Hi @joyceulysses , and everyone,
This is a fascinating discussion, and it's one I know well. Like you, I spent years trying to get my Roon-based streaming setup to achieve the same level of authority, dark background, and soundstage depth that I was getting from my SACD/CD transport. I was convinced it was possible, but the path wasn't obvious.
After much experimentation, my breakthrough came from a network protocol called Diretta.
In simple terms, Diretta is designed to deliver audio data from the server (your Roon Core or music server) to the streamer/endpoint with perfect timing and minimal processing required by the endpoint before it hits the DAC. The result in my system was a calmness I'd not heard before. A dramatic reduction in that hard-to-define "digital glare" and a huge step toward the effortless, natural sound of my disc player. It truly transformed Roon for me, delivering a level of performance that, to my ears, competes with and even surpasses some highly-regarded commercial solutions in the $7,500 price class.
The challenge is that implementing it is currently a bit of a DIY project. For anyone interested in tackling it themselves, I've documented the entire process in a detailed guide here:
https://github.com/dsnyder0pc/rpi-for-roon/blob/main/Diretta.md
However, I know a 50+ page guide can be intimidating and not everyone has the time or desire for a project like that. Since my goal is to get more people in the US to hear what this can do and gather more feedback, I'd like to make an offer.
To help a few interested members of this community, I'm willing to build a few of these "Proof of Concept" (PoC) kits. A complete PoC kit includes:
- Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 computers in deluxe Argon ONE cases
- Two Official Raspberry Pi 45 W (5V/5A) power supplies
- USB to Ethernet Adapter
- CAT6 cable for the point-to-point link
- Argon IR Remote Control
I'm doing this purely as a hobbyist to help spread the word, not as a business. I'd only ask to be reimbursed for my cost, which is $285. That figure covers all the components, plus the sales tax and shipping I pay to acquire them. Shipping to you would be about $30 in the US.
Please note, my cost is for the hardware kit only. You will also need to purchase the necessary software licenses separately: AudioLinux for Raspberry Pi (currently $69) and the hi-res Diretta Target license (€100, which is about $110 USD).
To be perfectly clear: this is a non-commercial, community-focused offer. I can't provide a warranty or long-term support, but I do test all the components to ensure everything is working perfectly before I ship it out.
My hope is simply to make it easier for a few of you to hear the potential of this technology in your own systems and, hopefully, share your impressions—good or bad. If you're curious and want to be a "test pilot," feel free to send me a Private Message (PM) here on the forum.
If you're interested in a commercially available solution, I understand that SOtM has added Diretta Host/Target support for their sMS-200 product. Implementation generally requires you buy two of them (good for their business). Here's a link for more details:
https://www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/how-to-set-up-a-direct-ethernet-connection-between-diretta-host-and-target-eunhasu-v0-5-9/
Happy listening!