There’s something uniquely rewarding about merging high-quality audio hardware with flexible, open-source software. That’s exactly what I explored this week: Hypex’s new DIY preamp kit, brought to life with a Raspberry Pi running Volumio OS. The aim? To see how this hybrid setup performs in practice and enjoy some hands-on tech fun along the way.

First Impressions and Setup

The Hypex DIY preamp made a great first impression, delivering on its promise of high-end, modular audio. While the kit I used didn’t include standoffs for securing the Raspberry Pi to the chassis (you can ask for them), this was easy to work around with a few extras from my toolbox. The included cabling is designed for versatility, and though I opted for longer wires from my collection, a more tailored solution could easily be added as an option for a cleaner look.

Aesthetics aside, the actual integration was refreshingly straightforward. Hypex clearly designed the preamp with Raspberry Pi compatibility in mind, and their manual made the setup process smooth and intuitive.

Volumio + RPi = Out-of-the-Box Success

After flashing the standard Volumio image to an SD card and powering up the Raspberry Pi, everything came together quickly. A quick reminder: to enable the USB audio interface on the DIY preamp, simply press the knob to power it on and set the input to “Network.” Once that’s done, Volumio instantly detects the interface and is ready to play.

No extra configuration was needed, Volumio and the Hypex preamp paired seamlessly. It’s also reassuring to see the Pi 5 running without any low-voltage warnings, confirming the power supply is more than capable of supporting this setup.

Testing the Sound

For this test, I focused on the headphone output, as the preamp provides balanced analog output via XLR and I currently don’t have a matching amp at home. Still, the headphone experience was excellent, delivering clean, articulate, and energetic sound that’s a joy to listen to.

There are a couple of behavior notes worth sharing for future users:

• Input Switching and USB Audio
  When switching away from the “Network” input, the USB audio interface temporarily disconnects from the Raspberry Pi, prompting a message in Volumio. Once you switch back, everything resumes normally. This could be a great area for future firmware refinement to ensure an even smoother experience.

• WiFi Performance Inside the Chassis
  The Raspberry Pi’s WiFi signal is limited due to the full-metal enclosure—an expected challenge with enclosed electronics. However, for a stable connection, Ethernet is a highly reliable option. Users who prioritize wireless connectivity might consider a Raspberry Pi CM4 setup, which I’ll describe below.

Geek-Level Upgrade: CM4 + SSD = Refined and Ready

For those looking to take things up a notch, I tested a Raspberry Pi CM4 with onboard WiFi, mounted on a Waveshare CM4IO-BASE-A board and booting Volumio from an NVMe SSD.

This combination really shines with the Hypex preamp. It enables external WiFi antennas (a small hole in the back panel allows for clean integration) and supports faster, more robust storage options like eMMC or NVMe. The result? Quicker boot times, enhanced system reliability, and a polished user experience.

Suggestions for Hypex

If Hypex is considering future updates, here are a couple of opportunities to further elevate the user experience:

• Consider maintaining USB audio connection consistency when switching inputs—this would make the integration with platforms like Volumio even more seamless.

• Offering the CM4 + Waveshare baseboard as an officially supported configuration could appeal to power users looking for enhanced wireless and storage capabilities.

Final Thoughts

All in all, the combination of Volumio and the Hypex DIY Preamp makes for an incredibly capable and enjoyable system. Setup is easy, performance is strong, and the audio quality delivers real satisfaction. Whether you’re an audiophile maker or a developer who loves clean code and great sound, this pairing offers a lot to be excited about.

Highly recommended and I’m looking forward to what’s next in this open-source meets high-fidelity journey.

Stay tuned for more hands-on audio experiments.

NB: More details about the HYPEX DIY pre-amp

The post Test Drive: Running Volumio on a Raspberry Pi Inside the Hypex DIY Preamp appeared first on Volumio.

In the fast-moving world of high-end audio, innovation is not only about exceptional sound quality—it’s about flexibility, speed to market, and creating products that surprise and delight. For brands like Ferrum, that’s exactly what Volumio OS brings to the table: an open, reliable platform that allows forward-thinking manufacturers to develop next-generation features faster than ever before.

At the upcoming High End Munich 2025 show, Ferrum will unveil WANDLA 2.0.0, a groundbreaking firmware update for its award-winning family of DACs. The highlight? Ferrum Streaming Control Technology (FSCT), a feature made possible in part by the openness and extensibility of the Volumio platform.

Ferrum Streaming Control Technology: A Glimpse Into the Future of Integrated Audio

With FSCT, Ferrum has reimagined what a DAC can do. Thanks to the 2.0.0 firmware update, WANDLA DACs can now control your streaming setup directly from the unit’s touchscreen and remote control. You get play/pause/skip commands and artist and track info displayed in real time—right from the device itself.

Here’s where Volumio OS comes in: FSCT was built to be fully compatible with Volumio’s plugin and control architecture, allowing seamless interaction between the WANDLA DAC and a Volumio-powered streamer. This wasn’t an afterthought—it was made possible because Volumio’s architecture is partner-friendly, modular, and built for this kind of innovation.

“The beauty of FSCT is that WANDLA can show information of the artist, title, and progress bar from any device running macOS, Windows, or the Volumio OS plugin.”

The Power of an Open Ecosystem

Volumio has spent years refining its software to serve the most demanding audio use cases. That experience, especially in the high-end market, means manufacturers can rely on Volumio as a Grade-A software foundation for their own products.

When Ferrum needed a robust platform that could keep up with their fast pace of innovation and demanding customer base, Volumio was the obvious choice. Here’s why:

• Speed to Market: Volumio OS allowed Ferrum to implement FSCT and release it across their full WANDLA product family without building a streaming interface from scratch.
• Hardware Flexibility: Whether using Raspberry Pi boards, CM modules, or custom hardware, Volumio adapts and performs with reliability.
• Extensible Architecture: Volumio plugins enabled Ferrum to tailor features specifically for their use case while preserving compatibility with the wider Volumio ecosystem.
• Proven Track Record: Trusted by audiophiles, integrators, and OEMs around the world, Volumio is already a mainstay in high-end audio—Ferrum’s adoption just reinforces that.

A Win-Win for Brands and Users Alike

For Ferrum, the payoff is enormous. Their users now get smarter, more intuitive control of their streaming experience—without needing to switch apps, fumble for phones, or look at multiple screens. The remote works. The screen shows everything. The experience is fluid.

For Volumio, it’s further proof that open platforms empower creativity. Ferrum’s team didn’t need to wait on closed SDKs or jump through proprietary hoops. They had what they needed to build fast, test thoroughly, and ship confidently.

Conclusion: Volumio OS as a Launchpad for High-End Innovation

The story of Ferrum’s WANDLA 2.0.0 release is a perfect showcase of what Volumio OS was built to do: enable world-class audio manufacturers to bring advanced features to market quickly, reliably, and without compromise.

If you’re an audio brand looking to push boundaries, delight users, and move fast, Volumio is your ally. As Ferrum has shown, the future of high-end audio is not just about better sound. It’s also about better systems. And Volumio OS is the system that lets you build yours.

References:
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The post Volumio OS: Powering Innovation and Speed in the High-End Audio Market appeared first on Volumio.