Best setup for Roon

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by antipop

Can I ask why you chose to go through an Apple express vs connecting the Apple mini straight into the Sonore?

I understand that the Mac Mini on its own is not bit-perfect via its USB and thus there is a need for the Sonore.

Hi Georges,
The Sonore mandatorily must be on a network to be controllable by the Sonore applications, e.g. rebooting, powering down, enabling it to be Roon-ready, etc. You control the Sonore by logging in to the Sonore at mysonicorbiter dot com (I can't put the URL in without violating forum posting rules), finding your unit and then controlling it from there. If it were just connected to the Mac Mini it would not be on the network. Also, I specifically wanted the computer as far away from the audio rack as possible.

[antipop]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

Yup, we are on the exact same trajectory here.

But I've listened to it over the last week and love the sound and the usability of the app. It's a no-brainer.

Listening to it right now and I find the sound a tiny bit clearer than Audirvana but it could be just placebo as it is such a small difference.

I agree on the usability however.

[audiohippo]

I use Roon ROCk on the NUC via USB, but it can also stream to my PS Audio DAC if I had the Network Card.

It's awesome!

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by audiohippo

I use Roon ROCk on the NUC via USB, but it can also stream to my PS Audio DAC if I had the Network Card.

It's awesome!

Thanks nick! I'm looking forward to setting it up. I love to tinker.

[CGabriel]

We have built a system around Roon that is giving us the best digital music performance in our reference room. It is basically a (blue collar) generic version of the widely acclaimed Sooloos system.

We are running ROON ROCK on an Intel NUC ($450)
Then, using a touch screen HP Pavilion computer as an end-point and controller.
($700)

We have various DACS that can be connected to the HP via a USB cable.

Great sound quality - Nice touch screen functionality - Inexpensive.

Roon Rock on the NUc has been absolutely reliable. No issues whatsoever.

[Nuz1]

Very interested in all of the Roon discussion underway. There’s enough activity, I wonder if MasterLu would want to start a dedicated section for Roon?

I’m curious if anyone has done a comparison of sound quality of Roon vs. whatever streamer you were using prior. I’m sure it’s system dependent but I have read elsewhere that some Lumin and Aries users think the sound is better without Roon. What’s been your experience?

[Family Progtitioner]

Wouldn’t getting the Ethernet bridge for the direct stream and using it as a Roon endpoint be the most ideal?

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by Nuz1

Very interested in all of the Roon discussion underway. There’s enough activity, I wonder if MasterLu would want to start a dedicated section for Roon?

I’m curious if anyone has done a comparison of sound quality of Roon vs. whatever streamer you were using prior. I’m sure it’s system dependent but I have read elsewhere that some Lumin and Aries users think the sound is better without Roon. What’s been your experience?

I can't tell a difference sonically between roon and audirvana on my Mac mini. But usability and stability are much better, especially the remote app.

As I mentioned a few posts back, I'm about to set up a dedicated roon rock Intel nuc box, which is hopefully even better sounding and even more reliable.

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by Family Progtitioner

Wouldn’t getting the Ethernet bridge for the direct stream and using it as a Roon endpoint be the most ideal?

People seem to think so, but I don't get it. That approach has more devices in the signal path.

I'm referring to the micro rendu, bridge, whatever... As opposed to simply going usb out to the dac.

[Puma Cat]

Going out of the dirty, grungy, hash USB port of the computer is exactly the problem...