Intro
Contents
It is time for another product from the Italian brand Volumio, the Rivo. This one is marketed as a high-quality streamer. We are going to find out just how high-quality the streamer is.
Some of the Rivo’s functionality is similar to the Integro and Primo: the ability to use a USB drive or a Micro SD card to play music files, all the capabilities of the Volumio software, the USB connection to connect a keyboard or mouse and an HDMI output to connect a monitor on which you can see the Volumio software. This is not necessary, through the app or a web page you can control and see everything on a phone, tablet, laptop or PC. But it can be done.
The Rivo has three main outputs:
- A SPDIF output
- A balanced output labelled “USB DAC”
- A balanced AES output
Do you want the long version or the short version?
This has become a bulky review. We give you the choice, you can also jump to the summary and read our final verdict there.
Which digital output, that’s the question
The three outputs have their own filtered power supply internally, so interference is minimized.
The disadvantage of USB is that both a signal and electricity flow through the cable. With the Rivo, Volumio has filtered the 5V output so that the DAC gets the cleanest possible current across the USB and the signal is buffered, cleaned and send out seperately to the DAC. These design decisions should give a good quality signal over USB to the DAC.
The AES output has its own circuitry and filtering, with the buffer for the AES output fed separately.
A lot of technical details, but how does it sound? We tested Rivo with the Sonnet Pasithea DAC. The Pasithea has a SPDIF, a USB and an AES/EBU input, so we got to try them all.
Martijn,
Thank you for your exceptional and comprehensive review. I’m still considering the Rivo in this configuration over an Eversolo. Especially since I’m currently using Volumio for my current streamer. Not to mention would rather continue using a dedicated streamer for an upgrade.
Semi unrelated, but wanted to ask if adding the switch made a considerable difference? I’m currently using an extender in client mode with Ethernet cable through a some DX engineering Ethernet filters then into my Okto dac 8 stereo. Was also wondering if a D-link DGS 105 would still offer a similar benefit. Thank you, and Happy Holidays 🙏🏼
Martijn,
Thank you for those exceptional and comprehensive review I’m still considering the Rivo in this configuration an Eversolo. Especially since I’m currently using Volumio for my current streamer. Not to mention would rather continue using a dedicated streamer for an upgrade.
Semi unrelated, but wanted to ask if adding the switch made a considerable difference? I’m currently using an extender in client mode with Ethernet cable through a some DX engineering Ethernet filters then into my Okto dac 8 stereo. Was also wondering if a D-link DGS 105 would still offer a similar benefit. Thank you, and Happy Holidays 🙏🏼
Hello John. I don’t know the DX Engineering ethernet filters and what they do to the sound, but the DLink switch, with a lineair power supply that power both the Rivo and the DLink, plays as good or better as much more expensive solutions.
AES out into your DAC and you are set.
The Rivo used with the DAC of the Rotel DT-6000 would you use with USB or would you use a converter to go over AES as the Rotel doesn’t have AES?
If your Rotel has an USB slot, but not an AES connection, then USB is the connection you need to use. I wouldn’t recommend a converter, USB and AES are close in quality.
I notice that the Rivo specifies 5V/3A but that you’ve since used the Dodo Pura on it which is 5v/2.5A. Can you say what the actual operating current needs are for the Rivo? Thank you.
About 0.5A, but you need those 2.5A for the bootup.
Which is just peak requirements, right? So an LPSU that can handle only momentary peaks of 2.5A would not be a limiting factor on operation or performance? I’ve an LPSU that should handle 3A nicely but if it ends up not performing well with the Rivo, I’m eyeing a couple lesser powered alternatives.
Hello Bruce. It is very simple:
If the power supply cannot deliver enough current, the Rivo just shuts down.
If the sonic result is questionable (compared to its stock supply, delivered in the box with the Rivo), then the power supply isn’t of good quality.
I can run the Rivo or Primo without problem with an iFi iPower2, which is rated at 2.5A peak output.
Furthermore: as mentioned in the review, the SPDIF output isn’t up to par with the AES or USB output, so be sure you use one of those.
Yes, much thanks.
The Primo with a Dodo power supply or the stock Rivo with your favorite dac (in the same total price range), which one would your pick? (Ignoring the fact that the Rivo/Dac combo can be made to sound even better)
You buy the Primo if you want to have a streamer with DAC and want to use its analogue outputs. You buy the Rivo if you have a DAC with AES or USB connection. These are two different use cases in two different price brackets, so any comparison is kind of futile.
But if the budget is the hard limit, I’d pick the Primo with Dodo. Why? Because for the price of 1800 Euro’s you probably won’t find a 800 Euro DAC that sounds as good as that combination.
Thanks Martijn, much appreciated.
Thinking about this I guess the Primo and the Dodo makes an even better deal if you also drive your switch with the Dodo, right?
Absolutely.
The Rivo should be considered if you already own a good DAC with USB or AES connection, or when you are planning to buy a DAC with one of those connections which is above the 1000 Euro limit.
I’m planning to do a comparison with exactly this set-up and use the SMSL DAC we had in our recent livestream, because I like to validate this.
Hoe goed de review ook geschreven is, het blijkt moeilijk om in te schatten of de streamer een meerwaarde betekent tov, in mijn geval, de interne streamer in mijn Bryston BDA3.14 DAC. In feite is dat een Raspberry PI (Pi=3,14). DAC en streamer zijn intern via I2S verbonden door de fabrikant zelf uiteraard. Die kent zijn product door en door. Zuiver obv de prijs is de Rivo gelijk of iets beter dan de Pi, hang je er een aparte voeding aan, dan zou hij beter moeten zijn.
Bovendien hangt de Bryston aan een Audes ST1500DC, waardoor de kwaliteit ook weer (positief) wordt beïnvloed.
Het is mij nog nooit gelukt om op basis van een review te voorspellen hoe het bij mij thuis klinkt. Dat zal je toch zelf naast elkaar moeten horen. 🙂