The first round of listening
Contents
Playing Nescio, the two set-ups are more or less on par. There are differences, but much of these differences are attributable to the different DAC implementations.
The Primo produces a 3D soundstage, where the Rivo with SMSL has much less depth. This is undoubtedly the Dodo contributing to this. The Primo brings flow into the music, which is clearly audible, as is the texture and depth in voices that the Primo demonstrates.
There are few other DACs that reproduce voices like the Primo, it is the unique feature of this DAC. If voice and text are important to you, we recommend to take a close listen to the Primo. The involvement it evokes with the listener is unique.
Another striking aspect is the difference in how the bass guitar sounds. It dances more with the Primo than with the SMSL.
Rone’s track is a different story. The Primo projects a soundstage that curves around you like a bubble, the voice sounding with many nuances, from clear to veiled to almost pleading. There is still a hint of an edge of harshness in the high synth sounds, but it is on this aspect that the Rivo and SMSL combination is lagging.
With the SMSL and Rivo, the bleeps are flatter and edgier in sound and float less in space. The voice sounds more even, but that is to be expected. The soundstage of the SMSL and Rivo is wider and deep synth sounds dig deeper with the Rivo and SMSL, they are clearly audible where with the Primo they fade away earlier on.