I just installed Roon and the streamer/DAC Teac NT-505.
Here is my system configuration: Roon core runs on Dell I7 with music stored on SSD, 40 feet router extender from office to my HT room. then another 35ft ethernet connection from the router extender to the Teac 505. I have a dedicated high end SACD/CD player connect via Coax to the Teac. I have performed the following tests/results using a same source music:
- CD player running stand alone. Most transparent, but not as expansive sound stage as #2, SQ is about 80% of test #2, this could be the DAC in my Cd player is dated in comparison to the new AKM DAC chips in Teac.
- CD player/Coax cable/Teac DAC. Best sound. more open sound stage, better dynamic, but not as transparent as in #1, could be due to the inferior coax RCA.
- Dell NAS/Roon/Ethernet/Teac using Iphone/Ipad as remote. Open sound stage, warmer, but not as good air around instrument as in #2.
- Lumin app/Teac/USB flash drive using Iphone as remote. Better sound than option #3, but not as good as option #2.
To my ears, SQ of option #3 is decent but not as good as other options. How can I improve SQ of Roon/PC setup in the #3 test?
May be I should get a better setup like Roon Nucleus, or streamer and separate DAC? or interface to the Teac via USB/laptop and just use the Lumin app?
I have about 1000 albums stored on NAS, and don’t currently use any streaming services.
Thanks for any input.
