Roon and a NAS set up?

Hi Woots,

I recently "upgraded" from an Aurender N100H 4TB to a Roon Nucleus+ with a Synology DS218j (duplicate 6TB drives).  I am using USB output with Nordost Tyr2 USB cable into Classe Sigma SSP Pre/Pro with Classe CA-2300 and ProAc Response 5 with all other IC and SC being Nordost Valhalla.  I do not have any special switches or routers.  Power cables are combination of Valhalla, Frey 2, Brahma with QBase 8, QV2 and QK1.

I upgraded because I was not happy with how difficult the Aurender was for making backup copy (very manual process and I have over 2 TB of music).  I also wanted to use the multi-zone capability throughout the house with Sonos and other endpoints.  Functionality of nucleus+ over using dedicated iMac mini as Roon core is FAR superior, fast, reliable, etc.  I would not consider running Roon off of a standard computer given my trials.  Nucleus is lightning fast and always ready to play.  

Initial sound impressions were a very different matter...

At first, I was very disappointed with the sound compared to the Aurender, Nucleus setup was harsh, kind of like early CD players from 80's and 90's.  Everything seemed to have a "digital" hash to it that robbed the music of life.  If I had not been able to significantly improved, it would have been returned or sold.

I then embarked on a journey that included:  changing all ethernet cables between NAS and Nucleus to Nordost Heimdal 2 (astounding improvement).  Putting all components on Nordost Sort Kones (marginal improvements).  The most significant improvement was substituting the provided wall wart power supply to the Nucleus with a Keces P8 linear power supply.  $699.00.  I also purchased an upgraded DC PC for between Keces and Nucleus but don't remember which one I bought ($50).  PC to Keces is a Nordost Frey 2.   

The combination of these improvements took everything to a completely different level, leaving the Aurender "in the dust".  Bass extension, slam, clarity, detail, midrange warmth and--most of all--musicality was dramatically improved.  It was as if I had replaced my DAC with one costing many thousands more.  My system has never sounded as good as it does now.  Also, the benefits of Roon have been really enjoyable over the good--but not nearly as good--Aurender Conductor application.  I have reinstalled the Aurender for comparative purposes and have now been living with the existing setup for 3 months (of Covid isolation!)

I don't know if benefits of the power supply are as important if you are using ethernet connection to DAC, I have no way of testing this.  However, I would say that an upgraded power supply and upgraded ethernet cables offer an important improvement if you are using USB.  All of this adds significantly to cost.  I'm about to list my Aurender (filled with music) for under $2000).  A new one is $3000.  NAS, Synology, 3 Heimdal 2 ethernet cables, 3 sets of sort kones will run 2-3 times as much depending on what you can find second hand.  I am not adding the cost of power cable, and USB cable as either setup requires.  

In the end, I was expecting the "upgrade" to only cost $1-2K after selling Aurender.  Had I known how much more would be added, I would have delayed making this change as I didn't really need it.  But.... now that it is done, I am very happy and not looking to go back.  I hope this helps!

Good luck!

Thanks for getting back to me Psnyder149.  I really appreciate it.  I was looking at the Synolgy DS918+. I have almost 4TB of music.  I'm also adding the Lumin T2.  Do you recall what had to pay for the cables to connect your Nas and Roon to your system?  I do have Sonos but am adding a couple Naim products in my office but definitely interested in your cabling so I can duplicate.

Woods,

As you can tell, I am “all in” on the Nordost product line.  There is a lot of debate as to this “religion” but I have found their products to be exceptional though there are other brands that are good as well.  Part of the “religion” is that Nordost works best when it is surrounded by other Nordost.  I have never tested this theory but I believe there is merit to it.  I only have so much time and patience so I went with it.  I can say that on any individual cable, the Nordost makes an identifiable and audible difference.  For example, I tested standard Ethernet, CAT8, Nordost Blue Heaven and Heimdall2.  The H2 was clearly superior than other 3 (each was progressively better).  I have friends that upgrade their routers and switches and find that really matters as well but I can’t afford right now so I am not testing.

I was able to buy all Ethernet Heimdall 2 cables as demos so paid approx. 1\2 retail (Music Direct sells these cables so you can get retail pricing from them but I believe I paid around $1300 for these 3 cables 1m, 1m, 4m).  

The USB Tyr 2 I bought used for around $750.  It is now $1300 new but I believe Nordost reduced the price from the time I purchased from $1800.  I find USB cables to be exceptionally important.  I have owned MIT and 3 different Nordost (Blue Heaven, Heimdall 2 and Tyr2).  I wish I could have bought the Valhalla2 USB but even used these are nearly $2K.  Each jump in quality is noticeably improved.  Even my “non audiophile” friends could hear the differences.

The power cord Frey2 I bought used for between $800 and $1K new is around $1800 for 1m.  Note this is plugged into a QBase 8 fed with Valhalla.

The DC cable was from Ghent Audio and was $48.  
QuantityPriceSubtotalDC-4S6G---Canare 4S6G(OFC) DC Cable
Type: 2.5G---2.5G
Length: 1.5m

The Keces power supply was new from Power Holdings $699.
Keces P8 8 Amp Ultra Low Noise Linear Power Supply - Output Voltage: 19V/20V-8A (Single Output).  This unit is exceptional and built like a far more expensive piece.  I understand that the same company supplies custom power supplies to audiophile equipment manufacturers.  

The Lumin and Naim products are very good so I’m sure you will have a great end result.  Hope this helps you.