Comparing the Volumio Rivo+ to the Rivo
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If you want to test what the plus brings, comparing it to the original Rivo is the way to find out.
We power both streamers with the Lineo5 power supply and we plug the Lineo5 in a Supra mains block. We connect the streamers to a DLink DGS108 with simple copper Ethernet cables. We connect the Sonnet Pasithea DAC using AES/EBU connection and the USB connection.
With the Rivo+, we notice how much tranquility the soundstage exhibits. When we connect the original Rivo, the audible difference using AES/EBU is considerable, if you compare them side by side. The highs are less clean, some sharpness enters. The sound is much warmer. The soundstage shrinks considerably compared to the Rivo+. In short, you feel more unevenness in the stereo image, it is a class difference in reproduction.
The Rivo+ gives authority and quietness, you can keep listening for hours. Compared to USB, AES/EBU gives the Rivo+ a bit more coherence in the sound. USB sounds comparatively more analytical. With AES/EBU, the singers in Carmen become more 3D people of flesh and blood. At least, when using the Pasithea, this is our conclusion.
Is the original Rivo a bad streamer? No. The Rivo+ is simply better. But there is a side note to that. The Rivo is much better if the connected DAC can bring it. And then we are talking about the price range the Pasithea fits into.
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 👍