SQ Comparison of 3 streamers

@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. 

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

@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/

@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.

@jrareform  Yes, I have tried several streamers before settling on the Rivo+, including the iFi Zen Stream (to begin with), WiiM (Pro+ and Ultra), and the Cambridge Audio MXN10. I upgraded the power supply on all of them, either with an LPS, an iFi iPower2/iPower X, or a quality power cable.

The WiiM Ultra is fine, but to my ears, the sound quality isn’t truly satisfying unless it’s paired with a DDC. The better the DDC (from PO100 Pro to Gustard U18), the better the sound quality. Nevertheless, none of these budget streamers can really compete with higher-end models such as the Rivo+, T8, Zen (Zenith) 3, or several more expensive but still affordable others.

I was very defensive previously until I tried those higher-end models — which are still considered “budget” gear by people who own truly high-end systems. I just wish I hadn’t had to spend so much time and money acquiring and testing them, only to discover that significantly better alternatives were available for just a few hundred dollars more.