I have found that the Melco Server/Streamers in Roon Mode offer some of the finest streaming sound quality. You would be looking at the new Melco N5 - the second from the top Melco N1 model. These are not cheap but nor are they super expensive streamer/servers compared to much of the competition. See if you can get an N5 (or an N1) home to try in your system. Contact Luxman America for your closest US Melco dealer.
Roon Endpoint Streamers - Direct Comparisons between Current Offerings?
Have any of you directly compared sound quality between any of the current offerings of streamers when used solely as a Roon endpoint/streamer? This assumes Roon core and any local music file storage is being operated on a separate device (i.e., a separate server).
I have listed several of the current options below and while a few of those offer additional features, such as server capabilities, hosting of local file storage, or operating players unique to their manufacturers (i.e., other than Roon), I am interested in their performance solely as a Roon endpoint/streamer. Other suggestions not listed below are welcome, but please consider a $5K -$10K price range.
Streamers
- Sonore Signature Rendu SE optical v3.0 - $5,350
- Auralic Aries G2.2 - $6,099
- Innuos Pulsar - $7,999
Server/Streamers
- Aurender N200 - $6,300
- Antipodes K22 - $9,000