|
|
Roon
Jul 9, 2018 21:50:54 GMT -5
Post by sahmen on Jul 9, 2018 21:50:54 GMT -5
Your oppo 203 can already connect to your Brooklyn via the SPDIF/Coax connectors. The ultrarendu or microrendu will connect via the USB, and will both sound their best powered bvia Linear Power Supply (Of course, they'll both work with an SMPS, but I'm assuming that you want to optimize sound quality, as you have suggested, hence the LPS suggestion). The Ultrarendu sounds better, although the microrendu, while not necessarily being a slouch, is cheaper, and both connect directly to your router via ethernet, and can be connected directly to your Brooklyn via USB or through another usb converting (or reclocking/decrapifying) interface if you prefer, but they'll be sufficient on their own. I can't say much about the SOtM because I have no first hand experience with it, although I have heard good things. Which LPS do you use. Ive been reading,,,,,,A LOT as you can tell! LOL Yes, Im looking at the complete chain of corruption! LOL Noise. The soTm can be had for reasonable to silver wire and masterclocking etc. How deep are your pockets? And you still want an upgraded LPS to go with it. LOL Nick: I use the Uptone Audio LPS-1 with the -rendus, and an Sbooster with the Logitech Squeezebox Touch... They work very well in the enhancement they provide... Of course there are always more powerful ones if your pockets are deep enough for that... Mine are not, unfortunately  |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 9, 2018 21:59:30 GMT -5
Post by novisnick on Jul 9, 2018 21:59:30 GMT -5
Which LPS do you use. Ive been reading,,,,,,A LOT as you can tell! LOL Yes, Im looking at the complete chain of corruption! LOL Noise. The soTm can be had for reasonable to silver wire and masterclocking etc. How deep are your pockets? And you still want an upgraded LPS to go with it. LOL Nick: I use the Uptone Audio LPS-1 with the -rendus, and an Sbooster with the Logitech Squeezebox Touch... They work very well in the enhancement they provide... Of course there are always more powerful ones if your pockets are deep enough for that... Mine are not, unfortunately Mine aren’t either, lots of lint lately!😲 They seem to be about the same price point and quality is there Im sure. But one for each is a bit much! BUT, it is what it is! So ya want great sounding music do ya?? 😋🤪🎶🎶🎶🎶 |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 9, 2018 22:33:19 GMT -5
Post by sahmen on Jul 9, 2018 22:33:19 GMT -5
Nick: I use the Uptone Audio LPS-1 with the -rendus, and an Sbooster with the Logitech Squeezebox Touch... They work very well in the enhancement they provide... Of course there are always more powerful ones if your pockets are deep enough for that... Mine are not, unfortunately Mine aren’t either, lots of lint lately!😲 They seem to be about the same price point and quality is there Im sure. But one for each is a bit much! BUT, it is what it is! So ya want great sounding music do ya?? 😋🤪🎶🎶🎶🎶 Yes, great sounding music! That's always irresistible, and addictive... But upgraditis often leads to too many rabbit holes, which is sadly not always very healthy for the wallet... Yet, it is indeed what it is, as you say... . Incidentally, one can always pace oneself, and do the upgrades slowly., as needed... Rome does not have to be built in one day, and all that.... Of course deep pockets are always helpful too... Nothing against that . But what the hey! I mean that one Ultra-rendu with 1 Uptone LPS-1 can already take you very far, if you already have the Brooklyn, your Roon core Mac mini, and your storage... I took the "baby-steps" approach myself, and, sometimes, I do not feel nearly as far along into this particular rabbit hole as some folks I know on Computer Audiophile, for example... Still, I do like what I am hearing now from my reference 2-channel rig a lot better than I did three years ago, which is already plenty, and so it goes... |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 9, 2018 22:41:30 GMT -5
sahmen likes this
Post by novisnick on Jul 9, 2018 22:41:30 GMT -5
Mine aren’t either, lots of lint lately!😲 They seem to be about the same price point and quality is there Im sure. But one for each is a bit much! BUT, it is what it is! So ya want great sounding music do ya?? 😋🤪🎶🎶🎶🎶 Yes, great sounding music! That's always irresistible, and addictive... But upgraditis often leads to too many rabbit holes, which is sadly not always very healthy for the wallet... Yet, it is indeed what it is, as you say... . You can always pace yourself, and do the upgrades slowly., as needed... Rome does not have to be built in one day, and all that.... Of course deep pockets are always helpful too... Nothing against that . I mean that one Ultra-rendu with 1 Uptone LPS-1 can already take you very far, if you already have the Brooklyn... Shhh,,,,, Baby steps! No Brooklyn yet, just the DC-1 and Merridian Explorer 2. I may sell them both for the new DAC |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 9, 2018 22:45:37 GMT -5
Post by jdmusante on Jul 9, 2018 22:45:37 GMT -5
Question for our longer term Roon users. My 4Tb hard drive has plenty of double entries in it. Do I understand correctly that Roon has a strong ability to identify and allows me to clean the disc up? You can either hide the album from your Roon catalog or there is also an option to delete the file from your hard drive if you wish. Now, it doesn't identify that you have double entries, but you can go into each album easily and remove them.  |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 9, 2018 22:49:38 GMT -5
Post by novisnick on Jul 9, 2018 22:49:38 GMT -5
Question for our longer term Roon users. My 4Tb hard drive has plenty of double entries in it. Do I understand correctly that Roon has a strong ability to identify and allows me to clean the disc up? You can either hide the album from your Roon catalog or there is also an option to delete the file from your hard drive if you wish. Now, it doesn't identify that you have double entries, but you can go into each album easily and remove them. Do I understand that Roon will show me each LP I have with its recording data? If it wont do it automatically perhaps over time Ill be able to identify the duplicates and delete them myself. |
|
|
|
Post by jdmusante on Jul 9, 2018 22:59:58 GMT -5
... Please elaborate on what benefits Roon would offer me over what I have. Seriously...why should I bother? No insult to your or others, but a simple question. Seeking to learn. I think that's a key to many endeavors, "what problem are you trying to solve?" If the answer is that you don't have a problem, then why find a solution for it? Mark - I'm not sure you should bother. You say you have options and can easily do what Roon does. I totally understand the Sonos aspect and its ease of use. Some of this crap we do as audiophiles can be complicated. Though I do think Sonos is expensive for what it is but it you do get hardware as opposed to just software. I purchased Roon 4 months back and just love it (Recommend by a few people here at the Lounge). I have my core on a Mac Mini connected to the XMC-1 and to my Oppo 205 via USB. - It sounds amazing either way I run it. - The user interface and ease of use are outstanding. - Even if the metadata isn't 'needed' its cool to have and read. - My wife has the Roon remote on her phone and can play what's in our private collection or use Tidal. - Oh yeah, as someone else said, the Tidal integration is awesome too. Easy search and find what you are looking for. I will be purchasing a lifetime subscription just haven't done it yet. It reminds of Apple products, because it just works. I haven't had to spend hours trying to get it to work. There have been a couple things that I have searched out but overall I find it to be wonderful product. Again, great product but if you already have something that works for you, run with it! |
|
|
|
Post by jdmusante on Jul 9, 2018 23:03:31 GMT -5
You can either hide the album from your Roon catalog or there is also an option to delete the file from your hard drive if you wish. Now, it doesn't identify that you have double entries, but you can go into each album easily and remove them. Do I understand that Roon will show me each LP I have with its recording data? If it wont do it automatically perhaps over time Ill be able to identify the duplicates and delete them myself. It will show you each album you have with information on it. The core is constantly scanning your music folder. If you add something to it, it pops up as an option to play almost immediately. The couple of duplicates I had showed everything in one album, with the same songs, multiple times. I just selected the song duplicates and was able to delete them. Easy, easy. Its a great program. |
|
hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,950
|
Post by hemster on Jul 9, 2018 23:42:42 GMT -5
You can either hide the album from your Roon catalog or there is also an option to delete the file from your hard drive if you wish. Now, it doesn't identify that you have double entries, but you can go into each album easily and remove them. Do I understand that Roon will show me each LP I have with its recording data? If it wont do it automatically perhaps over time Ill be able to identify the duplicates and delete them myself. Nick, use one of the utilities below to identify and delete duplicate files. Some are even free (always a good price!). >>clicky linky here<<
|
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs 
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 6:45:57 GMT -5
Post by klinemj on Jul 10, 2018 6:45:57 GMT -5
No offense, but I see a lot of folks post essentially this same thing. But none explain why I should bother to take the trouble. Every single option I try takes effort and very few are worth it. Please elaborate on what benefits Roon would offer me over what I have. Seriously...why should I bother? No insult to your or others, but a simple question. Seeking to learn. Mark No offense taken... I'm however sensing that you're probably not seeing at least one quite difficult aspect of the question you're asking (i.e. given the way you're framing it). To elaborate on what benefits Roon would offer over what you already have, and do so in a satisfyingly reliable way, one needs to have an intimate first-hand familiarity with your current system and the quality of its performance (which is something I personally do not have), and then be able to compare them to the enhancements that roon is likely to add to them. Even more importantly, and fundamentally, one has to hear both versions of the systems in the way you do... I am sure you see where I am going with this... And do correct me if I am wrong... I do not see how I can answer your question satisfactorily, given those parameters, without feeling I am either overpromising or underpromising.. I simply don't feel qualified to answer you in a capable way... My recommendation of a first hand trial run was meant to match the complexity of your question, as you were framing it... and its demanding nature, at least, as I was interpreting it... I hear you and others saying "just try it", but that does take effort and I've never seen any compelling argument that would entice me to expend the effort. And, i don't understand how it actually works - from a hardware and interface POV (which is a barrier for me trying it)...see next post for my questions on that. But, if it truly is better than what I have, I would. So, in hopes of learning what's better - I'll explain more about my current system in hopes others can understand it enough to help me see what I'm missing about Room. My current system is this: 1) for critical listening, I have 2 different systems in 2 different rooms...1 set up for headphones, 1 set up for 2.1 through my Maggies/sub. Each includes a PC, a DAC, and an amp + either headphones or speakers. To use it, I make sure each is on, grab my Surface Pro 3, click on the icon for "Remote Desktop", select the PC I want to control. When I do that (2 mouse clicks), the desktop of the PC I want to play from appears. I select either Tidal or jRiver and from those I choose music to play. I tend to use Tidal unless they don't have something I want to play that I have a copy ripped onto my NAS...in which I use jRiver. I don't really have any major problems with this setup...it works, it sounds great, I can play MQA files from Tidal, Windows Remote Desktop works great with Windows 10 Pro, and if I want more info on an album or artist, it's right there via the browser on the PC. Speaking of browsing, if I want or need to I can quickly check e-mail or news in between music...which is nice. I suppose if I had 1 wish-for, it would be for the little place where I type in an artist or album name in for searching tunes to be a little bit bigger. 2) For around the house non-critical listening, I use Sonos. From it, I can get to my entire music library on my NAS, Tidal (non-MQA), XM radio, all sorts of internet-based music that's not CD-quality but good enough for when I am cooking in the kitchen, in the shower, in the pool, in the hot tub, on the back deck grilling and chilling, or eating dinner. And, it's very easy to use even on a phone...hardly even had to train my wife and kids for them to master it. From an equipment POV, it's pretty minimal...in most places, I use a Sonos Connect Amp wired to a set of speakers. For the pool, I have a Sonos Connect that outputs to an old Rotel amp I had around...a little more power than the buit-in Sonos amps (needed for a bit more volume in such a large area). So, with that...what would I gain? Anything? Mark |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 7:11:14 GMT -5
Post by klinemj on Jul 10, 2018 7:11:14 GMT -5
Some of this crap we do as audiophiles can be complicated. Though I do think Sonos is expensive for what it is but it you do get hardware as opposed to just software. I purchased Roon 4 months back and just love it (Recommend by a few people here at the Lounge). I have my core on a Mac Mini connected to the XMC-1 and to my Oppo 205 via USB. Thanks for the response. You are right that, on the surface, the Sonos gear is pricey, but when I factor in that it includes all equipment except the speakers to play music - it's a pretty reasonably priced way to get music in multiple places with the ability for each location to be playing different music (or the same music at different volumes in each location) without needing to have any gear other than the Sonos unit and speakers. And, the PC's I use in my critical listening area were cheap...1 was $125 and the other was ~$200. And, you are right that a lot we do is complicated. This is one thing about Roon that's been a barrier for me. When I have read about it, I see that there are cores, servers, and remotes...and I've never heard anyone explain how it all actually works. Even Roon's "How it works" doesn't tell me that. And, I'd really like to know that. When people tell me to "just try it", but I don't understand what hardware is needed and how it's used - I feel like it'd take me 14 days of the free trial period to figure out the hardware/software! Could you explain how it works in simple English for me? So, I see you have the "Roon Core" on a Mac Mini. How do you control that? With a keyboard connected to the mini or using some type of remote (such as an app on your phone or on a laptop of some type or ideally either)? And, from what I hear, if I understand it right - once you have the "core" on 1 computer, you can choose to have music go to other places...if I understand correctly, those are "endpoints" (and as one user here mentioned, those can be things like an Oppo BluRay, a Chromecast device, etc.). Is that all correct? And, can you have different music playing in the different locations and independently set volumes in each locations using whatever remote is being used to control the software? FYI, I did document trying to use an r-Pi for 1 location but I learned that Tidal (at the time) would not and could not "see" the Pi as an output to choose. jRiver could, but not the Tidal app. So, the Pi ended up not working for me. That's what drove me to use the $125 computer solution for my 2nd location. It looks like Roon has Tidal built-in (including MQA files), so any device (I guess that would be "endpoint" in Roon's terms) that Roon can "see" - the software can play to. Thus, they are bypassing the Tidal limitation that makes it a pain w/a Pi. Is that correct? Thanks for your help. Mark |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 7:17:33 GMT -5
DYohn likes this
Post by wilburthegoose on Jul 10, 2018 7:17:33 GMT -5
By the way, you can easily run Roon Server and Roon Control on the same computer. If you have a decent PC/Mac, you shouldn't have any problems.
I've run it this way and by using an iPad as the control, but noticed no difference in audio quality.
PS - My "server" is an Asus PC I purchased for about $650 a few years ago. I have my music on my main "C" drive (all FLAC files). Works great....
-----------------
Yes, I play Tidal thru my RaspberryPI and Chromecast via Roon.
|
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 8:03:16 GMT -5
Post by klinemj on Jul 10, 2018 8:03:16 GMT -5
By the way, you can easily run Roon Server and Roon Control on the same computer. If you have a decent PC/Mac, you shouldn't have any problems. I've run it this way and by using an iPad as the control, but noticed no difference in audio quality. Can you elaborate on "why" you would want to run Roon Server and Roon Control on the same computer? This is an example of what I said about me not understanding the Roon system and what's required to run it/how it works. People talk about the various pieces but not how it actually is used and set up. I don't even understand what "Roon server" and "Roon Control" are...I presume they are softwares...and I would think that "Roon Control" has something to do with being used as a remote...but then I see that you are using an iPad as the control. Can you tell me a bit more (in English w/o Roon's jargon) what softwares are on what hardware and how the control from the iPad works? Yes, I play Tidal thru my RaspberryPI and Chromecast via Roon. With the rPi, how did you get this to work with Roon? If you have a link that explains it in simple English, that would be great. My experience with the Pi was that all the sites I went to for answers didn't speak English - they spoke some Raspian form of English which just seemed to go in circles...and I didn't understand. Mark |
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 8:29:14 GMT -5
Post by wilburthegoose on Jul 10, 2018 8:29:14 GMT -5
Why - I sometimes want to control what's playing from my PC. Roon Control can run on many platforms - Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, etc
Roon Server and Roon Control are software - that does NOT mean that Roon Server must run on a "server".
For RaspberryPi, I purchased a card called HiFi Berry. I downloaded an image from their website that allowed it to easily work. That said, with the cost of Chromecast Audio, I'd go that way. It's currently $25, which is cheaper than the RaspberryPi.
|
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 8:43:36 GMT -5
Post by klinemj on Jul 10, 2018 8:43:36 GMT -5
Why - I sometimes want to control what's playing from my PC. Roon Control can run on many platforms - Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, etc Roon Server and Roon Control are software - that does NOT mean that Roon Server must run on a "server". For RaspberryPi, I purchased a card called HiFi Berry. I downloaded an image from their website that allowed it to easily work. That said, with the cost of Chromecast Audio, I'd go that way. It's currently $25, which is cheaper than the RaspberryPi. So, let me get this straight..."Roon Server" is a software and you can put it on a PC (or Mac, etc.). You control it with "Roon Control", which can be on that same PC or a different device. Correct? So, I could sit there with a keyboard and mouse on the PC which has "Roon Server" and play music on that PC (or output the PC's sound to a DAC/etc...). Correct? Further, I could have "Roon Control" on my Surface Pro 3 (or other device) and control "Roon Server" from that. Correct? And, "Roon Server" could be told via the "Roon Control" on my Surface Pro 3 to output (from the PC that "Roon Server" is on) via hardwire out (such as USB or other output) to a DAC/etc to play music that way. Correct? Alternatively, I could use Roon Control on my Surface to output wireless from the Roon Server to any other wireless device in my home that the "Roon Server" can "see". Correct? And, it looks like from Roon's site that Roon can also play in multiple rooms at one time (like Sonos can)...can the music be different in each room? Can it be the same and "grouped" like Sonos does? Can the Roon Control independently adjust the volume in each room (like Sonos can) or is that left to the control on the equipment in the room? Thanks - I'm just seeking to understand. Mark |
|
DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,486
|
Post by DYohn on Jul 10, 2018 9:43:15 GMT -5
Why are you considering Audirvana? What can it do that Roon can't? Or do better.. inquiring minds want to know. 🙂 All I’m looking for is a better front end for my iTunes library. I will continue to rip my music and sync my devices with iTunes, my wife will continue to use AppleTV as her interface to the iTunes library, I’ll even use that for parties and ‘background music’. We are an AppleCentric household and that will continue, but when I’m listening seriously I want a better interface, better album art, I’d love to get rid of BitPerfect, but don’t think Audirvana will handle the depth/res changes it does on the Mac. I don’t want any more servers and only have one ‘startpoint’ and ‘endpoint’, my Mac mini that holds my iTunes library. Everything is distributed from there via the XMC-1 and Zone amp. Audirvana can co-exist with my current ecosystem, my needs are simple and Roon seems like more than I need or want, but I’ll listen. In truth I have two minis that have a synced library, one is my desktop, I use it here in the summer and take it to Park City in the winter ... but I digress ... is it snow yet? I use iTunes to rip CDs and to manage most of my library (it can't manage FLAC ow WAV files.) Roon is a far superior interface and music server than iTunes, and will integrate music files of all formats including iTunes into one UI. |
|
DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,486
|
Post by DYohn on Jul 10, 2018 10:02:39 GMT -5
By the way, you can easily run Roon Server and Roon Control on the same computer. If you have a decent PC/Mac, you shouldn't have any problems. I've run it this way and by using an iPad as the control, but noticed no difference in audio quality. Can you elaborate on "why" you would want to run Roon Server and Roon Control on the same computer? This is an example of what I said about me not understanding the Roon system and what's required to run it/how it works. People talk about the various pieces but not how it actually is used and set up. I don't even understand what "Roon server" and "Roon Control" are...I presume they are softwares...and I would think that "Roon Control" has something to do with being used as a remote...but then I see that you are using an iPad as the control. Can you tell me a bit more (in English w/o Roon's jargon) what softwares are on what hardware and how the control from the iPad works? Yes, I play Tidal thru my RaspberryPI and Chromecast via Roon. With the rPi, how did you get this to work with Roon? If you have a link that explains it in simple English, that would be great. My experience with the Pi was that all the sites I went to for answers didn't speak English - they spoke some Raspian form of English which just seemed to go in circles...and I didn't understand. Mark "The various pieces" are all software functions. Yes, you can have each software function on its own piece of hardware, or on multiple pieces of hardware at the same time, or all on the same piece of hardware. Here's part of my setup to maybe help you understand: 1) Roon server is running on a dedicated computer that also hosts all my music files. This computer is also running Squeezesoft so I can use it as an end point to playback files directly from the computer to my office DAC. 2) I have the Roon control APP installed on two other PCs on the network, on an iPad, and on my iPhone. I can use any of these devices at any time to control what is being played on each end point in my network no matter where they are. It doesn't matter which one I use and all of them can be active at the same time. Roon responds to the last command it was given no matter where it comes from. Any computer hosting the Roon App can also function as an end point and play files as long as it has a playback device (USB output connected to a DAC, internal sound card, etc.) or it is running a playback device simulator like Squeezesoft. 3) I can use any or all of the following as end points at any time or all at the same time to play music: Any installation of Squeezelite (this is a software emulation of a Squeezebox.) I currently have this installed on two PCs plus on the server; any installation of Roon Ready player. I currently have this in two Rendu devices from Sonore; any iOS device. Currently using an Apple TV to play back music in one area; any other device that Roon recognizes. I am currently using one of the PCs hosting the Roon controller as a playback device through the computer's internal sound card. Most people I know who use the Raspberry Pi use it for this end point playback function. Roon is an infrastructure. It is an operating system, so to speak, and the various parts of it are split up for convenience and flexibility. It is completely unlike iTunes or JRiver in that it uses its own proprietary communications protocol over your network and it "finds" all other devices or bits of software that is compatible without the user having to do much other than enable them. It is exactly like iTunes or JRiver in that it organizes the way it presents the user with the music files it locates on your network and allows you to play them selectively. It takes iTunes and Jriver functionality to the next level in the following ways: it can automatically scan the entire network, locate and present any and all music files it finds no matter what format they might be in. It can also be restricted to "watch" just one folder on the network for music files, if you choose that option. It is instant, meaning the second I add a file to a watched folder it is available to play, no scanning or setup required. It offers the user far more data about the tracks being played, if you choose to play around with that, through all of the Roon user interfaces. And finally, in my opinion the sound quality using Roon is better for some reason than using the Logitech media server software or from iTunes directly. I cannot explain why that is, but I suspect the Roon communications protocol (called RAAT) handles music data differently than other methods. |
|
DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,486
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 10:12:59 GMT -5
Post by DYohn on Jul 10, 2018 10:12:59 GMT -5
And one last comment about price. Yes, Roon is expensive especially when there are free solutions out there that might work for you. But consider that once you buy into it, you have unlimited rights to install as many instances of it as you need for ever. You have lifetime support and automatic free updates and upgrades when they become available. Plus you gain seamless functionality not easily available using other methods. Try paying one time for Microsoft Office and getting lifetime unlimited installations and upgrades on as many PCs as you need. To me, for my purposes, Roon is worth the cost. For you maybe not. That's just part of the deal.
|
|
|
|
Roon
Jul 10, 2018 10:38:31 GMT -5
Post by wilburthegoose on Jul 10, 2018 10:38:31 GMT -5
Why - I sometimes want to control what's playing from my PC. Roon Control can run on many platforms - Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, etc Roon Server and Roon Control are software - that does NOT mean that Roon Server must run on a "server". For RaspberryPi, I purchased a card called HiFi Berry. I downloaded an image from their website that allowed it to easily work. That said, with the cost of Chromecast Audio, I'd go that way. It's currently $25, which is cheaper than the RaspberryPi. So, let me get this straight..."Roon Server" is a software and you can put it on a PC (or Mac, etc.). You control it with "Roon Control", which can be on that same PC or a different device. Correct? So, I could sit there with a keyboard and mouse on the PC which has "Roon Server" and play music on that PC (or output the PC's sound to a DAC/etc...). Correct? Further, I could have "Roon Control" on my Surface Pro 3 (or other device) and control "Roon Server" from that. Correct? And, "Roon Server" could be told via the "Roon Control" on my Surface Pro 3 to output (from the PC that "Roon Server" is on) via hardwire out (such as USB or other output) to a DAC/etc to play music that way. Correct? Alternatively, I could use Roon Control on my Surface to output wireless from the Roon Server to any other wireless device in my home that the "Roon Server" can "see". Correct? And, it looks like from Roon's site that Roon can also play in multiple rooms at one time (like Sonos can)...can the music be different in each room? Can it be the same and "grouped" like Sonos does? Can the Roon Control independently adjust the volume in each room (like Sonos can) or is that left to the control on the equipment in the room? Thanks - I'm just seeking to understand. Mark Mark - that's right on all counts. The term "server" does NOT mean you go out and buy a server (you could, but I'm cheap). You could put your media on an NAS, but I don't bother. The only thing I'd like to do eventually is to put an SSD on my PC running Roon Server for the OS and system files. But that's very much a project for days that the snow flies and I'm stuck indoors. |
|
|
|
Post by sahmen on Jul 10, 2018 11:37:55 GMT -5
No offense taken... I'm however sensing that you're probably not seeing at least one quite difficult aspect of the question you're asking (i.e. given the way you're framing it). To elaborate on what benefits Roon would offer over what you already have, and do so in a satisfyingly reliable way, one needs to have an intimate first-hand familiarity with your current system and the quality of its performance (which is something I personally do not have), and then be able to compare them to the enhancements that roon is likely to add to them. Even more importantly, and fundamentally, one has to hear both versions of the systems in the way you do... I am sure you see where I am going with this... And do correct me if I am wrong... I do not see how I can answer your question satisfactorily, given those parameters, without feeling I am either overpromising or underpromising.. I simply don't feel qualified to answer you in a capable way... My recommendation of a first hand trial run was meant to match the complexity of your question, as you were framing it... and its demanding nature, at least, as I was interpreting it... I hear you and others saying "just try it", but that does take effort and I've never seen any compelling argument that would entice me to expend the effort. And, i don't understand how it actually works - from a hardware and interface POV (which is a barrier for me trying it)...see next post for my questions on that. But, if it truly is better than what I have, I would. So, in hopes of learning what's better - I'll explain more about my current system in hopes others can understand it enough to help me see what I'm missing about Room. My current system is this: 1) for critical listening, I have 2 different systems in 2 different rooms...1 set up for headphones, 1 set up for 2.1 through my Maggies/sub. Each includes a PC, a DAC, and an amp + either headphones or speakers. To use it, I make sure each is on, grab my Surface Pro 3, click on the icon for "Remote Desktop", select the PC I want to control. When I do that (2 mouse clicks), the desktop of the PC I want to play from appears. I select either Tidal or jRiver and from those I choose music to play. I tend to use Tidal unless they don't have something I want to play that I have a copy ripped onto my NAS...in which I use jRiver. I don't really have any major problems with this setup...it works, it sounds great, I can play MQA files from Tidal, Windows Remote Desktop works great with Windows 10 Pro, and if I want more info on an album or artist, it's right there via the browser on the PC. Speaking of browsing, if I want or need to I can quickly check e-mail or news in between music...which is nice. I suppose if I had 1 wish-for, it would be for the little place where I type in an artist or album name in for searching tunes to be a little bit bigger. 2) For around the house non-critical listening, I use Sonos. From it, I can get to my entire music library on my NAS, Tidal (non-MQA), XM radio, all sorts of internet-based music that's not CD-quality but good enough for when I am cooking in the kitchen, in the shower, in the pool, in the hot tub, on the back deck grilling and chilling, or eating dinner. And, it's very easy to use even on a phone...hardly even had to train my wife and kids for them to master it. From an equipment POV, it's pretty minimal...in most places, I use a Sonos Connect Amp wired to a set of speakers. For the pool, I have a Sonos Connect that outputs to an old Rotel amp I had around...a little more power than the buit-in Sonos amps (needed for a bit more volume in such a large area). So, with that...what would I gain? Anything? Mark Mark : The setup you have described appears to be well-equipped, versatile, and smartly rigged for ease of use... One important advantage of Roon is its integration of the user's music on the local network and music from the internet (i.e Tidal) into one nicely laid out UI which the user can access and control from several devices, and also play out of several endpoints around the house. You already seem, however, to have a fairly similar system already implemented, so it is difficult to determine what added benefits (if any) Roon might bring to the table for you. There is of course the possibility that adding Roon, and other Roon compatible hardware (DACS, Network players or bridges, renderers) might bring some SQ enhancements to the table, but that type of gear is always going to entail more expenses, which may not be necessary at all if you're already content with what you're already getting. Besides, you could also get similar SQ enhancements with new gear that function independently from Roon, so Roon might not be required at all in your case (although, it has to be said that the list of hardware manufacturers in the audiophile-component industry who are partnering with Roon keeps growing at a very impressive rate : roonlabs.com/partners.html ). In short, from where I am standing, I do not see any readily compelling reason why you might want Roon. However, without meaning to raise your BP or cause you any unnecessary irritation by saying this, I also do not necessarily see your present situation as ruling out the usefulness of a free trial run, if only as a way of satisfying your curiosity as an audio enthusiast, given how quickly the use of Roon has spread, and is spreading among the community of audiophiles. Beyond the question of satisfying sheer curiosity, there might also be some benefits of Roon's implementation in your system that only you are capable of seeing, but that would depend on your willingness try it... By the way, when I ask people to just go ahead and try it (as opposed to spending a lot of time making inquiries about it), I do not mean to be annoying or offensive, as I am sure you are aware. I actually mean to help them avoid an unnecessarily lengthy preamble of dithering and self-torture before taking the plunge, that is, if taking the plunge is what they really and eventually want to do. One thing about Roon that might appear paradoxical to some users is that, although its aim is to simplify and facilitate the packaging and delivery of streamed music, it tends to appear overly complicated and fiddly--actually far more complicated and fiddly than it actually is--to people who have not used it before. At least, that is the way it used to appear to me for a long time, before I finally opted to go on board. I am embarrassed to confess that it took me more than a year of readings and inquiries on the Roon site and other boards before I finally decided to do the free trial run...-- It was also more than a year of other trial runs during which I purchased and experimented with other pieces of software--Audirvana Plus, Fidelia, Bitperfect, Amarra, AmarraSQ, Amarra Symphony etc etc,-- because they happen to appear simpler and easier to use than Roon). However, they all became practically redundant once I got the Roon Subscription. Yet right up to the day I decided to jump in on the Roon wagon, it still looked rather daunting and too fiddly to me... The really strange part is, however, that, once I jumped on board, I had the damn thing installed and running literally in minutes--and that, incidentally, was also what turns out to be the embarrassing part I have been referring to--i.e. how easy it all turned out to be after more than a year of wondering. I also found out that the folks on the Roonlabs community website are pretty quick and efficient in responding to any questions about implementation, and troubleshooting. Every inquiry I have made, and every soft- or hardware-related problem I have reported, have been resolved very quickly in a couple of hours, if not in minutes, In short, after dithering and tormenting myself for more than a year doing the "should I" or "should I not" dance, the decision to become a lifetime subscriber took less than half a day of the trial period. Go figure ... It is that type of weirdness from which I want others to be spared, when I ask them to "just try it" When all is said and done, though, I joined because the enhancements of Roon to my system were genuine and readily easy for me to see, ultimately. However, my system at the time of initial adoption was nothing like what you have now, so your mileage may well vary |
|
