McIntosh Roon Tested, what does it mean?


I've spent way too much time reading and trying to understand the difference between Roon Ready and Roon Tested. Either I'm an idiot or everyone's marketing department is terrible. Has anyone used a 'Roon Tested' (formerly 'Roon Compatible') product? What else is needed to use this?
What I'm trying to do: buy an integrated amp with a quality DAC I can stream high quality music to from my laptop/phone/ipad from either Tidal or Amazon Music HD, using the DAC on the amp (and not on my device which is what I understand that AirPlay does, but I could be wrong).

I've looked at NAD C368/388 which is in the $1500-2200 range, does all of this with their BlueOS. But if I want to bump up to the next level, I'd be interested in the NAD M32 or McIntosh 5300 (there are others, but for simplicity sake and to stay on topic let's leave it at those two, also want a built in phono and headpone amp).

I feel like I understand the BlueOS w/ NAD: it's a built in OS, and seems equivalent to 'Roon Ready'. But with the McIntosh it is Roon Tested. 
Does this mean I just need to install the Roon software on my device, pull up music on Tidal, pick the McIntosh from a drop down and stream the music?
How is that different than what I'd be doing with 'Roon Ready'?  Is it just shifting the OS from the 5300 to an app on my device?
With 'Roon Tested', will it use the DAC in my device?  Or the DAC in the 5300? Is there anything else I need like a media server? I would assume not since I plan on using streaming services? Is there another Roon thing I need to buy and connect to an input on the 5300?

Help!
ds4000

Showing 2 responses by fastfreight

ROON is software that organizes your library of music, and your streaming sources such as Tidal and Qobuz.  You do not need it if you use the Tidal or Qubuz or BlueOS or others interface for streaming, or if you use your itunes to source your library.  I have it. love it and recommend it. 
Go to the ROON website to learn what it is and how it works  Roon core must live on a computer or Roon Nucleus (which is a computer).  Roon endpoints play the music with their DAC (NAD, Blueos, McIntosh 5300 etc.)  A devise  can not be a Roon endpoint unless it is either Roon tested or Roon Ready.  Ken
sfseay:  Thank you for that clarification!  It will probably show up as Roon Ready or Tested  eventually.  I think Roon can't quite keep up with that.  Ken