We’ve been in contact with Bruno Ginard of Vermeer Audio for quite some time. He wanted me to evaluate one of their products, and when the TWO Universal Control Center was finalized with all the latest upgrades, this interesting French DAC/preamplifier has finally made it to Mono and Stereo headquarters.
There is no doubt, that DACs are becoming, or they’re already a centerpiece of many high-end audio systems. Although many audiophiles and music lovers are already strictly operating in the digital domain, there are still a lot of people that want and need the analog inputs.
Vermeer Audio TWO Universal Control Center embraces both digital and analog inputs, offering a plethora of connections to explore the endless music universe.
As you can read on, the Vermeer Audio TWO comes with many features and sonic delivery, that sets it above usual offerings. The company roots expand more than two decades back, with a strong technical foundation that was the ground stone for the creation of their Universal Control Center line of products.
VERMEER AUDIO
Vermeer Audio is a French high-end audio company that was started by technicians and passionate investors. But, it actually has quite a pedigree when it comes to the digital high-end audio.
Many of you will remember iconic French high-end audio manufacturer Audio Aero. Vermeer Audio acquired their technology and know-how and took it further. With a powerful heritage of more than two decades of making the DACs, the Vermeer team has created a new product that expertly combines DAC, Network Player and preamplifier.
Each TWO is hand-assembled by Vermeer experts in Lyon, France and they’re working only with best the European subcontractors to ensure the highest quality.
MEET THE TWO
This unique Universal Control Center is hand-assembled, checked and tested each time by a single engineer to warrant the impeccable final product before its ready for shipping out to the new owners.
There is a lot more than meet the eye, hidden under the stylish, fine-brushed aluminum enclosure. Let us look at the stand out features…
Universal Control Center
The TWO was designed from the ground up to feature a stunning design and audiophile sonic performance and to act as an extraordinary integrated preamplifier – digital to analog converter.
Model TWO combines a compelling combination of stand-out industrial design, cutting-edge patented technology and sonic performance of the higher degree.
21st Century high-fidelity
Vermeer Audio Model TWO was designed to act as the epicenter of the high-end, high-performance audio system. It’s a one-box solution, that merges the preamplifier and the DAC functions within a highly stylish chassis. It cuts down the cable and multiple box cluttering without sacrificing the sound quality for the sake of the convenience.
Basically, you only add the power amplifier to drive the speakers. The TWO’s tube output stage was designed to deliver a highly involving, opulent music experience that lasts, and invites for returning listening. Unlike many modern hubs, the Model TWO preamplifier section provides both analog volume and balance controls.
Extraordinary 32 Bits /384 Khz design
To achieve the best possible performance, the Vermeer Audio team has highly optimized the Model TWO. It features the latest digital technology and builds upon the well-proven S.T.A.R.S Module.
VERMEER AUDIO exclusive digital signal processing is handled at 32 bit 384 kHz. United with an ultra-low jitter clock design the TWO was conceived to deliver a remarkable resolution.
The TWO universal set of digital and analog inputs as well as outputs and an asynchronous 24/192 USB (PCM/DSD) input grants easy connectivity with the streamers, music servers, and computers.
Dedicated Ultra-Low Jitter Master Clock
VERMEER AUDIO combines their exclusive digital signal processing with a dedicated ultra low jitter master clock, that incorporates a high-grade natural quartz crystal. This ensures a new level of noise reduction and digital artifact reduction (including jitter) with less than 1µs of RMS jitter.
State of the art output stage
VERMEER AUDIO proprietary handling of the digital signal is followed by strictly selected and tested the minuscule 6021 NOS dual triode tube, that is directly soldered on the PCB board. This grants the perfect contact points. Each tube is cryogenically treated, for what Vermeer Audio states it resulted in extended tube life and more accurate sonic performance.
Complete analog preamplifier
As mentioned before, the volume control and channel balance are fully analog. This follows the Vermeer Audio concept of avoiding any loss of resolution. This is achieved by a high quality “ladder” attenuator.
With a whooping, 7V (maximum) output the TWO preamplifier stage was planned from the initial stage to drive any power amplifier and the best standalone preamplifiers on the market.
The preamplifier output can also be of fixed output if the user wants to partner the TWO with their existing preamp. This is easily selected via the remote.
Connectivity
Thanks to its analog and digital inputs, the VERMEER AUDIO Model Two Universal Control Center allows you to plug your turntable Phono Stage or your tape recorder through balanced and unbalanced inputs, as well as to your laptop or any digital source through S/PDIF or USB asynchronous inputs up to 24/192 kHz without any loss of information.
External Digital Processor
The unusual, extra feature let Model TWO to digitally connect to the external processor. This includes the outboard digital sound processing (DSP) and room correction devices. Certainly, the feature that will be of interest to many audiophiles.
Premium Quality Board
Vermeer Audio TWO uses only state of the art PCB boards. All of the contact points 24K gold platted with 70 ppm copper traces that allow the perfect data flow.
Power Supply
The VERMEER AUDIO new hybrid power supply has been developed to provide extremely stable power with high linearity to each module of the Universal Control Center. Each module receives his own regulator with specific tension for the application. Both analog and digital stages have their own dedicated power supplies, this eliminates all residual noise and interference between the digital and analog domain.
Ultra-High Rigid Construction
We choose the best quality. Extremely rigid chassis construction isolates the boards from external and internal vibrations. The main chassis and also the top, front, rear and sides panel are manufactured from high-grade anodized Aluminium. The front panel is manufactured in a 50 mm Aluminium lingot, top and sides panel in a 40 mm Aluminium lingot. Thanks to this complete inert housing, small vibrations that could affect the clock precision are completely isolated.
Universal Masterpiece
VERMEER AUDIO model TWO Universal Control Center was designed from the ground up to be partnered with, ultra high quality, no-compromise high-end, high-fidelity system.
OPERATIONAL
Even before coming to the splendid design of the TWO I have to point out at the remote control. Here at Mono and Stereo, the gear is coming in out weekly, if not sometimes daily for years and I seldom come across such a stylish and sleek remote control. The remote is splendidly designed with a top-notch finish, and I cannot recall anything similar to the clever magnetic battery lid being used with TWO. Rarely the remote alone creates such a pleasant introduction to the product. It instantly shows how much dedication and effort went into the making of the TWO.
Handy remote will let you select all the main functions from the volume, inputs selection, menu diving, mute and power on/off.
The front panel mirrors the remote functions and lets you directly control everything connected with the TWO’s complex design. On the left side there are “Menu and volume down and volume up buttons and on the right, the input; channel up and channel down buttons as well as the phase switch. Everything is very straightforward and easy to control or dive within the menu.
At the backplate, all the digital outputs are on the top and the analog inputs/outputs below them.
Analog connectivity is combined with balanced XLR and two RCA inputs and one balanced and one unbalanced output.
Digital inputs allow a plethora of connections via USB, Toslink, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, coaxial, BNC LAN. Under the top right USB upgrade terminal that servers for the software update.
The far-right side is reserved for the IEC socket, main on/off switch and grounded/ungrounded switch.
TWO allows fixed or variable volume output, S/PDIF or USB asynchronous inputs up to 24/192 kHz and even connection of the external digital processor (BNC) that allows DSP and room correction via digital input/output.
LAN input opens up the TWO to the NAS storage and it is compatible with both DSD (11,2 MHz) and PCM (up to 384 KHz/32 bits) via UPnP protocol and iOS or Android apps.
Vermeer Audio team wanted the TWO to leave the files as they are by the absence of any oversampling as their processor is capable of operating 32bit/384khz.
THE MUSIC
Soulful and instantly mesmerizing Youn Sun Nah’s album Lento is an ear-opener on the proper set-up system and of course with the capable digital front end. If the conversion is not on the needed plane, the music too quickly starts sounding bland, uninvolving and distant.

Vermeer Audio TWO tuneful portraying was off the chart. Highly charming, with the unexpected easiness of music’s flow and rendition of three-dimensional space. It’s worth pointing out also the TWO’s atmospheric appeal, which was of a higher degree across all of the tracks.

The inducing performance was continued with unforgettably alluring Songs of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen. The track “Sisters of Mercy” simple, but multilayering reveals a lot about any type of the source.

At the level, where we talk about high-end reproducing the atmospheric propagation shouldn’t be questioned as well as the dynamic ability to expand fully and without reservations.
At around two minutes into the track “Tauiqto Militar” by Será una Noche from the album La Segunda (M062A), even some of the upper echelons DACs fail to deliver the dynamic density without sacrificing the precision impact. The Vermeer Audio TWO surpassingly hold all of the track’s sonic joints, without the aural scenery to fail apart.

Vermeer Audio projected the juxtaposition of preserving the flute’s needed air and subtlety and keep the percussion attack sharp and intact.
We often talk about high-end and high fidelity, but many times fail to understand what is the actual delivery of the performance worthy of such designation.
With the dynamic range of 27 the Guerzenich-Orchester Koeln, Dmitri Kitajenko – DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH – Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65 “Adagio – Allegro non troppo – Allegro – Adagio” leaves a little to wonder. This is a heavyweight, take no prisoners assault on any high-end audio, high-performance system and nonetheless the source.

Vermeer Audio TWO exhibited the dramatic level far above it’s given price point and a stable rendition during the dynamic passages. It’s not exactly easy to keep “Adagio – Allegro non troppo – Allegro – Adagio” to flow continuously. Yet…
Despite the TWO’s tube heart, there was no smoothing of the transients during sudden attack shifts or smearing the leading edges of the orchestra’s instruments. Quite a remarkable feature at the TWO’s given price range!
Without introducing the serious factor of believability it makes a little sense to launch the product on the utmost demanding market. Especially in the 20k+ price range.
Across the numerous tracks, Vermeer Audio TWO repeatedly exhibited above ordinary rewarding listening experience. The TWO is no casual product, but a highly matured product. There’s a little doubt regarding the voicing of the TWO. Some serious evaluations have certainly taken place before this exquisite French DAC was introduced.
The Vermeer Audio TWO is as French as I get. Vibrant seductiveness lets the music to fully expand and the TWO’s highly potent inner core allows the DAC to act with chameleon-like nature from track to track, album to album and from genre to genre.
CONCLUSION
Vermeer Audio took their venture very seriously. I repeatedly shout out, how everything starts with the packaging and the rest should follow up. The feeling of utmost dedication was thoroughly followed with everything connected with the TWO.
It’s not an easy challenge to take upon a quest to create the 21st century DAC. Add the analog preamplifier and it becomes even more complex affair.

Vermeer Audio is calling the TWO universal control center and it certainly represents the audiophile digital/analog hub that can handle multiplex digital inputs with ease.
The TWO’s inner core is highly organic by nature, but even more unexpectedly, the TWO’s startling transparency is not canceling out the proper rendition of timbre, tone, and color. That alone is another rare feature, worthy of highlighting and putting into the perspective for anyone that is in search of a product like TWO.
The overlaying quality of sonic performance, technical inner heart, and highly stylish aesthetics go hand in hand. All three virtues are of the upper echelon equilibrium.
I’ve highly enjoyed Vermeer Audio’s Universal Control Center during the evaluation. The TWO performed flawlessly and with a grander portion of involving factor, then I’ve expected.
Like with blending of Haute Couture French wines that maximize the expression of wines, the 6021 NOS dual-triode tubes add just the right amount of richer contour to balance the sound with harmoniously.
The massive aluminum front panel is also unapologetically-curvy French and bold in appearance. It seamlessly to the story of elegance and seduction.
The TWO should cater technically inclined audiophiles as well as the music lovers, that simply want to instantly impress into their beloved music repertoire.•
Matej Isak
PRICE
– 20.800 € (without VAT)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Analog outputs: Single-ended RCA, Balanced XL
- Analog inputs: Single-ended RCA, Balanced XLR
- Digital inputs: BNC, USB, TOSLINK, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, COAX
- Output voltage: 2, 3 or 4V RMS in fixed output mode, Up to 7V RMS in variable output mode
- Output impedance: 100 Ohms
- Signal to noise ratio: 129 dB
- Total harmonic distortion: < 0.1%
- Power supply: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Weight: App. 25 Kgs
- Size (WxHxD): 450 x440 x130 mm
- Others: 32/384 Vermeer Audio Resampling module, Output tube with volume control, Asynchronous USB inputs, Analog and digital inputs, DSD 64/2.8 Mhz by USB input, AES/EBU or S/PDIF
CONTACT
VERMEER AUDIO SAS
89 Impasse de la Madone
69380 MARCILLY D AZERGUES
France
Email: link
Web: www.vermeeraudio.com