TempoTec Variations V6

 In this review, we look closely at the TempoTec Variations V6, selling for $399 / €399.

Disclaimer: The Tempotec Variations V6 was sent to us free of charge by the brand in exchange for an honest opinion. As usual, if you want to get one, reach out to your local retailer or check the brand’s website!

About TempoTec

Based in Dongguan, China, Tempotec was established by a group of audiophiles “pursuing the better sound quality, and the more convenient user experience”. 

Prior to this review, I didn’t have any knowledge regarding the brand, but a quick Google search lead me to their website where I found an extensive range of portable DAC – known as the Sonata Series – with many affordable-yet-powerful solutions, like the Sonata HD V, or its smaller sibling, the Sonata HD III.

But, the most intriguing device, for me, would be their Serenade X, a desktop DAC/Amp, with a wireless connection that aims to become the all-in-one source for your audiophile system. A compact system, that led to the Variations V6, their first fully-fledged DAP, was unveiled a few days ago on their website and Kickstarter.

I received mine a few weeks ago, and after a full month of listening and tests, here is the review!

Design & Build Quality

Casing

In terms of design, the TempoTec Variations V6 is quite conservative – but that’s not a bad thing.

Let’s begin with the good things: build quality is superb. The black case, made of one single block of aluminum carved through CNC milling looks and feels solid, highlighted by the glass panel on the back. To that, you can add the superb golden scroll-wheel, the perfectly heightened buttons, and the flush ports, giving a really good impression in the hand.

But, this design now feels a bit antique: side to side with a FiiO X5 MK3, the Tempotec Variations V6 feels awfully similar, and if the FiiO looked good when it came out, the V6 doesn’t get the same regard in 2022.: big bezels, a massive V6 logo on the bottom part of the front panel, no holographic back panel… all those small things that give the M6 Pro 21 or the Astell&Kern players a premium look, none can be found here.

Yet, as I said in the introduction, the exquisite build quality largely compensates for that, and fitted in the faux-leather case, the player looks quite better, and for the price… it’s perfect!

Layout

In terms of layout, the TempoTec Variations V6 is pretty well-endowed. 

A golden-tone scroll-wheel doubled as a power on/on button, three playback buttons that feel equally solid, and a discreet slit emitting some light to indicate if the player is on or not. All of that makes the player a little more easy to control in blind mode, and overall, paired with the touch-screen, the ergonomics are quite good!

But the real surprise comes for the bottom part, as the Variations V6 displays no less than four ports. If you got the traditional 3.5mm and 4.4mm output, for single-ended and balanced headphone outputs, the brand mirrored those ports and gave his player both a single-ended and balanced line-out, to connect a better amplifier. A feature that we don’t see much with DAP and I’d be curious to connect that 4.4mm Line out to a compatible headphone amplifier!

Finally, on the left side of the player, you get a single micro-SD port, with a wide opening. So far, so good. Let’s take a look at the screen now.

Screen

With a Snapdragon 425, you’re automatically stuck to 720p max, a far cry from the DX320 or even the M17. But, if you take into account the fact that TempoTec’s new players cost 4 times less… this feels more than adequate.

Moreover, in real life, the 4.2” screen feels as crisp and sharp as those pre-cited, since the number of pixels the brand had to fit, fills a much narrower space. Okay, there are black bezels on each side and an even bigger one at the bottom, but apart from that, this is a good screen with bright colors and good responsiveness.

During my time with the player, I had no complaints about the screen and if the whole interface feels snappy enough for me, I’m sure it will be for 90% of you.

On that good note, let’s check the bundle, and we’ll be able to look at the spec sheets then.

The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.