Roon for high end audio?


I have been listening almost exclusively to CDs but want to start to get into music streaming.  Sound quality is very high on my list, and I am interested in streaming for 2 reasons; broad selection and hopefully better sound.  I am using a dbx Venue 360 with a Jeff Roland Concerto Preamp and Roland Power amp.  I have a Savant system that allows music playback in multiple rooms, controls video etc.  My Savant integrator suggested Roon. Since I am not currently into streaming, I can’t figure out if Roon is the right thing to do.  It seems like a great music server service with the ability to manage very high quality digital files, but the downstream handling of the files and conversion to analog (DAC) seems lacking.  It seems most people are using it for playback in less than audiophile situations, and compatible equipment is very limited.  Quality wise, am I better off with something like Bluenote and a high quality DAC like say, Denafrips?
kingofgix

Showing 3 responses by verdantaudio

Roon is compatible with some of the highest end gear in the world.  

There are a variety of approaches that you can take.  It sounds like you want a Roon Server on your network that will work and talk to your Savant system and the DBX Venu360.  These will range in price from about $500 (NUC) to $35K (Taiko).  This is also where you want the most processing power as this is the part of the chain that engages the extremely volatile internet.  

The second part is the Renderer/Player.  This will take the signal from the server and get it ready to be served to the DAC. This does not require a particularly large amount of processing power.  It just needs to be a quiet device.  

Third part is the DAC.  You clearly know what that does.  

You can keep all three parts separate or many devices incorporate two or possibly all three of these features in one box.  The best devices/systems I have heard usually embrace keeping things a bit separated.  It is very common for a great server to serve as server or renderer.  I have a Weiss DAC here that is "Roon Ready" and is a tremendous renderer.  

I would probably start by picking the DAC you really like.  Depending on the DAC you choose, it may (not in all cases) dictate the optimal server/renderer. 

For example, Rockna works best with Rockna servers.  The I2S connection breaks each element of the signal out and there is a perfect synch between the clocking on the server and DAC.  The Rockna Server with a Rockna DAC will outperform more expensive products because of this synergy. 

Same goes for Playback.  The Dream DAC and their Transport are best together and greater than the sum of the two parts. 

Alternatively, a line like Chord doesn't offer a server and matching with a great server like Antipodes is the best you can do.  

I in my system, I have a standalone server (Antipodes K40) and use the renderer in my Weiss for one system and a chord 2Go/2Yu combo into an Audiobyte DAC as a bridge for the other and both are brilliant.  

Start with the DAC.  Build from there.  
It is possible for a Roon Core (PC, Nucleus,  etc…) to serve as both server and renderer.    It is better to have different devices, a server and renderer, but the same device can serve as both.  
For example, you can run a USB cable from a Roon Nucleus directly into a DAC.  I literally have a USB running from my Nucleus+ into my Audiobyte HydraVox DAC at the moment.  
I can't speak about the quality of a Raspberry Pi.   There are a bunch of renderers on the market.  I am not familiar with iFi.  The only option I have heard under $1000 is the Bluesound Node.  Others will be able to offer much better advice than I can.  

In the $2K plus range I am familiar with some incredible options.  It is just the nature of what I have been exposed too.