Volumio is a well-known Linux based open source music player for Raspberry Pi, UDOO, Cubox-I, Beaglebone Black, and other single board computers. Some companies even made audiophile boards with support for Volumio including Khadas Tone high-resolution audio board for VIM/VIM2 SBC’s, and the tiny VoltaStream ZERO following Raspberry Pi Zero form factor.
But Volumio team has decided to make their own hardware with Motivo, an awesomely looking audio streamer designed in collaboration with Yottamusic engineering firm, and Design Narratives industrial design company. Motivo was introduced at High-End Munich, the world’s biggest Hi-Fi trade fair, and Pine64 posted some photos in a tweet claiming it was powered by their SOPINE A64 system-on-module.
The full details about the device have not been published at the time of writing, but we can still derive some of Volumio Motivo specifications and key features from the photos and a few bits of public information:
- System-on-Module – SOPINE A64 with Allwinner A64 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor, up to 2GB LPDDR3 RAM, 128 Mbit SPI flash, microSD card slot
- Display – 8″ touch screen display with 1280×800 resolution showing Volumio 2 user interface
- Video Output – HDMI 1.4 video output
- Audio I/O
- RCA ports for stereo analog audio (left and right)
- Balanced XLR ports for left and right channels
- Optical and coaxial audio outputs
- HDMI I2S audio port
- Built-in audio DAC with low noise floor and jitter
- Connectivity – Ethernet
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports
- Misc – Red rotary encoder (TBC)
- Power Supply – Via power barrel jack
The audio streamer most likely runs Volumio 2 for SOPINE image and supported by the community in Volumio forums. There’s no mention of Motivo hardware in the forum at this point however.
The platform shown at High-end Munich may look good, but those are still prototypes, so it may take a few more months before Volumio Motivo is launched to the general public.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress
any info on the price?
Well the Allo Sparky SBC is €29.90
So wonder what these charge?
Well, the Sparky SBC is not doing any audio by itself, does it?
It does not have an 8″ 1280×800 touch screen either or a full aluminium case with a nice tempered glass finish, it does not have a built-in DAC with an astonishing low noise floor and jitter. It has no optical or coax SPDIF output, no XLR balanced output , no RCA output, no I2s over an HDMI connector either, so why take a bare Sparky board as a point of reference?
The price will be published well before the unit goes on sale, which is planned for autumn this year.
There is still a lot of work to be done, updates will follow, just keep an eye on volumio.org.
Can you show is the graph on jitter and low noise ? Otherwise you are just hyping
If you had to compare it to something done by Allo, you’d have to compare it to Allo Vana Player which sells for $169. But again, no aluminum case, no XLR output, no display, but potentially some extra features like a reclocker board. It’s always difficult to compare audio board until you know the DAC used because prices vary a lot. I would expect Motivo to cost upwards of $200.
Everybody compares it to the complete device, where I was thinking it compares to the Sopine A64 used inside the above. Yes Sparky is A9 and only 1GB @ 1.1GHz and a SBC while the Sopine A64 2GB compute module @$29.00
there’s a review on youtube of the last volumio streamer device, with mediocre results, is this unit better? seems like a sonos with touchscreen attached, volumio website say they are all about music sound quality, but is this real?
I love the industrial design. Keeping an eye on this.