The set-up(s)
Contents
We listened to the Volumio Primo in 3 environments. That doesn’t happen very often!
Set-up 1:
Speakers
Audio Physic Spark ii
Amplifier
Naim Nait XS2
Ricable Dedalus Mk1 speaker cable
CD
Audiolab 6000CDT
Art Speak SPDIF
Streaming
Dlink DGS-108 switch with LHY LPS25VA power supply
Belden Catsnake Cat5e ethernet cable
Other cabling for testing purposes
Audioquest Cinammon USB cable
Chris Cables Core Function RCA
Grimm Audio TPR RCA
Power
Audes ST900 balanced power transformer
Essential Audio Tools cables
Setup 2:
- TAD Evolution Two
- Pass Labs XP-12 and X-150.8
- Sonnet Pasithea d/a converter (for comparison)
- AlphaPC (streaming bridge) with Jcat USB and Ethernet
- Pura Dodo power supply on Jcat cards
- Mutec MC3 USB / Mutec REF10-120
- Isotek Titan V5 filter for Pass X150.8
- YETI Reference 1000 for sources
- Yeti power-cables on all devices
- Van den Hul The Nova
- Van den Hul CNT XLR interconnect
- Grimm TPM XLR interconnect
- PSI AVAA active bass traps
- Simple unbranded copper ethernet cables
- Dlink DGS-108 switch with nameless linear power supply
- Supra power strip
Set-up 3:
Speakers
Tannoy Studio Monitor Gold
Amplifiers
Yamaha B2 and C2 amplifiers
CD
Planet
Art Speak SPDIF
Stream
Isotek EVO3 Syncro Uni DC filter
Isotek Gemini
Supra power cables
Compare and Source
The Preciso was compared to the Earmen Tradutto with its own power supply and to the Volumio Primo. The Earmen has an ES9038Q2M DAC, as does the Volumio Primo.
The CD players are connected by coaxial SPDIF. The Rivo and Rivo+ were used as streaming sources and are powered with the Volumio Lineo 5 power supply. Both USB and SPDIF were used for the connection between the Rivo streamers and the Volumio Preciso DAC.
On both the Rivo and Rivo, the volume mixer was turned off in the settings, as it makes a big difference in the audible result. A recommendation for Volumio users: if you do not use the streamer’s volume control, turn it off completely in the software.
Music
The following CDs and tracks are mentioned in the review:
Streaming
Georg Solti, London Philharmonic Orchestra – opera “Carmen” by George Bizet – Kiri Te Kanawa and Placido Domingo – “Parle-moi de ma mère!”
Fink – Beauty In Your Wake – “Be Forever Like A Curse”
CD
Peter Gabriel – So
Steely Dan – Citizen Steely Dan (box) – “Do It Again”
Van Baerle Trio – Ludwig van Beethoven, Complete Works for Piano Trio (box)
Neeme Järvi, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Prokofiev: Complete Symphonies (box)