I just upgraded my streaming setup today with adding a Volumio Rivo+ and replacing an Eversolo DMP-A6 with Beatechnik linear PS upgrade going USB into a Geshelli AKM 4499 J3 DAC. Both are being used as streaming transports only and I must say, it was a much bigger upgrade than I expected.
I mainly was justifying the purchase as I would use the A6 for my headphone setup. Much more detail, maybe slightly brighter, much better separation and depth.
I was not expecting how large the Lineo 5 power supply was. I have not A/B tested it yet to see how much it matters in terms of sound quality.
Anyway, I look forward to more capable and comprehensive reviews of the Rivo+ but coming from an upgraded A6, it was quite the nice upgrade to my system. I am using with Roon.
I did have some issues on the Volumio mobile app initial setup of the device, but I am on a beta version of iOS so very well could be that. Basically it kept timing out, and also seems to do that inside the app. Seems like a JavaScript page refresh that is set way too frequent. Quite a pain when trying to set up a new account and password.
I do realize that this was a $500 upgrade and of course it should sound better. But as many of us are streaming only, or streaming mainly, it was fun to upgrade my system so substantially, and so easily. For me it was money well spent. When I upgrade my DAC down the road, I will take advantage of the HDMI I2S output but now USB sounds amazing.
Rest of the system is a Black Ice Audio Fusion 360 v2 preamp, and Orchard Audio Starkrimson mono premium monoblocks, going into Forte IVs with two subs.
If I ever stop obsessing about which turntable to buy, I can start enjoying the random vinyl I have collected.
Hopefully someone from Volumio can answer this, but there is one thing that is not working as I would expect.
When using Roon, I am not able to upsample to DSD. The Rivo+ is connected to a Geshelli J3 DAC via USB.
This is probably the only drawback from moving away from the Eversolo, and in reading some forum posts here it sounds like maybe the DAC is not fully supported so hopefully the Amanero Combo384 USB input can be properly supported soon.
I moved the Eversolo to my headphone setup, and I am already thinking I need another Rivo or Rivo+ to step up that experience.
Likely it’s because the Rivo runs on Linux as and your DAC like a lot of these Geshelis DACs isn’t Linux friendly for Natve DSD so your limited to DoP which is limited to the max PCM of the DAC. It’s up to Gesheli to release an update to the Linux kernel to properly support their DAC.
Have your enabled DoP in DSD Strategy in Roon as you can’t play native DSD on Linux with your DAC.
If that is indeed the case, then I don’t think Geshelli does updates, as there is no upgradable software to my knowledge. Still hopeful Volumio can address it on their side. I will open a ticket. Eventually I will get and I2S DAC and the J3 will go to my headphone/desktop setup.
It’s not down to device updates it’s down to the manufacturer submitting code to the Linux foundation to be included in the Linux code base. Ropiees dev just looked at one of their DACs to try and see if he could add it to his os but he couldn’t due to how their hardware interfaces with Linux.
To be honest I think this is a lag either with Roon updating the Roon Ready page or something on the volumio side but there are no issues with using Roon with the Rivo+
Yes it has been reliable and quite a few updates since I bought it. Overall the Volumio software is decent but for me it does not work as well as Roon, so I mainly have been using it a Roon endpoint.
I am now using it with a Denafrips Pontus 15th connected via I2S. Sounds amazing and quite an update from my previous DAC but also quite a price difference.
the purchase as I would use the A6 for my headphone setup. Much more detail, maybe slightly brighter, much better separation and depth.