Home Multitest – Streamers up to 1000 Euro – With bonus!

Multitest – Streamers up to 1000 Euro – With bonus!

11
Streamer Shootout

Volumio Primo

In our review of the Primo, we raved about the sound quality it offers. In a direct comparison with the BlueSound Node2i, the result with the Primo is clearly better. In this stream, it is a comparison with two new streamers, both of which are cheaper.

In preparing the stream, we discovered that the sound quality of the Primo with its own Volumio software is different from playing the same track via Roon. Now we know from a previous live stream that there are audible differences between software.

In the case of the Primo, playback via Roon is better. We suspect this is because Roon on an external PC does the processing of the incoming FLAC stream, which simply puts less load on the CPU of the computer in the Primo. It has to both run the proprietary Volumio software interface and process the incoming music stream. We have not tested it, but it is likely that this is also the case if you use software such as Audirvana. We use Roon in the livestream.

The playback

With Chris Whitley’s first sounds, it’s already clear that the Primo brings something extra over the other streamers in this test. The music sounds with more urgency, the soundstage is deeper. What is noticeable is that transients, which is the sound created in a fraction of a second when you hit a drum with a stick, for example, is reproduced much more clearly and with more layering in the sound. Especially in voices, there is extra information that the Primo manages to extract from the recording, making it sound like someone is singing especially for you.

The lyrics Joan Osborne sings on “Crazy Baby” come in more, she is telling a story. The sound of the electric guitar in the solo cries more, as if the guitarist is pulling the notes out of his guitar. The reverberation of the studio space is clearly audible. It exudes even more the feeling that the track was recorded in one take, with no mixing afterwards.

In “Ain’t No Sunshine,” it is noticeable that more harmonics are audible in the guitar and violins.

The impression is once again confirmed that with this Primo, Volumio manages to bring a quality to the reproduction of music that you usually only find in a higher price range. If conveying the eloquence of music is the goal of HiFi, then in this comparison the Primo succeeds best.

Specifications Volumio Primo

Price 799 Euro
DAC 9038Q2M
Outputs Spdif coax, hdmi, RCA / XLR analog
Inputs USB, Micro SD, WiFi, Ethernet
Airplay Yes
Else Bluetooth
ROON Yes
Own app Yes + web interface
Power supply External
Type test
Multitest
Production country
Differs
Features
  Yamaha WXC-50
  • Build: Neat. Especially considering the price
  • Sound: Calm, neutral, relaxed
  • Imaging: Tad small, but sleek
  • Overall: Neat and widely applicable. Excellent price
  • Price: 449
  Audiolab 7000N
  • Build: Nice, basic
  • Sound: Rhythmic, tight, insightful
  • Imaging: Fairly large. Solid focus
  • Overall: DTS PlayFi is not pleasant. But the sound is good!
  • Price: 649
  FIIO R7
  • Build: Very nice
  • Sound: Detailed, tad dry
  • Imaging: Ambiance well audible. Tight in focus
  • Overall: Very flexible product. Beautifully made.
  • Price: 749
  Volumio Primo
  • Build: Playfull, neat
  • Sound: Pleasant, smooth, large
  • Imaging: Large!
  • Overall: Very fine streamer. Very affordable and upgradable
  • Price: 799

Winkels met Audiolab

Schoenmakersstraat 19
6041EX Roermond, NL
Grotestraat 23
5931 CS Tegelen, NL

Winkels met Yamaha

Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
2300 Turnhout, BE
Joseph Bensstraat 21
1180 Ukkel, BE
Pleinweg 136
3083 EP Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NL
Hooikade 13
2627 Delft, Zuid Holland, NL
Bredabaan 1031
B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
Pelikaanstraat 126
2018 Antwerpen, BE
Schoenmakersstraat 19
6041EX Roermond, NL
Grotestraat 23
5931 CS Tegelen, NL
Parkweg 23
8084GG 't Harde, NL
Stationsweg 87
9471 GM Zuidlaren, NL
St. Ceciliastraat 28
5038 HA Tilburg, NL
Hermesweg 2
3741 GP Baarn, Utrecht, NL
Korevaarstraat 2 e-f
2311 JS Leiden, NL
Steenstraat 54
6828 CM Arnhem, Gelderland, NL
St.-Katelijnevest 53
2000 Antwerpen, BE
Beethovenstraat 9-b
1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL

11 COMMENTS

  1. The Primo is interesting…I’ve been using a Pi2design Mercury (CM4 rpi based streamer) with Volumio to really good effect. The software has some adjustability via pluggins that can improve the sound further – particularly Sound shield which can quiet the cpu and lower its functions while playing music. Then also a lps (all the typical things like cabling etc that you guys have covered with great care). Crazy how small and well-placed tweaks can go a long way.

    And now of course, that Eversolo DMP is looking to be yet another paradigm shift in this arena and similar price range. Would love your impressions of that one!

  2. Very nice comparison, and I know you can’t compare all streamers in this price category. However I must admit I was a little disappointed to first see my streamer in the list to be tested (cambridge CXN v2) and then noticed it wasn’t present anymore when I sat down to listen to the shootout. Still curious how it would have compared, just like the Innuos ZENmini MK3 which I also have (or the more recent model the Innuos Pulsemini). Maybe in a future test after all you like doing mega tests :-). Like the recent excellent bookshelf speaker test. In any case succes in future shootouts!

  3. Hello Alpha

    Would have like 2 see the bluesound node n130 between these streamers. Curious how it would compare.

    I ordered the new node X, hopefully 🤞 it has the same powerboard, so I could change it and hook up the sBooster. Pretty interesting product, new DAC an pretty 🤩