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Maximize Mini with Roon to match my system -- or new component?

Hello Fantastic Audiogon Community!

 

I seek some advice regarding how to plan the next few upgrades to what I am beginning to understand has been a neglected and critical component to my system. The Mac mini.

 

Details of my system, which has undergone a complete upgrade in the past year both digitally and analogue:

 

(And thank you in advance to this incredible insightful and passionate community! I have combed through the forums for specifics on these questions already and am both impressed and still seeking advice….)

 

  • SPEAKERS: Pure Audio Project Duet 15 Horn (Mundorf Silver Gold Oil Cap upgrade and high pass filter, Duelund 16 internal wiring and speaker cables to amp)
  • AMP: PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated (Gold Lion KT77 power tubes, Briar and Mullard NOS gain tubes)
  • DAC: HoloAudio Spring 2 Level 3 Kitsune edition
  • PHONO: Music Hall MMF-9 and McIntosh MP 100 Preamp (but I’m focusing on the digital for this thread)
  • INTERCONNECTS: Duelund 16 (Perfection interconnect)
  • MAC MINI: M2 Chip, 8GB Ram, 245GB External HD through USB C, Generic USB Cable to the DAC. Roon Core.

 

I for now am mostly wanting to maximize the Mac mini so that it is as perfect as possible running Roon with Qubuz.

 

However I am also curious what you all believe is the “appropriate” upgrade to my digital stream, to match the rest of my components.

 

I am a minimalist with hardware (?!) and would like the future splurge on this to be on something that lasts, doesn’t have a screen, and doesn’t require any maintenance… just runs for a decade. I am loving Roon. Most of my old digital library is burned from CD, so I tend to listen to streamed files as they are the same or higher quality (?). I am happy with the HoloAudio DAC.

 

QUESTIONS:

 

  • How do I maximize my current system with affordable (sub 1K) adjustments and upgrades to the software and hardware?
  • The Mac Mini unit is headless, and I typically have the Roon app open on this Mac mini and control it from my iPad. Is the “Roon Core” a background app, and should I quit the “Roon” app?)
  • Upgrade USB Cable?
  • Power Supplies?
  • If I were to get rid of the mini, what would be a new digital component that runs Roon well and matches the rest of my system?

 

 

THANK YOU ALL!

BRILLIANT PASSIONATE LOVERS OF MUSIC HALLUCINATION MACHINES!

 

R.

 

P.S.: I have been following this thread regarding Streamers, similar OP setup, but was wanting to focus on the Mac mini for now... https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/options-to-improve-digital-sound?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid

 

 

whyrichard

Showing 2 responses by jbuhl

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
1,058 posts
 

I ditched the Mini years ago and moved to an SGC i5 with Sonicorbiter OS to run the ROON core.  Sounds way better than my Mini did.  Wouldn't dream of going back. 

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
1,058 posts
 

But I have a question for the forum, why not keep the Mac Mini as the Roon core and invest in a lower cost streamer that can act as a Roon endpoint? 

I tell me story ...again.   I was streaming with a Bryston BDP-pi.  Its just a Raspberry Pi implementation with good components and Open Source MPD.  Totally satisfied with the SQ.  Frankly thought it sounded great.  

Then I spun up a Roon Core on a Mini with a trial just to check out the interface and used the Bryston as the endpoint.  The Bryston easily switches back forth from dedicated streamer to endpoint.  I wasn’t even really paying attention to SQ.    I had the Radio Paradise app going witch streams at 16/48 FLAC and has a reputation for sounding as good as any radio stream.   Cant remember what but I was fiddling with the set up and I realized something was different.  So I sat down and put an ear to it.  Thats when it became obvious the ROON’s sound stage was flat as a pancake, depthless.  Bummer. 

After researching on here I re hosted the Roon Core to and SGC ST i5.  Upgraded the network cables and hooked both the Bryston and ST to a mesh node. Bang, Roon sound close enough to the Bryston for everything but the most critical listening.  If I want to eek out that last little bit of SQ experience I simply revert the Bryston back to the MPD player and enjoy.  For most of my listening its ROON.  Total cost of the upgrade was ~$1.3K.

Note:  Typical experience.  Something pops on Radio Paradise I really like.  So I check out Qobuz version and see if its in HD.  Then give it a whirl.  If I really like it then I switch to the Bryston and listen on Qobuz.   Sometimes its yields those final SQ nuggets and sometimes it don’t.     

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