New DAC or New Streamer?

I agree with others that streamer is most important, but then with upgraded streamer the dac or network will become weak link, and around and around it goes.

In the end so many choices, I can't say with large measure of assurance what is best for any other individual. As for myself I can't live without Roon, the interface is just so seamless, and such great utility with multiple configurations in my unique streaming setup. One can also mix and match equipment from various manufacturers, result is sound quality will be extremely variable dependent on entire streaming chain. I don't believe ultimate sound quality with Roon is an issue, I prefer it thus far to the Stylus proprietary music player I have, a player that has a great many positive reviews. One can also use the embedded HQPlayer within Roon for an amazing journey into dsp!. One can over and up sample PCM and DSD, convolution filters aplenty, ability to add individual equalization. Finally, I believe I'm hearing a qualitative difference with  the network adapter chosen for a two machine streaming setup,NAA, SqueezeLite, and RoonReady the three I've experimented with.

Adding up the versatility, utility and sound quality I'm getting from Roon makes it an absolute necessity for my streaming. I will say this level of versatility and sound quality requires a fair amount of fiddling and streamer with relatively high power processor, think Intel I7 minimum for HQPlayer. An OS optimized for Roon also required for optimal sound quality, OS optimized for the proprietary players mentioned above probably plays large role in their reported sound quality edge.

Bottom line is I don't believe Roon is inherently inferior music player. I doubt  Taiko would be using Roon in their Extreme streamers if they thought it had some inherent sonic liabilities.

It is true most off the shelf streamers use relatively less powerful processors for their lower inherent noise propagation, takes greater mitigation efforts to keep noise at a minimum with the higher power processors.

Roon dsp is pretty awful, HQPlayer plays at much higher level, still in process of determining a final analysis of it's ability to sound as natural as my particular Roon setup.  Thus far does excel on resolving powers, but does sound a bit artificial to me at least with PCM over and up sampling. HIgh DSD sampling rates are reportedly the way to go, will try that in time.

I'm also in camp of desiring analog/top flight vinyl sound quality with my digital. Just spent a tidy pile of money in order to bring my vinyl SQ up to the digital.

In the end I think we can all agree many paths to wonderful streaming SQ. If I were to go to off the shelf, Taiko, Wadax, Aurender W20SE, perhaps Antipodes K series or Innuous Statement would be at top of my list. With two machine setup, dedicated server/streamer many more would make the list. I'd only suggest one spend to top level of their financial abilities in streamer purchases if the intention is to make streaming their preferred source.

I don't doubt the proprietary players best with the streamers they're optimized to work with. Whether Roon is optimized for the wide variety of streamers its used on is the question. No doubt the Roon interface requires more processing than the stripped down proprietary players, running more processes means more opportunity for noise to be generated. This doesn't mean motherboard generated noise has to affect SQ, my custom build has linear power supply dedicated solely for the processor, another for the motherboard, and the PCIe cards for various interfaces totally isolated via  extensive on board filtering, clocking and external linear power supplies. Any noise generated by motherboard doesn't make it to the network port or usb renderer/port.

For individuals with streamers that don't have embedded proprietary music player software there are various music players available via subscription such as the Stylus which is available within Euphony OS or as endpoint only via Stylus EP. Others could then compare these proprietary players vs Roon. My own comparisons of these two is still ongoing, Euphony OS allows settings for Stylus I have yet to try.

Also, Roon likely has deepest pockets of all the music player software developers, means constant ongoing upgrades. One also should be mindful that streamer manufacturers using Roon are extremely likely to be working alongside Roon in order to optimize streamer/Roon integration, this would include attention to sound quality.

 The fact the proprietary players embedded in certain streamers preferred to Roon doesn't mean Roon SQ inherently inferior. Roon users also not obligated to use any of the filters/volume leveling/dsp, fact is I turn every one of these off, I hear sound degradation with some of these.

I observe individuals claiming great sound quality with virtually all music player software out there, until an objective comparison directly comparing these music players with a variety of streamers is undertaken I'll assume all can supply fine sound quality.

@lalitk Missed my point. I agree with you exactly, Roon sound quality IS all over the place with different servers/renderers. This is exactly the reason why sound quality of Roon in one setup CANNOT be extrapolated to ALL setups. Sure, there are plenty of individuals preferring other music players to Roon, so are you saying this negates all those who prefer Roon. I can only say the present sound quality I'm getting with Roon is absolute4ly revelatory, not a word I use lightly, in fact have not used once in thirty years of audiophile system building.

As for direct comparisons, I have the direct experience of the builder/assembler and subsequent owner of my custom streamer in comparing it to a number of off the shelf streamers which included the Aurender W20SE. They preferred this custom build running full Stylus to the Aurender running Conductor player. Both only sold the custom build after direct comparisons with Taiko Extreme which both purchased. So, how this relates to Roon is I'm preferring Roon with two computer setup to the setup they both preferred which is full Stylus running on the custom streamer. Now, custom build was not in same configuration as when they owned in that they were using HDPlex SMPS powered by Sean Jacobs and/or other top flight LPS, I'm using JCAT Optimo  S ATX full lps, far superior to the HDPlex solution. Perhaps the superior noise elimination of the JCAT vs HDPLex is what makes the difference for my Roon preference, hard to say. Or perhaps its my particular setup with Sonore OpticalModule and OpticalRendu, which means LPS, cables used, again, hard to say.

Although I'm not done with experimenting with the Stylus or HQPlayer players, perhaps they'll prove to be superior with different configurations/settings, much to experiment with here. But the main point is I'm getting sensational sound quality with Roon at present, over a hundred hours in and sound quality remains revelatory.  Perhaps the revelation will turn into ho hum, but until it does I have absolutely NO motivation to further experiment with players. And isn't the point to enjoy our systems or 'painting' as you put it, some theoretical argument or other people's negative experience with Roon isn't impacting my sound quality or my enjoyment of it.

Thanks guys, many paths to great sound!

@charles1dad With the way I'm presently setup starting at streamer. Ethernet input to JCAT NET XE board in streamer (streamer powered by the JCAT Optimo, 2 cables bundles used to power processor and motherboard Optimo has three rails, third is for internal local drives, I'm using NAS for local files so no internal drives, JCAT ethernet board powered by Uptone JS2 lps, so another cable and lps) ethernet out of JCAT board to OpticalModule (dc cable and lps for power), optical cable out of OM to OpticalRendu ( DC cable to second rail on Uptone JS2), usb out of OR to usb in on dac. So boxes add up to 3, also 3 lps, 3 DC cables and AC power cables. I can also go with the simpler setup with streamer direct to dac. I also have myriad choices of how I can configure  Stylus, HQPlayer and Roon players, this with or without Sonore optical bundle.

@lalitk At some point I will get to more critical listening with the Stylus player, really need to get JCAT USB XE board to get full potential of Stylus, thus far only used via somewhat optimized Intel usb board mounted on motherboard. I'm open minded enough to realize Roon may be surpassed by Stylus at some point, just enjoying Roon so much at present!

Many of us state streamers most important because we hear great differences with streamer changes. Of course this assumes one already has highly resolving dac and system. The thing about dacs today is not all that difficult or expensive to achieve high resolution, transparency, the presentation or what some may call color is greatest variable these days. Even more digital sounding dacs can sound far more analog with streamers and network upgrades that minimize jitter.

I've been through five streamers and same number of dacs over the past few years, the streamers have more variable sound quality than dacs. Also, the top echelon streamers will really take one past digital sound plateau, one can achieve streaming SQ that approaches or competes with the best vinyl rig setups. I know this first hand from what I'm hearing today via my streaming vs the best of best vinyl rig setups I've heard over the years.

And my own vinyl setup is pretty nice even without having even heard recent $16K in upgrades. The problem is the streaming is so nice I can't stop listening to streams, I start off listening sessions with intention to fire up my old vinyl setup, but I'm so involved with the music I don't get around to it. I don't even have new cartridge mounted or phono stage connected, and this has gone on for over a month!  I know, crazy!!

Streaming is the future, the future is now. As stated above in a post, streaming is now pretty mature technology, streaming can be one's best or only highest quality source, no need for media hardware any more. Not dismissing cd's or vinyl, just saying no need to go this route anymore.

Neglected to mention three dedicated streamers I've used, therefore, streamers without server capability. These commonly called two computer setups. Which leads me to emphasize rendering or port optimization and integration with dacs. Best ports on streamers and dacs can vary greatly, one needs to match streamer to dac here. For instance far too many servers are less than optimal with usb implementation, rendering of the usb is critical for max performance, and very likely plays role in my preference for Roon vs Stylus proprietary player via new streamer. The JCAT usb card with it's optimal rendering could upset the scale. Another streamer I came close to purchasing, the Antipodes K50 claims AES/EBU is optimal port, and other streamers may prefer I2S, one must do the research with both streamer and dac in order to discover optimal compatibility.

Also, it wasn't my intention to rate music players, I only have direct experience with Roon, Audirvana, Foobar, HQPlayer, and now Stylus, I have no idea what is preferable for someone else and their setups. My only intent is to state I'm getting sublime SQ with my present Roon setup, perhaps Stylus will outperform in time. I can understand the logic for why it should, and for why any proprietary player could do same.

Latik so correct on network optimization!  I'd trust the knowledgeable steamers in their recommendation of Acoustic Network Muon for top grade filter. My own situation is different as my streamer uses Windows based motherboard, so JCAT Net XE serves as my ethernet optimizer/filter, sure it contributes to my preference for the Sonore bundle vs new streamer straight into dac via less than optimized usb in streamer.

One of the more value oriented propositions some have tried is optical conversion via two generic FMC. I didn't find this to be entirely satisfactory in my setup.

My long term thoughts are I'll keep Roon even if I find my proprietary music player to have superior sound quality at some point. Roon SQ good enough to be totally engaging and even more important, the great interface has turned me on to so much great music and artists new to me. Qobuz and Tidal also offer this, but Roon far superior, Roon radio is simply awesome with it's analytics,  graphics suggestions same awesomeness. Finally, I don't know how well the other proprietary players organize local libraries, but my Stylus players completely destroys organization of local library on NAS, makes library unusable. Perhaps it would do better with streamer internal drives?

Bottom line for me is Roon cost so little it would always provide more than commensurate benefit. Being able to transfer it to nearly any brand or custom build streamer is another added benefit.

@lalitk  It does appear your local library is neatly organized. Perhaps my issue is  cd rips are on NAS, and Euphony OS/Stylus imports files from NAS differently than drives within streamer or usb drive, maybe a direct connection vs. going through network may help the situation. Stylus does fine with my Qobuz, Tidal libraries, play lists. Just don't get it, Roon imports NAS files just fine. In any case, this issue means I have to continue to use Roon for the NAS music. I'll have to do some experimentation, try the usb drive I use for NAS music library backups  direct connection to streamer.