Violectric HPA V550

No matter where your volume control or pre-gain settings are, a huge operating voltage always ensures you have more than sufficient headroom to drive nigh any headphone with V550.

16 output transistors certainly enjoy being run in the most linear regions of their transfer curve, already achieving low noise and distortion in the open-loop before the application of negative feedback.

What goes in comes out the same – and V550's fully-balanced, differential operation yields common-mode rejection that also lends itself to this amplifier's huge claimed 131dB dynamic range.

The direct-coupled V550 promises frequency extension that is virtually flat near DC to 250Khz, meaning phase response in the human hearing range is stellar. High frequency spatial cues are true to life, reproducing Violectric's effortless soundstage here, again aided by a huge 50 volt operating voltage.

Violectric's output transistors in turn reap the benefits of V550's dual-mono power supply, ably handing the current produced to transfer into your headphones as an excellent voltage source.

High damping factor is always a given, controlling the increasingly low-impedance flagship cans of today and tomorrow with more relevant authority than before. Having the power reserves and voltage headroom of V550 will serve you ably now and in the future.

This Violectric drives everything, from IEMs on the right pre-gain setting, to becoming the sweet spot for Final Audios, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs, to the ZMF Headphones Caldera, Hedd Audio's HEDDPhone 2 and naturally, HIFIMANs and Abyss Headphones.

Take this classic German powerhouse as far as you want it, knowing its Lake Constance build under the watchful eyes of Fried Reim has stood the test of time ... and will continue to do so as an ever-present in Head-Fi.

When you're ready, step up to Niimbus US5 – Violectric's ultimate flagship line – here, check out the brand's other precision tools here, or view all our other amplifiers here.