What hardware are y'all using for Roon?

Before I bought my Core,I was seriously looking at Antipodes DX servers,which support Roon,and my local dealer carries them.There are different levels(cheaper) ones you can buy,but I decided to go with Naim in the end,Mainly because of price.He has since got one for another customer,and told me the guy loves it,but I never got to hear one...might be worth a look for you.

Macmin runs roon, microrendu is the endpoint, ipad controlls. Would love to test Innuos and Aries G2 in future. 

Ralf

T38.45 posted:

Macmin runs roon, microrendu is the endpoint, ipad controlls. Would love to test Innuos and Aries G2 in future. 

Ralf

Are you using a "special" power supply with the Rendu?

Moderated Post: Terry, please respect forum rules, thank you.

I’ve been running a Roon Core on my Macbook, just because that’s what I’ve got. It works very well with an Atom as an ‘Endpoint’ and also into my NDX over Airplay. This means that the NDX will play 16/44, but not Hi-res, as it’s via Airport Express/optical. When the Classic streamers are replaced by models with the new streaming platform, they should make good Roon Endpoints, but nobody knows when this will happen. 

For that money there are lots of options the Korean SOtM 200 with battery psu comes in at about £600 or the Ultra model is a bit more look very good choices. They run Roon and connected to a usb dac are getting very good reviews. 

Kevin, I currently have an NDX + XP5 combination and my thinking is along similar lines regarding future plans. I don’t care much about a server ripper so Antipodes DX is not something I am looking at but I would like to have a high quality server with Roon Core and the Antipodes Core product seems to fit the bill. The dealer I talk to suggested I wait a couple of months as some form of update is under way.

The other main choice will be the DAC. There I would consider the current leaders (Chord is very popular in this forum but I would also like to hear NOS DACs -the Yggdrrassil was for example slightly better than the NDX in my set up despite the lower price- ; additionally, I would also like to check e.g. Metrum, but also other non mainstream solutions like the Playback Designs Merlot.

However said combinations would imply a significant additional investment on top of what you can get from your current producers trade off.

Kevin Richardson posted:

Ive reached that point in my audiophile life where I needs to ditch my ND5&NDX and replace them with Roon bridges(? Correct term?)

What are the best options for a budget around 5,000 USD? (I figure that is about what I can get for my ND5/X) Certainly I am willing to spend much less or a bit more. 

My plan is to run the "core" on an iMac with 2 Ethernet endpoints (bridges?)

Any information regarding your experiences is appreciated.

You're looking for Roon_Ready network end points (Roon Bridge is something else). The next decision is are you looking for just an end-point which will feed into a DAC (and by what means), one that includes the DAC, one that includes the DAC plus good Preamp facilities, one that is a fully integrated amplifier? Do you need DSD compatibility in the DAC? Is MQA compatibility a requirement (Roon will shortly deliver the first MQA unfold in software, so you could leave it at that or choose something that will perform the second rendering stage)? You have quite a lot of options out there, with more to come. Your budget really opens up the choices.

Roon core on a usb drive attached to my Qnap NAS and Nova as endpoint - perfect for me.

Kevin, Roon is quite resource-greedy because of the database size. The Roon Core ideally needs to sit on an SSD disk. So you could use your iMac if it has one. It should be kept well away from your audio equipment and is best connected via an Ethernet switch. I replaced my iMac with a sonicTransporter, which sits on the network and comes with an internal SSD with Roon Server pre-installed and a USB drive connection for music. Optionally also available with a large internal SSD for Roon & music.

There are many endpoints that run the Roon bridge, the microRendu being a popular choice with low noise floor. I have achieved good results with a Raspberry Pi / Hifiberry and even better results with Allo DigiOne and especially USBridge. These are good low-cost Roon-based streamers that leave you with plenty of budget over for a top-notch DAC.

Once you have your Roon bridge up and running, your Core will find it plus any Airplay devices on your network.

Have you checked out the Roon Community yet? You’ll find plenty of info on Roon-compatible hardware over there.

ATB, William

Kevin Richardson posted:

Ive reached that point in my audiophile life where I needs to ditch my ND5&NDX and replace them with Roon bridges(? Correct term?)

What are the best options for a budget around 5,000 USD? .

Hi Kevin -

While you search longer term, pricier options for Roon endpoints (and DACs?) to replace your NDX+, it might be useful to buy an Allo DigiOne, which is an all-in-one Raspberry Pi and high-quality digital output board, providing highly rated SPDIF performance over BNC or coax (no TosLink). It’s under 200 ($ or €). I looked at this (and may still try as a cool experiment), but have opted to upgrade SU to Nova instead, to upgrade overall streaming capability (happens when I get home). 

Check out the Darko review, which is one of many glowing reports...

Regards alan

Kevin Richardson posted:

T38.45 posted:

Macmin runs roon, microrendu is the endpoint, ipad controlls. Would love to test Innuos and Aries G2 in future. 

Ralf

Are you using a "special" power supply with the Rendu?

yes, Sbooster power supply...fantastic improvement, had ifi before.

William posted:

I have achieved good results with a Raspberry Pi / Hifiberry and even better results with Allo DigiOne and especially USBridge. These are good low-cost Roon-based streamers that leave you with plenty of budget over for a top-notch DAC.

William,

Hi, do I understand correctly that the Allo USBridge can be used alone to feed a DAC?  I note, with interest, that you have the Metrum Pavane DAC, as do I. Could you describe the improvements that you've found moving from Allo DigiOne to USBridge?

Thanks!

Jan

William posted:

Kevin, Roon is quite resource-greedy because of the database size. The Roon Core ideally needs to sit on an SSD disk. So you could use your iMac if it has one. It should be kept well away from your audio equipment and is best connected via an Ethernet switch. I replaced my iMac with a sonicTransporter, which sits on the network and comes with an internal SSD with Roon Server pre-installed and a USB drive connection for music. Optionally also available with a large internal SSD for Roon & music.

There are many endpoints that run the Roon bridge, the microRendu being a popular choice with low noise floor. I have achieved good results with a Raspberry Pi / Hifiberry and even better results with Allo DigiOne and especially USBridge. These are good low-cost Roon-based streamers that leave you with plenty of budget over for a top-notch DAC.

Once you have your Roon bridge up and running, your Core will find it plus any Airplay devices on your network.

Have you checked out the Roon Community yet? You’ll find plenty of info on Roon-compatible hardware over there.

ATB, William

Thanks for the info re Allo. I didn't see it on the "Roon ready" list. After reading your post I found it listed under a different category. I'm going to buy one to see if Roon really is what I need.

Crazy that our ND5/Xs can now be replaced by a $125 device. ????

alan33 posted:

Kevin Richardson posted:

Ive reached that point in my audiophile life where I needs to ditch my ND5&NDX and replace them with Roon bridges(? Correct term?)

What are the best options for a budget around 5,000 USD? .

Hi Kevin -

While you search longer term, pricier options for Roon endpoints (and DACs?) to replace your NDX+, it might be useful to buy an Allo DigiOne, which is an all-in-one Raspberry Pi and high-quality digital output board, providing highly rated SPDIF performance over BNC or coax (no TosLink). It’s under 200 ($ or €). I looked at this (and may still try as a cool experiment), but have opted to upgrade SU to Nova instead, to upgrade overall streaming capability (happens when I get home). 

Check out the Darko review, which is one of many glowing reports...

Regards alan

Done. Thanks!

Synology 918+ and 128Gb memory stick for the Roon Core database attached to the Synology. Nova connected via Switch and Ethernet cable. Works nicely and easy to use. Synology is a great home network backup system too - both my PC and Mac back up to it.

Kevin Richardson posted

 

 

Crazy that our ND5/Xs can now be replaced by a $125 device. ????

To be fair strictly speaking only the streamer section can be replaced by a $125 device; however to my ears the Chord Mojo was a good match for the DAC section.

Look forward to hearing how you get on with the DigiOne.

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

William posted:

I have achieved good results with a Raspberry Pi / Hifiberry and even better results with Allo DigiOne and especially USBridge. These are good low-cost Roon-based streamers that leave you with plenty of budget over for a top-notch DAC.

William,

Hi, do I understand correctly that the Allo USBridge can be used alone to feed a DAC?  I note, with interest, that you have the Metrum Pavane DAC, as do I. Could you describe the improvements that you've found moving from Allo DigiOne to USBridge?

Thanks!

Jan

Hey Jan, I have the USBridge connected to hardwired Ethernet so the Roon Server on my sonicTransporter sees it and streams to it via the RAAT protocol. The USBridge is connected to the USB input on my Pavane.

The DigiOne didn’t have a fair chance, I suspect there was a problem with my SPDIF cable, but that’s the beauty of the USBridge: it works well using the supplied USB cable. There are people who achieved better results with the DigiOne but I am happy as it is. I power the USBridge and Sparky boards separately with two iFis. That improves SQ further.

I have just the Level 1 Pavane. Have you experienced Level 2/3 yet?

Cheers, William

William posted:

I have just the Level 1 Pavane. Have you experienced Level 2/3 yet?

I haven't got to the end of level 1 yet

Are you using the balanced outputs ?

***

Thanks for clarifying the USBridge.

Tempted.

Jan

(Apologies Kevin, for thread diversion)

DrPo posted:

Kevin, I currently have an NDX + XP5 combination and my thinking is along similar lines regarding future plans. I don’t care much about a server ripper so Antipodes DX is not something I am looking at but I would like to have a high quality server with Roon Core and the Antipodes Core product seems to fit the bill. The dealer I talk to suggested I wait a couple of months as some form of update is under way.

The other main choice will be the DAC. There I would consider the current leaders (Chord is very popular in this forum but I would also like to hear NOS DACs -the Yggdrrassil was for example slightly better than the NDX in my set up despite the lower price- ; additionally, I would also like to check e.g. Metrum, but also other non mainstream solutions like the Playback Designs Merlot.

However said combinations would imply a significant additional investment on top of what you can get from your current producers trade off.

I think I'm set on my choice of DACs: Dave for living room, Hugo for my desk, and my trusted V1 for the bedroom.

My local dealer has the PBD so I think I'll give that a listen.

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

William posted:

I have just the Level 1 Pavane. Have you experienced Level 2/3 yet?

I haven't got to the end of level 1 yet

Are you using the balanced outputs ?

 

No, just RCA (Audioquest Yukon).

Kevin Richardson posted:

I think I'm set on my choice of DACs: Dave for living room, Hugo for my desk, and my trusted V1 for the bedroom.

Hi Kevin -- great choices. Here's my system: a Hugo 2 DAC with an ultraRendu and sonicTransporter i5 (from Small Green Computer; the latter is the Roon server) and an Uptone Audio LPS-1 to power the 'Rendu, along with a NAS from Synology, which seems to be a popular choice on here. The network stuff is connected to "Simon's Choice" of network switches -- the Cisco 2960 -- via ethernet cables from Blue Jeans Audio. Works great. Hope this is helpful!

William posted:

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

William posted:

I have just the Level 1 Pavane. Have you experienced Level 2/3 yet?

I haven't got to the end of level 1 yet

Are you using the balanced outputs ?

 

No, just RCA (Audioquest Yukon).

Jan, Have you compared the outputs on the Pavane?

Hi William, 

Yes, listening via the balanced outputs is more engaging, holding my interest longer in the music. Via the single-ended outputs, the Pavane can, at times, seem slightly mechanical. 

The single-ended outputs use Lundahl output transformers to convert dual-differential into a single-ended signal, whereas the balanced outputs are driven directly from the Pavane's converters (the Transient modules in the photo below). As pointed out in the Six Moons review, "the Pavane's converters and I/V stage are potent enough to not require a conventional output stage. Hence there isn't one." (photo from Six Moons review).

So, one less thing in the signal path !

Jan

Interesting, might have to try that, especially with a DIN connector on the other end. I suppose you habe the reference cable from Bis (Maestro?).

BTW I’m currently looking into a Level 3 + MQA upgrade from Metrum...