LINDEMANN WOODNOTE SOLO
L2 · Documentation-based Decision ProfileNetwork DAC and preamplifier for separately amplified systems, with XLR/RCA line, headphone and digital outputs, TV eARC and USB storage/CD hosting.
- Source checked
- 2026-11-07
- Independent test scope
- No SPL hardware test
Where it fits
Consider it for an existing power amplifier or active-speaker system needing network playback, conversion, TV eARC and headphone output. SOLO provides line-level outputs, not passive-speaker power. Check output-volume mode and system gain before connecting it.
Keep the conditions visible
Headphone guidance, balance-step and quick-start wiring inconsistencies remain unresolved; performance and system reliability are untested.
Full specifications, test scope and sourcesPurchase channels
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Full specifications, test scope, existing assessments & owner feedback
Documentation review · checked 7 November 2026. Manufacturer specifications and operating instructions are separate from independent tests.
Current verdict
Consider it for an existing power amplifier or active-speaker system needing network playback, conversion, TV eARC and headphone output. SOLO provides line-level outputs, not passive-speaker power. Check output-volume mode and system gain before connecting it.
Why this judgment
Its documented value is consolidating several source and control functions while retaining existing amplification. Connector count, converter topology and manufacturer resampling claims do not establish an audible upgrade.
What does it replace?
A compatible network player, DAC and line-level preamplifier. A network connection, source devices, power amplification or active speakers, and any service accounts remain separate requirements.
What does it not replace?
It does not replace a speaker power amplifier, phono stage or documented computer USB-audio input. The RCA digital input is coaxial S/PDIF, distinct from the RCA line output. Do not connect passive speakers to line outputs.
What SoundPath Lab checked
The exact-model official page and the complete English operating section of the manufacturer manual, printed pages 18–31, were reviewed, including rear-panel and specification diagrams. SPL has not installed, listened to or measured this unit.
What remains untested
DAC output level and noise, headphone power and load behavior, TV/CEC interoperability, USB-drive compatibility, network reliability and long-term support are untested. Regional stock, delivery, local service eligibility and the installed firmware build are unverified.
Compatibility and operating conditions
LAN or dual-band Wi-Fi and the LINDEMANN App provide setup and control. Most settings require the app. General playback ceilings are PCM 384 kHz/24 bit and DSD256; the manual limits Wi-Fi to PCM 192 kHz and DSD128. USB is a host for storage/CD drives, with a stated 1 A limit and FAT32, NTFS, ext3 and ext4 support. Streaming-service and regional requirements remain separate.
Alternatives
WOODNOTE COMBO adds documented passive-speaker amplification. WiiM Ultra is another documented source/control hub worth comparing by its actual inputs, outputs and service support. Keeping a suitable existing source is also valid. These are role comparisons, not measured sound-quality rankings.
Advice for existing owners
Replace equipment to solve a specific documented connection or control gap, not because a higher sample-rate number or resampling topology alone implies better sound. Verify volume behavior, network stability and the complete TV path in the intended system.
When to reassess
Reassess when exact-model documents, firmware, streaming services or independent evidence change. Manufacturer repair or compatibility claims require separate retesting before an SPL issue can be marked resolved.
Before connecting the system
Follow the exact-model safety instructions, connect XLR/RCA line outputs to suitable amplifier inputs or active speakers, and begin at a low level. Confirm fixed/variable output mode and avoid unintended double volume control. The manual documents an Ethernet-assisted Wi-Fi setup alternative to WPS. USB host direction is not interchangeable with a computer USB-audio input.
TV and headphone conditions
The manual describes eARC connection and TV-remote volume/mute control, but this does not prove support for every television, surround codec or CEC configuration. The headphone High setting is described as a 12 dB level increase; it is not a measured power specification or a guarantee of suitability for every planar headphone.
Unresolved documentation differences
The product page recommends 20–200 ohm headphones; manual page 31 says 30–200 ohms. Page 29 describes 0.5 dB balance steps, while page 30 and the website say 1 dB. Quick-start page 20 mentions speaker terminals/banana plugs, inconsistent with SOLO's line-output rear-panel diagram and product role. Retain these differences; do not turn the quick-start text into passive-speaker wiring advice or infer a hardware defect.
Firmware and support boundary
LINDEMANN's September 2026 WOODNOTE notice states that Roon Ready needs current firmware delivered through the LINDEMANN App. The exact build, installed version and installation outcome remain unknown. Roon also needs its own server/account requirements. The manual's extended three-year warranty requires registration; local eligibility, remedies and future support have not been independently established.
Documented specifications
| Item | Manufacturer documentation and limits |
|---|---|
| Role | Network DAC, line-level preamplifier and headphone unit; no speaker power output documented. |
| Analogue outputs | XLR and RCA line outputs can operate simultaneously; volume control is optional. Confirm the intended output mode. |
| Digital connections | Coaxial/TOSLINK inputs and outputs; HDMI eARC input. USB-A is a storage/CD-drive host. |
| Format limits | PCM 44.1–384 kHz/24 bit, DSD64–DSD256; manual Wi-Fi limit PCM 192 kHz/DSD128. |
| Network and Bluetooth | 100 Mbit/s Ethernet; dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, WPS; Bluetooth 4.2 A2DP reception, SBC/AAC. |
| USB host conditions | Storage/CD-ROM host, maximum 1 A; FAT32/NTFS/ext3/ext4. No computer USB-audio input established. |
| Headphone guidance | 6.35 mm output; sensitivity recommendation >100 dB/mW. Impedance differs: website 20–200 ohms, manual 30–200 ohms. |
| Manufacturer audio figures | Dynamic range >130 dB, THD+N <0.0002% at 0 dBFS, response 1–100 kHz (-3 dB); not SPL measurements. |
| Balance and gain | Balance ±6 dB; 0.5/1 dB step discrepancy retained. Headphone High setting described as +12 dB. |
| Dimensions and mass | 207 × 250 × 62 mm (width × depth × height), 1.8 kg. Allow extra cable and ventilation space. |
| Power supply and consumption | Manufacturer states 115 or 230 V, 50 Hz; 0.5 W standby, 6 W operation, 10 W maximum. Check the supplied regional unit. |
Primary sources
Member knowledge · editor reviewed
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