Long-term listening to the Volumio Rivo+
Contents
The Volumio Rivo+ has been used as a streamer for a Naim ND5XS using the SPDIF connection. This combination has been used to listen to a wide range of music. The result is amazing, it is as if the sound opens up. The Rivo+ has so much grip on the playback that it sounds self-evident. In other words, the DAC implementation in the ND5XS is still relevant in 2025 and the Rivo+ leaves the (now antique) streaming board in the ND5XS in the dust.
The character of the sound does change, becoming more transparent and less warm in tone. This applies to all music. But what is most striking is how much detail the Rivo+ manages to extract from music files.
The track “Spiral Stair” by Mammal Hands lends itself well to hear differences in tone colour and in microdynamics. The start and stop of the bass clarinet, the prominent sound of the cymbals, the deep bass tones of the piano that coincide with the bass clarinet, the repeating tone of the piano that varies subtly in attack and aftertone each repeat, every difference is easily audible.
It is above all the ease that is standing out, the Volumio Rivo+ with the Lineo5 power supply sounds completely effortless.
External software versus Volumio OS
Playback gets even better when Audirvāna is used instead of the Volumio software to select and play music. When we compare Roon with the Volumio software in Haarlem, there is a clear difference in sound quality, in Roon’s favour.
Unfortunately, the connection between Audirvāna and the Volumio software is not stable. After some time without activity, the Rivo+ disappears from the list of playback devices in Audirvāna. This applies not only to the Rivo+, but to all Volumio devices. You can turn the UPnP option off and on again in Volumio’s software and then the Rivo+ will reappear in the list in Audirvāna.
Using Roon, the connection is stable.
Playing with Volumio’s own OS
People often complain on forums about the stability of the Volumio software, but we do not experience any problem with the Rivo+. Playing from the NAS, with Qobuz or Tidal, using Qobuz Connect or Tidal Connect: it all works smoothly and flawlessly.
However, given the Rivo+’s playback quality, it pays to invest in Roon if you want to get the most out of it. It also makes sense: the board in the Rivo+ has to work less hard with Audirvāna or Roon, part of the processing of the data stream takes place on the computer running Audirvāna or Roon.
Got me the Rivo+ & Lineo5 combo recently as an upgrade to my 1st gen Auralic Aries femto.
The Auralic had already been upgraded with an Sbooster PSU, but the Rivo+ and Lineo5 combo is clearly in another league.
The results with two DACs (Denafrips and Norma Audio) are equally impressive.
So much for “bits are bits”. Dang!
The Denafrips is R2R, and has quite a soft sound profile, so I guess the Rivo+ adds the right amount of spice into it. I am curious about the Norma DAC. They have their own design, which is relatively rare. How would compare it soundwise to your Denafrips?
The Denafrips is the 2022 Venus II, upgraded with the latest 2023 “12th” firmware. That moved the sound from “mellow and sweet” a good bit into the direction “modern”.
The Norma REVO DS-2 sounds still a bit more precise, grippy, palpable. It’s really astounding. Drums, snares, plucked guitars… no digitalitis, just engaging sound. Cello and Violins – you can feel the strings under the bow.
I didn’t know the brand at all, but had the chance to borrow it from my brick’n mortar dealer only to buy one after listening to it in my home system.
Great supplementary review of a streamer that’s been tested many times worldwide with more or less the same verdict. No one will say the Rivo+ is a mediocre streamer. Yet, I ultimately opted for the Rivo without the plus. 1 – I only had to pay €600 for it. 2 – I exclusively stream Qobuz and don’t use a NAS. I only use Qobuz Connect, which I prefer. 3 – I already had a nice PDcreative power supply. And 4 – and most importantly – the Rivo is connected via USB to a Denafrips Hermes DDC, which serves as a central hub (Audiolab CD transport is also connected to this, which makes for a beautiful combination). Unfortunately, the Rivo’s front doesn’t look very nice with my black setup, but my wife made a nice solution for that 😊. Thanks for the great review 👍