We would like to extend a special thanks to Michelangelo and his team at Volumio for sending us a sample Rivo+ for this review, and for their continued support and dedication to improving our experience with it.
Introduction
Florence, Italy – the birthplace of the Renaissance, home to Michelangelo’s David, and now, rather improbably, the headquarters of one of Europe’s most intriguing digital audio companies.
Founded by Michelangelo Guarise (yes, really), Volumio started life in 2014 as RaspyFi, a Linux distribution designed to liberate high-quality music playback from clunky desktop computers. What began as an open-source passion project for DIY enthusiasts has evolved into a proper hardware manufacturer with genuine audiophile ambitions.
The Rivo+ sits near the top of Volumio’s hardware lineup, positioned as a dedicated streaming transport for those who already own a quality DAC and want to feed it pristine digital signals. It’s a straightforward proposition: no built-in DAC, no amplification, no bells and whistles – just clean digital delivery with multiple output options.
But in an era where streaming devices from China routinely pack in screens, knobs, and kitchen sinks at bargain prices, does a minimalist Italian transport at €1,299 make sense? And more pressingly, does the software experience match the hardware promise?
Let me be upfront: the Rivo+ is not without frustrations. While it delivers impressive sound quality and thoughtful engineering, the Volumio software ecosystem reveals its open-source origins in ways that aren’t always flattering.
If you demand polished, bulletproof software on par with Roon or even BluOS, prepare for some teeth-grinding moments. But if you value sonic performance, future-proof connectivity, and appreciate the ethos of a company actually trying to do things differently, there’s plenty to admire here.
Packaging and accessories
Opening the Rivo+ feels deliberately considered, if not quite reaching luxury levels of theatre. The box itself is substantial, with clean graphics and reassuring heft. Inside, the unit sits snugly in formed packaging, wrapped carefully to prevent transit damage. Volumio hasn’t gone overboard here – there are no velvet bags or unnecessary flourishes – but everything feels purposeful and well-executed.
Accessories are functional rather than lavish: you get a wall-wart power supply with international plug adapters, a quick-start card with a QR code for downloading the Volumio app, and basic documentation. The power supply is adequate but represents the obvious upgrade path – more on that later.
There’s no HDMI cable included, which seems a missed opportunity given the unit’s display-out capability, nor is there an ethernet cable. These aren’t deal-breakers, but at this price point, a quality network cable would have been a nice touch.
The quick-start card’s QR code approach is modern and sensible, though it does assume smartphone ownership. For those who prefer paper manuals and prefer not to be herded into app downloads immediately, it might feel slightly presumptuous. Still, it works efficiently and gets you streaming quickly – assuming the network gods are smiling.
Continue to design and features…
