The affordable Volumio Primo V3 network music player offers plenty of listening enjoyment, backed by a broad range of streaming options.
According to the Italian manufacturer, the new V3 has very little in common with the original Volumio Primo. In fact, the latest version is essentially a completely new design. What has remained is the relatively attractive price.
One thing that immediately stands out—especially compared with many other streamers—is the deliberately understated exterior. There is no display and no abundance of buttons. The idea is that the Primo is operated through an app on a smartphone or tablet.
At the heart of the audio section is an ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M DAC chip. The highest supported resolution is 32-bit / 384 kHz for PCM and up to DSD256. Even higher resolutions are possible via USB, with PCM supported up to an impressive 1,536 kHz and DSD up to DSD1024. This does, however, require an external DAC capable of handling such extreme formats.
Interface Can Also Be Displayed on a TV
The app offers a choice of eight PCM filters, while purists can also select a non-oversampling mode. Both balanced and unbalanced RCA analogue outputs are provided, with output levels adjustable in eight steps.
A 1.5 GHz quad-core A72 system-on-chip with 2 GB of RAM should ensure smooth and responsive operation. The user interface can also be displayed on a television or monitor via the 4K HDMI output. In that case, a mouse can be connected for direct control, while a touchscreen is another option.
Naturally, all the major streaming services are supported, including Qobuz, TIDAL, Spotify and Roon. Music can also be played from a microSD card, external USB hard drive or USB memory stick.
The Volumio Primo V3 is priced at €849, which is not particularly expensive for a streamer offering this level of functionality.