It’s a family affair: Primo and Rivo

What did we test?

Soundwise, the Primo and the SMSL are not comparable, but that is not important. Are there better DACs available than the SMSL? Undoubtedly, but we are not looking for the ultimate match.

The SMSL is built balanced, just like the Rivo. The Primo is balanced analogue out, so we can use XLR to the preamp in both cases.

The streaming platform in both Volumio devices is the same. Any audible difference is then due to the digital chain within both Volumio devices, in the power supply or in the DAC.

How did we test?

We executed two rounds of testing:

1. In the first round, we compared the Primo with the Dodo power supply to the Rivo with an iFi iPower2 power supply and the SMSL DAC. The Dlink GS-108 switch is powered by a first-generation iFi iPower power supply.
2. In the second round, we compared the Primo witch the Dodo power supply to the Rivo with the Dodo power supply and the SMSL DAC. The Dlink GS-108 switch is powered from the second input of the Dodo.

In the first round, we compare roughly on the same price point and thus get an insight into how the two compare.

In the second round, the power supply is the same, but the equipment is different. It delivers us an insight into what the Rivo brings compared to the Primo. The Dodo, Rivo and SMSL combination is 1200 Euros more expensive than the Dodo and Primo combination.

A Supra power strip was used for the Dlink and Volumio devices, we did not use a power conditioner.