Rivo or Rivo+, what is the best combination with the Volumio Preciso?
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We have a chance in Haarlem to compare the Rivo and the Rivo+. We use both USB and SPDIF to the Preciso, mainly because the SPDIF output has been upgraded on the Rivo and the USB should be more or less equal in quality.
For both USB and SPDIF the results are similar, which means that the Lineo5 power supply for the Rivo (without plus) is a straightforward recommendation. In both cases, we find the USB connection to sound thinner than the SPDIF connection.
With the regular Rivo the result is darker in sound, less detail is highlighted, and especially in the treble the Preciso sounds less transparent. You lose texture in the bass. But voices become livelier, it sounds a lot more organic than with the Rivo+.
Especially with the track from the opera “Carmen” the difference is clearly audible. The stage image is more clearly depicted and the singers are projected more 3D than with the Rivo+. The expression of the voices is also more convincing and human. With the regular Rivo the music grabs you more. Rivo with Preciso and the Primo sound similar in character. The Rivo+ with Preciso is clearly different.
The combination with the Rivo+ is cleaner and more transparent in sound. The soundstage is wider, but less 3D. Basses are reproduced tighter and have more impact. Transients are reproduced with greater ease.
We did not expect beforehand that the difference in streamers would be so obvious, but it is the outcome of the test. The Volumio Preciso clearly shows the differences.