Summary
Contents
The Rivo is a streamer whose SPDIF output is mediocre, given the price of the streamer, but where the USB and AES output has good quality. Installed right out of the box, the Rivo delivers results using USB or AES that is comparable with streamers in this price range.
The Volumio software runs inside the Rivo itself. It works fine, but we discovered again that the software you use affects sound quality. Software such as Roon and Audirvana provide the Rivo with an optimised PCM data stream and therefore the streamer does not have to work as hard as with the Volumio software doing all the work. This is audible.
Using the Rivo’s included power supply, the result of the Pasithea DAC is comparable in quality to using the Ambre streamer. The sound the Pasithea produces with the Ambre or with the Rivo is different, though. The soundstage with the Rivo is projected wider and deeper and shows more of the ambience of recording. With the Rivo, the reverb is longer, the sound is more transparent, but there is also less tranquility in the soundstage than with the Ambre. This is due to the Ambre’s internal power supply, which is far better than the Rivo’s supplied external power supply.
In the case of the Pasithea, the Rivo’s connection through AES is better than through USB, but this may be different for another DAC. If the DAC has both a USB and an AES input, our advice is to try both options and choose which one you like best.
The story changes with a power supply upgrade. When we connect the Pura Dodo to both the DLink switch, which supplies the Rivo with a network signal, and to the Rivo itself, the results are more than twice as good, and the Rivo surpasses the Ambre by a mile.
Yes, a Pura Dodo is more expensive than a Rivo, but this combination is not out of proportion to a DAC with the price and performance level of the Pasithea. To indicate how well this combination works, this statement by Jaap is evocative: “this sounds almost as good as with the Alpha PC. You can buy two Rivos and two Dodos for the same amount of money. That deserves a huge Alpha Approved as far as I’m concerned”.
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. 🙂