Roon

[novisnick]

It seems to me that its time totake a good hard look at Roon, for multiple reasons! 
Ive been a user of JRiver for years and it seems that there’s a price bump every few months or so. And support isn’t what Id call Emotiva standards! 🤮 NOT even close.
I understand there are a few ways to go about using it but I’ve never dipped my toe into Roon.
Theres a server and an end-point from what Ive come to understand. Computer to DAC will work but its not the best sounding that way. Or is it?

Bumping around in the dark but I just can’t see supporting JRiver with more money. Ill use the version I have for now.
Thoughts? Pointers? Help? 
Always open to suggestions.

[hemster]

Nick, I'm in the same boat. Thus far my 3 Logitech squeezeboxes have served me well but this is a defunct platform. Looking to learn more about Roon and hope others like @wilbertgegoose will explain the details. I know about as much as you. I know some have used a Raspberry Pi in the mix (presumably as a server?).

I'll be following this thread. Thanks for creating it.

[DYohn]

I purchased a lifetime Roon license over a year ago and have been a happy user ever since. I'll be happy to answer any questions I can. What would you guys like to know?

[novisnick]

Thanks DYohn , from what I gather somebody/I could use a dedicated Roon server, basically a computer build just for filesharing and streaming. Or a PC or in my case for now a Mac Mini. Download the core to this MM and I use it as the server.
Right so far?

[mountain]

I’ve been using Roon since January.  I am going to upgrade to lifetime.  I use it integrated with Tidal hi-fi & MQa.  It just works.  

(Macbook Pro to Oppo 105 dac via usb)

[wilburthegoose]

I paid for Roon lifetime, and I'm glad I did. Best software purchase ever.

My Roon Server is my basement desktop PC (yes, they still exist). My clients are the same PC, iPad, iPhone, etc. My endpoints are my Oppo UDP-203, a Raspberry Pi, and Chromecast, and the PC output via USB connected to my XMC-1.

I wouldn't ever go with RaspberryPi now that Chromecast works. Get yourself a Chromecast Audio for $25 and you have a capable endpoint!

[novisnick]

Will I be able to control everything , streaming and music from a hard drive via Ipad?

[hemster]

Thanks everyone.

So in my case, I'm looking for a solution in 3 rooms:
- home theater where I have wired internet access.
- family room where I have wireless internet access (could be wired if needed).
- my office where I have wired internet access (could be wired if needed).

The server part I get. Likely the server will be my laptop in the office. Or I could use a cheap laptop dedicated for this.

What's the difference between "clients" and "end-points"?

[novisnick]

Jul 9, 2018 13:55:57 GMT -5 hemster said:

Nick, I'm in the same boat. Thus far my 3 Logitech squeezeboxes have served me well but this is a defunct platform. Looking to learn more about Roon and hope others like @wilbertgegoose will explain the details. I know about as much as you. I know some have used a Raspberry Pi in the mix (presumably as a server?).

I'll be following this thread. Thanks for creating it.

I was watching a YouTube video by Hans Beekhuyzen and hes using a soTm sms 200 Ultra connected to his roon server and it will do 8 different streams to 8 different endpoints at any one time, no sweat. It also does squeezebox.  

                      

[DYohn]

OK, a few clarifications.
1) Roon server can run on any PC, Mac or Linux box, but there are minimum system requiremnts so check the Roon web site. I've found that it runs best/sounds best on a dedicated machine. I purpose-built a server computer using an AMD quad-core CPU, a fast MB and 8Gb of RAM. I'm running Linux on it, with a SSD for the OS and large hard drives for the media.
2) Clients and End Points are the same thing. End Point is just Roon-speak for a client. It must be "Roon ready" or be a Squeezebox (or able to run software like Squeezelite) or be an iOS device. If you have an Apple TV or a Roku you already have a Roon endpoint. This is what connects to the music system as the playback device. This is what many people use Raspberry Pi computers for. Your server can double as an end point.
3) Roon is controlled from the Roon App on any other computer or device (phone, tablet, etc.) on the network. You connect to one fo the end points in your system and tell it what to play. The control interface is where all the Roon meta data goodness shows up.
4) Every Roon endpoint can play something different or they can all play the same tracks. The limit to how many end points can be used simultaneously is the bandwidth of your network and of your server computer. This is why running a fast dedicated server can be important - the faster it is and the faster your HDs (or SSDs) are and the more RAM the server has, the more streams it can serve.

[hemster]

Thanks for the clarification DYohn.

Server: I like idea of a purpose-built PC which most likely I'll place in the HT.

End-points: Can I use my existing Squeezeboxes? I do have a Roku in the family room. Can I use an Amazon fire stick? Have one in the office.

[DYohn]

Jul 9, 2018 14:52:16 GMT -5 hemster said:

Thanks for the clarification DYohn.

Server: I like idea of a purpose-built PC which most likely I'll place in the HT.

End-points: Can I use my existing Squeezeboxes? I do have a Roku in the family room. Can I use an Amazon fire stick? Have one in the office.

Your existing SBs are perfect. You basically replace the LMS server with the Roon server - it's much faster and easier to use. Roku, yes. Fire stick, not sure.

[sahmen]

Take it from another Roon "lifer"... errr "lifetimer..." 




Hemster: From the Roon Glossary page (https://kb.roonlabs.com/Glossary):

(Roon) Output
A device to which Roon can send audio. These are configured as Zones.

Endpoint
A synonym for Output.

There is no entry in the glossary for "client," but I have been happily using Roon for more than a year now, without knowing what "Roon client" exactly means, so I am kind of sure it is not terribly important to know it. Still, I would gladly telll you if I did.,

[AudioHTIT]

Here are several pages of discussion from last fall ... emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/908168/thread

Considering Audirvana myself, but Roon is always highly recommended, I’ll follow along.

[hemster]

Jul 9, 2018 15:14:58 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Here are several pages of discussion from last fall ... emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/908168/thread

Considering Audirvana myself, but Roon is always highly recommended, I’ll follow along.

Why are you considering Audirvana? What can it do that Roon can't? Or do better.. inquiring minds want to know. 🙂

[novisnick]

Roon server and hifi?
Ive heard that directly connecting your DAC to the server results in less then premium sound. And and airport doesn’t render the highest quality sound.
Do you use Roon for highest quality sound? How do you buffer between the server and DAC?

[wilburthegoose]

Jul 9, 2018 14:33:04 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Will I be able to control everything , streaming and music from a hard drive via Ipad?

Yep - (Streaming = Tidal or Internet Radio)

[wilburthegoose]

Jul 9, 2018 16:57:51 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Roon server and hifi?
Ive heard that directly connecting your DAC to the server results in less then premium sound. And and airport doesn’t render the highest quality sound.
Do you use Roon for highest quality sound? How do you buffer between the server and DAC?

Check out roonlabs.com/howroonworks.html

Easy - no buffering - just set up a Roon-ready endpoint and you're good to go.

I think the only networking that will give you less than optimal sound is Apple AirPlay.   Other than that, you should be good to to.

Heck - I'm able to play audio rips from DVD-Audio to my ancient Denon, and it works great.   Feed that sound into my XMC-1, and you're in audio heaven.  

I can use one of 4 methods to play on my XMC-1:
1. Toslink from my PC to my XMC-1
2. USB from my PC to my XMC-1
3. From my Oppo-UDP-103 to my XMC-1
4. Through my Chromecast Ultra to my XMC-1

They all sound good.

[wilburthegoose]

And if you're really interested:
kb.roonlabs.com/Architecture
kb.roonlabs.com/Frequently_Asked_Questions

[chicagorspec]

Jul 9, 2018 16:57:51 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Roon server and hifi?
Ive heard that directly connecting your DAC to the server results in less then premium sound. And and airport doesn’t render the highest quality sound.
Do you use Roon for highest quality sound? How do you buffer between the server and DAC?

Good thread, interested to learn from those who have gone before. I am currently ripping my CD collection, then plan to move into Tidal and Roon trials when I can really focus on them one at a time to make decisions on purchasing. Curious about your comment that "...directly connecting your DAC to the server results in less than premium sound." I'd like to understand more about this. If the server is outputting digital, as a CD player would when used with an outboard DAC, why would the situation be different than the CD --> DAC setup in terms of the DAC rendering good analog output?