual mono and isolated circuits for channel separation and limiting crosstalk, reduction of noise, and enhancing dynamic range (this component is completely silent). Another gem is that it has a dual-linear power architecture for “Independent power regulation for analog and digital paths ensures a noise-free signal”

The Preciso comes with a USB cable, NFC Information Card, and 5V, 3A power supply. Interestingly, the DAC has an infrared remote control (silver with black buttons for changing inputs, gain level, and DAC filters), which adds to the purchase an additional $39.99 which I did not receive for this review. The first impression from the Preciso dual-mono DAC is that it’s a lovely design. The black glass with two knobs (left to select input, right for gain and ON/OFF) at each end and a small screen at the center make for a minimalistic, very good-looking component. I can safely say that if you purchase this product, it will give some aesthetics to the look of your setup. A fresh look with an analog feel (the digital numbers and letters have an old-school design).

Audio setup

I always say, your desired sound is as good as your audio chain; your setup is the name of the game. How you pick and choose your gear, their stability through isolation platforms, cables (yes, I said cables), and the placement of speakers (the room), will result in a specific soundstage. The limits of the sound you want will be based on many variables, but these I just mentioned are basic. I play around with many components because, as much as you know, your gear, the mix and match is always something new (with new gear).

I decided to compare the Preciso DAC with the PS Audio StellarGold ($3999) and the Geshelli Labs Dayzee DACs ($1800). For my redbook CDs and SACDs, I used the PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport (connected to the Preciso’s I2S and Coax). But my main use was Roon (Tidal, Qobuz) for streaming with the Galion Audio TS-A75 ($1500) power amp. For streamers, I used the Volumio Rivo+ that I still have from my review of it.

“Preciso uses the same dedicated USB ASIC found inside RIVO+. This ensures pristine data transfer, precise clocking, and optimal analog performance.”

The digital chain of both Volumio components is as precise (Preciso) as can be. I loved the sound of the Rivo+ (yes, there is something to listen for on streamers), now with the Preciso dual-mono DAC, the chain is complete, (well actually I could try their class-D amp, so Volumio if you are reading this, I am ready). My description follows.

The Sound

The Preciso checks many quality DAC boxes: good design, affordable, balanced outs, very good tech specs, but how does it sound? Let’s start.

I like my DAC to sound as natural as possible, so I used the Preciso with the NOS mode OFF (NOS mode disables oversampling to deliver a raw, unprocessed audio signal closer to how the music was originally recorded).

There are DACs that you can easily perceive their tone, mainly their high frequencies. It’s a kind of brightness that messes with vocals and guitars that, after a while, makes it uncomfortable for the ears. I’ve generally found low-cost chip DACs the culprits with this issue. Other very good sounding DACs like the Dayzee have a more pleasant non-tiring effect—you can have hours of playing music with no issues; a very well constructed and sounding DAC with a smooth signature.

The higher-end DACs (in the StellarGold tier, for example), I’ve found, there’s a sort of stillness and clarity of sound that characterizes them. You get a better taste of the music. The best way I can describe it is that there’s no complexity to the music (in a good way); everything appears in its place, there’s no overlapping of the instruments, and imaging is not only precise but also has an individual sound. In a saxophone solo, for example, the artist's breath and the intensity of the notes are conveyed through quick resolution and a distinct feel.

And then there’s the Volumio Preciso (with its cousin the Rivo+ Streamer). I preferred this setup to other DACs because it served as a combo. This pair has a neutral sound, perhaps the best I’ve heard for streaming. Noiseless and no high frequency tiring my ears. I had no issues at all connection-wise, they worked as a pair in the sound. I put one on top of the other; they were in sync for half a year, and they did not move from my setup. Only caveat, I did not like the red dots on both of them when turned off, but you can’t have everything right?

Music

I listened to almost the entire new 60 CD box set of Giulini’s Remastered Complete Studio recordings (Columbia, HMV, Pathé & Electrola, 2025). If you haven’t heard Giulini, this is the collection to own; you get the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Philharmonic years as well as Chicago Symphony Orchestra, La Scala, the Royal Opera House, and the Wiener Philharmonic, la crème de la crème of orchestras. The imaging and soundstage were clear and precise; Giulini had a gift for clarity.

Mary Halvorson and Sylvie Courvoisier’s Bone Bells CD album (2025) is perhaps my favourite album from this year, one guitar and one piano with jazz contemporary modal sounds invaded my living room flawlessly.

Another CD box set that I loved on the Preciso DAC was “Maria Joao Pires' Complete recordings on Deutsche Grammophon” (38 discs, from 2020). The constant virtuosity of Pires flows effortlessly, and the piano sounds like a piano with this DAC, something that’s apparently easy to do, but some DACs have, for some reason, difficulty with this instrument.

For the Rivo+ streamer, I threw everything but the kitchen sink into Roon. From hard rock and metal to jazz, bebop, and swing, contemporary and modal, the Preciso did the job. The dual-mono neutrality was easy on the ears and not fatiguing.

Conclusion

Searching for the best “bang-for-your-buck” audio is part of the audiophile game. We’ve even come up with a name for these products, the so-called: Giant Killer. It’s a funny way to refer to a new component that delivers the best performance at a low price compared to other high-end products. The Volumio Preciso DAC (USD 799) is one of the best deals you’ll find for performance at the price. If you have the option to choose both components, the streamer and DAC, go for it. You won’t need more than a power amp to have an audiophile-grade setup for less than what a high-end preamp costs.

Further information: Volumio