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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”
lanx0003
phishhhhh4's avatar
phishhhhh4
176 posts
 

Very hard to beat Innuos Sense

designsfx
803 posts
 

@lanx0003 

”That said, the Volumio app sounds better than Qobuz Connect.”


Can you expand on this in more detail? I’m not understanding how an “app” can make a difference in sound as long as the device, its output used and the downstream components remain the same. 

jrareform's avatar
jrareform
190 posts
 

OP, have you tried the wiim or wiim ultra streamer?  Been able to compare to these higher end options?  Curious if an upgrade is worth it for me from the wiim ultra to somethng like the Innuos

lanx0003 OP
1,933 posts
 
@bassbuyer  Thank you for confirming that the Tone of Zen 3. All the used units I could find on the market appear to be third-hand. Setting aside its limited connectivity features, I am not sure whether I want to invest more in a 3–5-year-old unit that has already passed through multiple owners. Better condition model might pop up any time though.

Below is a review comparing the T8 with the Rivo+ that you might find interesting. I agree with some of the comments regarding soundstage and instrument separation, but I have reservations about the statement that the Rivo+ is a big step forward.  I will defintely keep it if it can be toned down and improved on SS a bit.

https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/review-eversolo-t8-streaming-transport-blinded-by-the-light/7/

lanx0003 OP
1,933 posts
 
@designsfx Not only me, but others on the Volumio forum have also reported this from time to time. Through Qobuz Connect, I hear a bit more grit in the sound — subtle, but enough for me to switch back to the native Volumio app.

As I mentioned, I’ve tried hard to identify the rationale behind it but haven’t found anything truly convincing. Interestingly, with other brands — including Cambridge Audio, WiiM, and Eversolo — Qobuz Connect actually sounds slightly better than the native apps to my ears.  Qobuz Connect also sounds better than third-party UPnP players like mconnect when I use my iFi Zen Stream.

So this is just my experience — YMMV — since I can’t provide a scientific explanation. Perhaps others with more technical expertise can chime in.

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