SQ Comparison of 3 streamers
Do you concur these assessments if you were the owner?
SQ Comparison: Eversolo T8 vs Innuos Zen Mk3 vs Volumio Rivo Plus
| Feature | Eversolo T8 | Innuos Zen Mk3 | Volumio Rivo Plus |
| Tonal Balance | Slightly warm, musical | Neutral, reference | Neutral-warm, slightly lush |
| Midrange | Lush, expressive | Transparent, accurate | Smooth and natural, slightly forward |
| Bass | Tight, controlled | Tight, maybe leaner | Solid, full-bodied, a bit warmer than Zen |
| Detail Retrieval | High, smooth | Very high, analytical | High, clear |
| Dynamics | Natural, engaging | Precise, accurate | Great, rhythmic and musical |
| Soundstage Imaging | Spacious, slightly forward; enveloping | Very wide and deep; highly precise | Wide, deep, more relaxed |
| Overall Impression | Engaging & musical | Neutral & resolving | Balanced, musical, and slightly “polished” |
My idea of “warm-neutral” is warm side of neutral, about a 6 on a 1 (coolest) –10 (warmest) scale, while your dead neutral is a 5. A bit of calibration in perception here is perfectly healthy. Appreciated @jjss49. |
Nope, I don’t rip CDs, and yes — I’m curious about a used Zen 3 if it leans on the warmer side. New is beyond what I’m willing to pay. @gkelly |
As a Zen MK3 owner I will share my experience as requested. I agree with all the points as far as neutral and uncolored sound. It’s the best streamer I’ve heard which is why it’s in my main system. I use Qobuz Connect to control using my iPad and it works well. I had no issues running the Sense app before QC became available. The added bonus for me was the CD ripper with 1TB of storage so I can stream and listen to my CDs with the same device. I had the Eversolo A6 and A8 and preferred the sound of the Zen. Not to mention the lack of connectivity issues I had with Eversolo. I also got a great deal on a slightly used one from an excellent local dealer. Highly recommend. Hope it helps. |
