Home Review Volumio Rivo streaming bridge – Ultimate Upgrade Path!

Review Volumio Rivo streaming bridge – Ultimate Upgrade Path!

16

Pros

  • Sounds remarkably well
  • Clear upgrade path
  • Nice software
  • Roon compatible

Cons

  • SPDIF output is a bit lacking
  • Provided power supply should be better

Price: € 989

Build quality
Usability
Sound
Price
Volumio Rivo

Software: Volumio and Roon

Contents

The Rivo is delivered with the proprietary Volumio software that runs on a computer inside the Rivo. The Rivo is Roon Ready and we used both Roon and the Volumio software.

Roon consistently gives better results than the Volumio software. We know from a previous test that software matters, but we suspect that the Rivo’s CPU has to work harder with its own software than with Roon. When using Roon, the stream is extracted on an external PC and sent to the streamer as PCM. Audirvana does the same thing. As a result, the CPU in the streamer itself has to work less hard, and we think this explains in large part the audible differences.

The Rivo with the proprietary software sounds harsher in the ‘s’, ‘t’ and ‘f’ sounds. The attack of a guitar, the bow hitting a string of a cello or the bass guitar sounds better through Roon. The Volumio software has a bit of sharp edge there. With Roon, the soundstage is clearly larger than with the Volumio software. Roon gives more spaciousness and layering. The Volumio software does have a better focus in the stereo image, with Roon it is all pulled apart a bit more, but that is a feature of Roon that we always hear when using Roon.

Do you come up short when using the Volumio software? No. But there is something to be gained by using Audirvana or Roon. Then again, that requires an additional PC, and both Audirvana and Roon come with annual subscription fees. Use of the Volumio software and integration with streaming services is included in the purchase of the Rivo, there are no additional costs involved.

For the review, we are using Roon, so a comparison with the Metrum Ambre is based on the same streaming software.

SPDIF

We can be quite brief about the SPDIF connection: it is on the same level as the Primo. If you are looking for a dedicated streamer with a good SPDIF output, you better look for another streamer.

Type test
Single Test
Inputs
  • Digital USB
  • Streamer ethernet
  • Streamer wifi
  • Bluetooth
Outputs
  • Digital Coaxial
  • Digital AES
  • Digital USB
Product type
Streamer
Max samplingrate
768 kHz
Max bit depth
32 bit
Weight
2.5 Kg
Dimensions
  • Width: 34 cm
  • Depth: 21 cm
  • Height: 11 cm
Production country
Italy
Measurements
Power Stability RIVO power supply
Power Stability RIVO power supply
Rivo - LAN Noise - Stock VS Sbooster
Rivo - LAN Noise - Stock VS Sbooster
Rivo PSU vs Sbooster noise
Rivo PSU vs Sbooster noise
Rivo VS Sbooster PSU - Noise
Rivo VS Sbooster PSU - Noise
Volumio Rivo - overzicht - Stock PSU
Volumio Rivo - overzicht - Stock PSU
Volumio Rivo - overzicht - Sbooster PSU
Volumio Rivo - overzicht - Sbooster PSU
Volumio Rivo - Details - Stock PSU
Volumio Rivo - Details - Stock PSU
Volumio Rivo - Details - Sbooster PSU
Volumio Rivo - Details - Sbooster PSU

16 COMMENTS

  1. 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 🙏🏼

  2. 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 🙏🏼

    • 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.

  3. 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.