Vinnie Rossi LIO - Ultracapacitor-Powered, Modular Hi-Fi System is here!

All,
 
I am proud to be a HeadFi sponsor and would like to introduce a new brand and product that I have been working on:
Vinnie Rossi LIO
 

 
 
What is LIO?

LIO is a refreshing new concept in high performance audio electronics. It is more than a product – it is an audio system platform you can configure, upgrade and evolve to fulfill your changing audio needs. LIO’s user replaceable Performance Modules include a phono preamp, tube linestage, DSD/PCM DAC, power amplifier, and headphone amplifier. LIO is any one of these components, or all of them, and so much more.
 
Meet LIO

Vinnie Rossi’s ultracapacitor-powered, modular hi-fi systems are designed for long-term ownership by giving you the ability to add features and upgrades at any time – meeting your current and future needs.  LIO includes an all-new, patent-pending power supply design that completely isolates all audio circuitry from the AC mains power at all times. You don’t need expensive power filters, power cords, or conditioners to achieve the ultimate in musical resolution.
Learn more >>
 
BUILD YOUR OWN LIO

With LIO you can configure an audio system that perfectly combines all of your current needs into one chassis. When you are ready to add functionality or upgrade to new technology, simply add and/or change circuit cards. LIO is 100% user updatable via plug in modules.  Compare the cost of a well-configured LIO with the cost of similar ultra-high-end performance separate components. LIO will cost you hundreds, even thousands less and will never become obsolete.
Start building >>
 

 
The death of obsolescence, the rebirth of lasting value.
 
LIO is a modular system that gives you the ability to add features and upgrades at any time. It is designed for long-term ownership, with the ability to easily configure it for your current and future needs. 

Unlike conventional high-end audio components, where multiple boxes are connected to each other by costly noise-and-distortion-inducing interconnect cables, LIO offers a modular approach that offers flawless signal flow, combats planned obsolescence, and offers the highest value by consolidating multiple functions into one chassis and power supply. Compare the cost of a well-configured LIO with the cost of similar ultra-high-end performance separate components. LIO will cost you hundreds, even thousands less and will never become obsolete!

With LIO you can configure a system that perfectly combines all of your current audio needs into one chassis. When you are ready to add functionality or upgrade to new technology, simply add and/or change circuit cards. LIO is 100% user updatable via plug in modules (no soldering or special electronics knowledge needed). You never have to take a big loss on a used component sale to maintain state of the art.

Features:

- Clean and intuitive user interface
- Front panel display, and mode select to view operational data (Volume level, Input source, DAC frequency, Phonostage loading, display on/off)
- Full function remote control included
- Smart phone / tablet interface (via Bluetooth) for full control with Android and iOS devices.
- Easy to remove sliding top plate for quick access to internal modules
- Dedicated, super-low noise linear power regulation and isolation between modules
- Small, external ac/dc power adapter – keeps any ac noise away from your music
- User-replaceable front, side, and top plates to allow for the customization of the product aesthetics at any time.
 
Absolutely no noise.
 
LIO includes an all-new, patent-pending power supply design that completely isolates all audio circuitry from the AC mains power at all times. You don’t need expensive power filters, power cords, or conditioners to achieve ultimate in musical resolution.  Click to learn more

LIO’s internal power supply uses Vinnie Rossi’s all-new, revolutionary and patent-pending “PURE DC-4-EVR” technology that employs ultracapacitor banks in place of conventional AC power or batteries. While one bank of ultracapacitors are feeding pure DC current to the audio circuits the other bank is charging. The audio circuitry is NEVER connected to the charging ultracapacitor bank and is 100% isolated from the AC mains at ALL times. This approach provides dramatic performance and durability advantages over every other power supply technology whether AC or battery.
 


[LIO prototype shown at NY Audio Show 2014. Photo credit – Stereophile magazine.]
 

[LIO prototype shown at RMAF 2014.  Photo credit - Scot Hull -- The Audio Traveler]
 
Want to Learn More?
 
- Check out the LIO BLOG >>
- About LIO TECHNOLOGY >>
- Place your LIO PRE-ORDER >>
 
 

[LIO Pre-Launch at NY Audio Show 2014.   Photo credit - John Darko - Digital Audio Review]
 

[LIO Official Launch at RMAF's CanJam 2014 >> ]
 
 
Upcoming Shows!
 
NY HeadFi Meet Fall 2014 >>
New England HeadFi Meet (December 6th, 2014) >>
 
 
Questions?  Comments?  This is the thread!
 
Just like I've been doing on our Vinnie Rossi Audiocircle Forum, I encourage you to ask questions to get a better understanding of what LIO is all about, what we are currently doing, and what we'll be doing with it in the future.  I will try my best to respond to posts here on a daily basis. 
 
Some of your questions might already be answered on our FAQ PAGE, but if not, please feel free to post them in this thread.  This thread is for LIO customers (and potential customers) who deeply enjoy learning from each other, sharing their experiences, discussing what they would like to see next, etc - I want everyone to get the most from it!  No matter what your age is, what genres of music you like, prefer vinyl or digital, or what your headphone preference is – you will know that you are in the right place if you are here to have fun and enjoy this hobby, and most importantly, acquire a deeper connection to your music in the process.
 
Welcome, and thank you for being a part of this!
 
Vinnie

Looks very nice, love the color options

Great idea with the Remote Cartridge Loading for the vinyl spinners too.

Well done, Vinnie. This looks like a winner. You've always championed upgrade-ability, and now you are taking it way toooo faaaarrrrr (in the best of ways). All the best, and I hope to get to listen to it at CanJam.

So many capacitors!!! Me like!!
 
Looks good Vinnie!
 

That or use actual batteries...

And it sounds great with HD800, Prime and LCD-3. It's one of the few setups I enjoy LCD-3 sound.

olegausany said:

And it sounds great with HD800, Prime and LCD-3. It's one of the few setups I enjoy LCD-3 sound.

Click to expand...

Hi Olegausany. Do you have experience with the LIO? Can you expand on your impressions? Thanks.

Great concept. I enjoyed listening at RMAF.

Jim

is it that one bank charges while the other is being used for power then how long does the bank last and when does it swap banks? between songs?
 
when i first read this for some reason i was thinking it said super-caps instead of ultra-cap... was really excited for a second there

How does headphone out work? Is it a separate amp section inside or does it get the same power as the speaker outs, like Schiit's Ragnarok?

It's separate module, you don't have to have speakers amp to use headphones amp

I've been meaning to say:
 
This gear reminded me of some of the original ASR Emitter series in the high-end two-channel..
And, that gear not only looked the bizness, but it delivered the sonic goods, powering the Nola Grand Reference System,
in a way that simply went beyond audio playback in the home...
 
(I heard this as Harry Pearsons place when he was still w/ his magazine The Absolute Sound)
 
Rossi - 
I can't WAIT to spend time w/ this at some point!! Even if I gotta road-trip it to @   or something

 
I didn't get to hear it for longer than a couple of minutes at Canjam.
I got more listening than ever before,
but you know how the shows are.
 
But it looked exquisite.
 
and I heard an amp you did for Audeze awhile back?
Am I imagining that??

Audeze edition Isabellina by RWA

now this is getting real interesting all of a sudden!  you working with them on their LCD-Z 1200 ohm OTL amp by chance?

All,
 
Thanks for all your feedback!  We're getting close to production and are very excited about LIO ! 
 
Let me respond to your comments and questions:
 
 

 Looks very nice, love the color options

Click to expand...

 
Thanks - and there will be more in the future!  With LIO, even the enclosure is modular, so it will be easy to change the front panel, sides, top plate, etc.  I've received quite a few requests for a clear top plate with the logo custom laser-etched in.  You can later purchase a different front panel, top plate, knob color, etc. and customize the look of your LIO (as well as the functionality on the inside).   
 
The front and sides are DuPont Corian - which allows for bluetooth transmission for our upcoming iOS and Android FREE Remote App (to control LIO from your smartphone and/or Tablet).  But LIO does come
with a full-function remote handset as well:
 

 
LIO Remote Functionality includes:
 
POWER ON/OFF = Top left button, with the line pointing to a red LED on the remote that lights up when you press any button.

DISP = Display Mode (what you see on the front panel 3 digital display):  LEVEL, LOAD, FREQ, VOLTS, DARK ("dark" turns the display off for night time listening)

VOLUME UP / DOWN (Up and Down arrows.  63 steps of analog volume control)

BALANCE L/R = The left / right arrows (12, 1dB steps to the left or right)

MUTE = center button

SOURCE (Select input source, such as: Analog 1, 2, and 3;  Digital USB, Coax, TOSLINK; Phonostage: MM1, MC2, MC3)

LOAD = If you order the remote cartridge loading (RCL) option for your Phonostage, you can adjust the cartridge loading (255 settings!).

DAC FILTER = Linear Phase, or Minimal Phase digital filter used by the d/a chips

DAC PHASE = Output's phase are 0 degrees, or 180 degrees (inverting).
 

That or use actual batteries... 

Click to expand...

 
LIO's patent-pending "PURE-DC-4EVR" Ultracapacitor Power Supply is superior to even the top-notch LiFePO4 battery packs that we've offered in the past with Red Wine Audio products.
 
Here is a link to details >> http://vinnierossi.com/lio-technology/
 

And it sounds great with HD800, Prime and LCD-3. It's one of the few setups I enjoy LCD-3 sound. 

Click to expand...

 
Hi Oleg,
 
Thanks for visiting and listening at the last NY Headfi meet.  I enjoyed the LIO with your modded HD800s, and the LCD-3's and Alpha Primes sounded fantastic as well!
 
The LIO that I brought at the meet also has speaker outputs (LIO MOSFET AMP module) and someone brought HE-6s and we connected them - worked very well! (and we were playing them at the same time, but one could turn OFF just the speaker output stage if they wanted with the front panel button).
 

  is it that one bank charges while the other is being used for power then how long does the bank last and when does it swap banks? between songs?
 
when i first read this for some reason i was thinking it said super-caps instead of ultra-cap... was really excited for a second there

Click to expand...

 
Yes, one bank charges while the other bank is powering the audio circuitry AND completely isolated from the charger and power grid.  When the voltage of the bank playing reaches a  set threshold (it is monitors via a microcontroller), the banks seamlessly swap.  Depending on what modules you have installed (eg. LIO tubestage, LIO DSD/PCM Dac, etc), the swapping happens every 5 to 10 minutes.  It is all automatic, and to the user, the LIO is either ON or OFF like any other component.  You don't have to even think about it.  That's my job! 

Learn more >>  http://vinnierossi.com/lio-technology/
 
Supercapacitor (aka "super-cap") = Ultracapacitor (aka "ultra-cap") = Electric Double-Layer Capacitor (EDLC).   Just different ways of saying it I guess.  So you should still be really excited! 
 
 

 How does headphone out work? Is it a separate amp section inside or does it get the same power as the speaker outs, like Schiit's Ragnarok?

Click to expand...

 
Like all features, the LIO HPA (headphone amplifier) is a module that you choose if you want to order.  Our first LIO HPA module being offered has both SE and BAL output stages on the same module.  On the front panel you can select a 1/4" (6.35mm) TRS jack, or a 4-pin XLR for balanced.  You can swap them at any time (just two screws mount the jack, and the other end plugs into the LIO HPA module - no need for soldering or tools).
 
You can also select our speaker power amp (LIO MOSFET Amp module), which has speaker posts on the rear panel.  This is what I recommend for HE-6's and K1000s and the like.  If you need this, you can have this module wired to the front panel instead (or simply connect to the speaker jacks on the rear panel).
 

  Rossi - 
I can't WAIT to spend time w/ this at some point!! Even if I gotta road-trip it to @   or something

Click to expand...

 
 
Cool - and thank you.  I'll be doing a handful of shows in 2015, as well as headfi meets (AXPONA, Newport Beach, DC, NYC, and probably more).  We'll catch up and I look forward to you giving LIO a good listen.
 
 

  and I heard an amp you did for Audeze awhile back? Am I imagining that??

Click to expand...

 
You are referring to this one, which we did a while back with Audeze >> http://redwineaudio.com/components/audeze_edition
That was limited-edition and has been out of production for a while now.  
 

 now this is getting real interesting all of a sudden!  you working with them on their LCD-Z 1200 ohm OTL amp by chance?

Click to expand...

 
That's how rumors get started!   
 
No - but I am excited about the idea of offering at some point custom Headphone Modules for LIO that will be fine-tuned for certain headphone makes/models (based on what our customers are most interested in).  
 
We can fine-tune them to sound best with a particular brands 'house sound,' impedance, efficiency, etc.  For our customers, it would just be plug-n-play.  You would even be able to compare with previous LIO modules and decide if you want to keep (30-day refund policy) or not.  Same with ALL the LIO modules!  For example, try the LIO DSD/PCM dac module and compare to your dac - if you don't think it is better, you can simply return just that module.  
 
With LIO, you leverage the best value when you add more modules.  This is because we don't have to make separate enclosures (so much duplication - but for no sonic benefit) and you don't need more cables and more clutter.  Signal paths between LIO modules are very short and optimized.  You can easily add functionality and upgrades later as you need or desire.
 
LIO is not just a headphone amplifier, or an integrated amplifier, or a dac, or a phonostage, or a tube preamp.  LIO is ANY AND ALL of them - it is what YOU want it to be! (I know that sounds far-fetched, but that really is how it works - you can configure your LIO they way you want it to look, with the features that you need, and you can change this up and/or add more features and/or try new upgrades later).  LIO is a Ultracapacitor-Powered, MODULAR SYSTEM designed for long-term ownership and enjoyment.  
 
Thanks again, and keep the questions coming!
 
Vinnie