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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
tatyana69
269 posts
 
I tried Roon for  few years. It does NOT provide quality of SOUND that is touted around here and I hate the file management. There you go. I use a DCS stack and the Roon "processes" are not useful at all at this level
rifraf4u
31 posts
 
the comments on here are mostly very misguided. 
1) Roon has zero impact on sound quality. That is up to the resolution of your source files or service and the quality of your dac.

end of discussion.

also, anyone out there saying The cost of their Ethernet cable has any correlation with sound quality has no idea what they are talking about.
thinman2
37 posts
 
kingofgix.  Been dedicated audiophile since 1974. And similarly dedicated to vinyl. SME TT, tone arm and cartridge that cost as much as a Hyundai, Pass Labs pre amp and amp. Sound quality streaming equals vinyl...a little different, but pleasing. Get  a Nucleus, Farrad power supply, Bricasti M3, Quobuz and Tidal accounts, hook up to your current gear with the best cables you can afford and prepare to be happy. Only listen to vinyl now when grandchildren point to TT and say "what's that grandpappy?"
john1
108 posts
 
This will really open your eyes on how to maximize sound quality from Roon. This dealer is not alone in providing verified upgrades commonly available, but their video spells it out nicely >
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaDN7lw6sMU
aschuh's avatar
aschuh
42 posts
 
@rifraf4u 
re ROON and sound quality, in my experience ROON enables perfect implementation of signal transmission via WiFi. I run the ROON core on a (dedicated) MacBook and distribute via WiFi (LinkSys mesh) to two OPPO 205s. Works perfectly, in case of doubt better than USB (to the OPPOs), but this is a marginal ‘better’.

re Ethernet cables, I agree as far as bit for but transmission is concerned. But these cables can carry power, act as antennas, and the more you go up the ladder (CAT 5 -> 8) deal with switching frequencies. There is potential for contamination. WiFi connection minimizes that.

Finally, much to my surprise, inserting a powered Netgear switch between my router and distribution box (house is CAT 5 wired) resulted in clearly better image quality on SONY 4K screens around the house. I can’t say I have now better sound, but this is an indication that there is Ethernet related contamination which can make it through…

All the best!


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