Violectric
Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany · founded 1986
Founder Fried Reim assembled the first Lake People headphone amps by hand in his Konstanz home in 1986 (starting with the Phone-Amp V6). Violectric is the consumer-hi-fi arm of a studio-gear maker, and its engineering-first, anti-esoteric design ethos (measurable specs over "audiophile" mysticism) is a core part of its identity.
Violectric is the hi-fi/high-end brand of German audio manufacturer Lake People Electronic GmbH, based in Konstanz on Lake Constance. Lake People was founded in 1986 by electrical engineer Fried Reim, who began by hand-building headphone amplifiers; the company established the Violectric brand in 2009 to bring its studio-grade circuitry to the home hi-fi market. Violectric designs and manufactures headphone amplifiers, DAC/amp combinations, and preamplifiers entirely in Konstanz (“Made in Germany”), with a design philosophy grounded in measurable electronic engineering rather than esoteric audiophile claims. Its signature PRE-GAIN input-attenuation circuit is a recurring feature across the line. Well-known products include the DHA V226 and DHA V590² DAC/amps and the HPA V550 analog headphone amp/preamp.
At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founder
- Fried Reim
- Founded
- 1986
- Headquarters
- Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Price range
- Premium
- Makes / sells
- headphone amplifiers, DACs, DAC/amp combos, preamplifiers, portable DAC/amps
- Known for
- Made-in-Germany manufacturing, measurement-driven engineering, PRE-GAIN input attenuation, balanced headphone amplification, high-power desktop headphone amps
- Website
- www.violectric.de
Notable products
- Violectric DHA V226 — Compact DAC/headphone amp; USB-C up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256; balanced (4-pin XLR, 4.4mm Pentaconn) and 6.3mm outputs; ~EUR 1,599
- Violectric HPA V550 — High-end analog headphone amplifier and preamplifier with PRE-GAIN; ~EUR 2,799
- Violectric DHA V590² — Flagship desktop DAC/headphone amp/preamp; ~EUR 3,299 (PRO version ~EUR 3,899)
- Violectric Chronos — Portable USB DAC/headphone dongle-style amp for mobile devices (entry-level product in the line)
Sources: cma audio GmbH — Lake People brand page · audioXpress — CMA Audio Acquires Lake People · cma audio GmbH — name change to Lake People audio GmbH · Violectric DHA V226 official product page · Forbes — Violectric's Headphone Amps And DACs Are Made In Germany