The Volumio Rivo+ compared with the Alpha Audio PC
Contents
We are impressed and want to know how far the Rivo+ reaches. The Alpha Audio PC is completely built to serve as a streamer, with JCAT cards powered by the Pura Dodo. Jaap estimates that the entire Alpha PC contains more than 5,000 euros worth of components.
We can only compare using USB, so we listen first to the Volumio Rivo+ and then to the Alpha PC over a QED USB cable plugged into the Pasithea.
Fink’s track “Be Forever Like A Curse” is rendered very insightfully with the Rivo+, but does not fall apart. The soundstage is big, deep and quiet. Sound of the bass is layered, giving the bass chords on the grand piano the harmonic sound so characteristic of a grand piano. The second voice is clearly audible and also physically placed behind the first voice, but the voices blend nicely.
Listening to the Alpha PC next, all the sounds gain depth. The strumming of the guitar strings has more subtle variations and detail, the transients become even cleaner, the grand piano sounds deeper and darker.
In comparison, the Rivo+ plays more forward and sounds more open and transparent than the Alpha PC. This leads to the second comment: the Volumio Rivo+ is made to emphasise transparency. This makes it a bit less neutral and therefore more taste-sensitive. The match with speakers comes into play at this level. The TAD speakers are soft in sound, with some brighter speakers this can become too much.
But reflect on what we write for a moment: a €1613 streamer and power supply combination is a serious contender in carefully balancing a high-end system.
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 👍