Help With A New DAC/Streamer

I just replaced a significantly more expensive Aurender server/streamer with a Roon Nucleus paired with an IFi Zen Stream (as the Roon endpoint) connected to my DAC via spdif.  While this set up took me a while to figure out, the improvements in sound quality, system stability and the user friendliness of the Roon interface is proving to make this one of the best decisions I've made in my 25  years in this hobby.  So for less than $2K, this change has transformed my sound quality and listening enjoyment.

Something to consider with an all in one streamer is Dirac Live.

Dirac Live resolves the soundstage with improved clarity and intelligibility with all instruments and vocals. With the room correction aspect you'll experience deeper and tighter bass free of resonances throughout the listening area, with greater transparency and the removal of distracting artifacts.

The miniDSP SHD is a good example of a streaming high definition digital audio processor with excellent DACs. Dirac Live uniquely combines frequency response correction as well as impulse response (time domain) correction in the digital domain. Fixing time domain anomalies is an impressive advancement for any audiophile system.

 

 

 

The only downside is the increased complexity and effort needed to fully integrate Dirac Live. So having excellent dealer support is important. 

Deer Creek Audio is an authorized miniDSP SHD dealer.

 

@brunomarcs did you fall for Audiotroys shilling? Did you hear the Evo vs other dac/streamers?

@audiotroy I just purchased that evo standard from you,  So the server is the core and you use another device to control it, this is better than using say a laptop as both? It would not have enough power to do both?

I really like my Cambridge Audio CXN 60 streamer/DAC combo, and it’s only $1100.  The Stream Magic App works well and it also is great for Internet Radio, Podcasts, and everything else.  It has sAirPlay and Chromecast.  The DAC is a good 24 bit Wolfson that I actually bypass because I have a better DAC, but you can start with it and upgrade the DAC later if need be

bruno

 

 

the idea is to use seperate devices to do the two functions is core running Roon and Endpoint de4vioce receiving the signal from the Core

 

this is recomendedf as many devices are too weak in computing power to do both jobs correctly

 

we import a line of servers from belgium

that are desighed from the ground up to be Roon cores and endpoints the data is completely isolated from noise and cpu processes

on all modeld except the starter, standard the cpu clock and USb sound card are physically seperated and electrically isolated as well via an outboard sbooster power supply the high end anf Aeon modets utilize two s boosters one drives the cpu the other drives the USB board

 

so if you are looking for great sound and complete pgradeability

check out the 432EVO severs.

because of this design you can freely upgrade to a higher level of quality by upgrading the parts to create the next up model.

 

to date we have tested the 432EVO vs Innous, sotm, aurrender and others and the EVO produces a more analog like sound out of the DAC.

 

Used in the manner that 432 EVO intends, it’s also the best USB source I’ve tested to now and if I used one all the time, it would negate the presence of the SOtM I have in my setup as a head unit. Finally, the 432 software is capable of imparting genuine improvement to a wide selection of music and, on the occasions where the benefits are less clear cut, it’s easy enough to bypass. The Aeon shows that there are some intriguing further possibilities to audiophile storage and consequently it’s a device that will delight a great many listeners.

 

 

 

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect NJ

us importer 432EVO music servers

@brunomarcs If you go to Roon download page you'll notice there are Roon Server downloads which contain both the Core and Audio Device portions of Roon OS. There  is also separate Audio Device download which is called Roon Bridge, this does not contain Roon Core. This Bridge is meant to be downloaded to a streamer, aka Roon Endpoint. There are many streamer devices such as my Sonore Opticalrendu, others are made by Uptone, SOTM and then there are streaming dacs in which the streamer is built into dac. Many experience superior sound quality using separate devices for Roon Core and the Roon Bridge, Roon alludes to this by offering the separate downloads.

 

These Bridge/Streamer/Endpoint devices also allow one to use various filters, optical conversion and reclockers to their streaming networks, some streamers have these abilities built into them. Many report positive results with these devices as well.

@sns what does separate core from endpoint mean? I'm new to roon, five days now and love it already. 

@keir18 Hi, you can't use an Aurender with a Node or Roon or anything else except another Aurender hard wired to it. This is to preserve maximum sound quality.

Listen to your Aurender in Critical Listening mode.

Roon is pretty much glitch free, separate Core from endpoint for best sound quality.

@carlsbad thanks.  I’m going to check out roon. Luckily I have a great dealer who is super patient. I just wish this thing didn’t sound so darn good. 

Interesting about the IP addresses. I do get pretty frequent messages in the app on the iPad that it momentarily disconnects and then reconnects. I’m going to look at that because it happened with my A100 and A10, but not the blue sound node I borrowed. 

separate your streamer and dac.  It is hard enough to find the one you like in each category without having to find them joined.  

Since you don't like the interface on Aurender, you should look at Roon.  You can install it on any PC for free for a couple of weeks to see if you like it.  If you do, getting a dedicated PC will improve performance.

The Conductor app is regarded as one of the best apps available.

It has many levels and can be used in Folder mode which is bare bones just lists your songs, which I prefer, or full blown pics of everything which I find too busy.

The only issue I've encountered is if you phone/tablet uses multiple ISPs you have to switch back to the network that the Aurender in on for it to work.

The Conductor app is available for iPhone and Android maybe switching would help.

If you're happy with the sound you're getting this is an easy fix.