Roon is snappy responsive now

Changes

• Introduced TIDAL MAX support
• Enhanced Roon to allow it to function without requiring a constant internet connection
• Resolved an issue where Roon volume unintentionally gets to 100%
• Various minor improvements

Glad to see support Tidal Max finally!

Remember to reboot your ROON Core server after these updates. ROON does not ask for this but after spending a week (a few years ago) debugging ROON issues I realized a reboot is the easiest way to improve your chances of a good update.

I downloaded the latest update but didn't see any change.  My audio system including my roon core is hard wired to the modem.  My computer/phone/tablet that I control it on are wireless. 

My internet service has been poor lately, probably associated witth the rainstorm that CA is ill prepared for.   But I have been astonished that the hard wired parts of the system have had very few interruptions.  

If your audio system isn't hard wired, I would do what it takes to get it off wireless.

Jerry

So far the annoying slowness in the user interface is no more. It’s very responsive and snappy now. Hope it stays this way.

I can’t say I’ve had that issue. It has crashed several times lately, but no big issue; just click the button and it starts up again.

probably associated witth the rainstorm that CA is ill prepared for.

In a few short months when the drought and fires start again that will long be forgotten. It boggles my mind- We put someone on the moon decades ago, but we haven’t found a way to collect and store water, then move it to other areas efficiently. Priorities I guess. I digress.

Just FYI,  I run Roon core on a Linux box and never had any of these issues.  Given how many streamers with Roon core built-in are Linux servers under the hood I would not be surprised if this was their most important OS.

@erik_squires I'm pretty sure I'm running a minimalist Linux too.  I ran ROCK on a NUC before I got the Grimm which has it built it (it also has a NUC inside).  But I don't know if Grimm runs ROCK or a version closer to the Roon Nucleus.  ROCK has been described as the operating system running on a minimalist Linux system.  I'm sure you understand this more than I.  Do you agree with that description of ROCK?

Jerry

@carlsbad2 

Yep, that's the Roon produced Linux distro.  I'm sure they offer something like that up for licensees as well.  Personally I run a normal Ubuntu desktop/server and it works just fine with the Roon debian packages.

Roon acknowledged slowness has been an issue in general and I see others on forums that confirm that can happen.

Obviously there are many different Roon configurations and library sizes so I would expect varied impacts. I have a fairly large library, use Qobuz, run Roon server on Windows, have many Roon endpoints and a few displays configured, run using strong Wifi connections, use DSP almost all the time, etc. I have had Roon for about a year. I compare Roon performance to Plex and Plexamp which I used mostly prior, and Logitech Squeeze which I used with great success for many years prior to that.. SLowness has been an issue all along and seemed to get worse with updates later in 2023. Sound quality has been good all along once a track starts playing.

So far it seems most likely the difference is due to the new Windows Roon server. Still have not tried all my endpoints since yesterday’s upgrade but so far so good and hoping it continues.

I run the core on a SonicTransport and its been really reliable. The iPad/iPhone app does appear to be a bit snappier now. I have my stored files hanging off the Bryston endpoint and jump back over there to play those. SQ on the Bryston might be a little more robust but only under extreme scrutiny.

Sometimes I think I will just give up ROON and run off the Bryston but every time I play around with the ROON interface I think, Naaaah.

I still get a chuckle out of how it keeps old Sonos ZP90s in the game after all these years. Got one in my garage and W4S moded one for casual/office listening on a AV installation.

I have a fairly large library, use Qobuz, run Roon server on Windows, have many Roon endpoints and a few displays configured, run using strong Wifi connections, use DSP almost all the time, etc. I have had Roon for about a year. I compare Roon performance to Plex and Plexamp which I used mostly prior, and Logitech Squeeze which I used with great success for many years prior to that.. 

Ah, I have read about people like you 😉 I do not have a large library, nor use any DSP. I assume you have read the release from the founder, but it is worth posting some of it, as it emphasizes audiophiles and enthusiasts and their requirements, highlighted below, which looks very promising going forward. Myself, I love Roon, but I have been using more and more squeeze on my Antipodes which on high quality recordings does sound better. Similarly reported by those who own Innuos which named their squeeze based version Sense. I am not sure if Aurender's conductor is based on squeeze as well. 

from Enno (Roon) yesterday: 

At Harman, we’ve been given a mandate to reconnect with our core audience. These are the curators who are passionate about shaping their music collections, the audiophiles who appreciate the nuances of high-performance audio equipment, and the genre experts who depend on Roon to expand their knowledge of music. These are the people who have multiple streaming services or who have extensive libraries of music files – the people who simply want the best platform for experiencing their music library. Within this community, Roon is still the only product that comprehensively caters to their diverse needs, and now, at Harman, we’re excited to refocus our efforts on serving them.

We’ve taken some steps in this direction. In 2022, we introduced an internet connectivity requirement to Roon. That decision was driven by strategic considerations, but we acknowledge that the change caused genuine dissatisfaction among our users, and we understand why. Today, we’re announcing a return to Roon’s pre-2.0 behavior. This means our users can once again enjoy their music collections without the need for continuous internet connectivity.

We’re also moving the product forward. Just a few weeks ago, we rolled out a significant update to ARC’s downloads functionality, and today, we’re excited to announce the release of support for TIDAL MAX, bringing a vast library of hi-res PCM content to every Roon user with a TIDAL HiFi Plus subscription.

Going forward, we aim to prioritize features that best serve our community. Roon occupies a vibrant niche, and our strategy at Harman no longer requires us to seek larger audiences. As a result, you can expect real changes in the types of features we focus on and deliver.

We’re paying attention to neglected aspects of the product – prioritizing performance and reliability – to ensure that Roon remains rock-solid. We’ll revisit long-requested features that we’ve avoided, like folder browsing and enhancing the way Roon handles box sets. Major improvements to our playlist functionality are in the pipeline (Hallelujah!). In the coming year, we’ll be focusing on features that center on your music library, rather than non-library streaming content.

"SQ on the Bryston might be a little more robust but only under extreme scrutiny."

Roon is very flexible in how its sound can be tweaked including applying user defined EQ and/or DSP. DSP is perhaps the feature now that I could least live without. I use the DSP for room correction and canned DSP convolution filters with headphones. These are game changers and big time $$$$$ savers used right or can also easily be a seeming deal breaker if done wrong, which can easily happen given all the options to consider,

@mclinnguy

Yes that is what I read yesterday prior to posting here.

No doubt Roon sounds different than Squeeze and Plex I have also used extensively prior. Each of these software products implement a streaming engine differently. Roon’s is by far the most transparent and flexible and target’s hifi enthusiasts that expect good sound. By transparent I mean that that you can click on an icon and see detailed info on every processing step between source and streamer, like resolution, bit depth, resampling, etc. I have a technical background in digital signal processing and am a hifi nut (of course) so I greatly appreciate being shown exactly what is being done to the digital stream each step along the way for sure.

And each manufacturer that is a Roon partner has a different version of Roon internally, many are assuming. I'm a lifetime subscriber and have been with Roon for 7, maybe 8 years and have seen plenty of changes in that time. For sure it is the best interface and I have found many wonderful songs/albums/artists I would never have known about. Reminds me- years ago there was this student's masters' thesis was developing Pandora - the "comparable style" music explorer. Sounded really cool, but as I am in Canada I couldn't ever try it. Anyway, without Roon/Tidal and now Qobuz, I would have spent thousands of dollars more on CD's. In that time I have never tried any other streaming software (on my hifi setup) up until squeeze a few weeks ago, as it is a focussed app for my new server/streamer, and much development is dedicated to getting it to the best sound quality on this manufacturer's player, like Aurender does for its players. Needless to say, but I am a big Roon fan, but going forward I can see myself using Roon/squeeze 50/50. 

Just FYI,  I run Roon core on a Linux box and never had any of these issues.  Given how many streamers with Roon core built-in are Linux servers under the hood I would not be surprised if this was their most important OS.

I put Ubuntu server on an old spare Mac mini, and then installed Roon; it runs Roon solid as a rock. Agree 100% with @erik_squires that this is probably the OS they devote the most time and attention to. Much more solid than either Windows or Mac OS...

1 x a week you should shut down your router for a minute ,No power 

then let it reboot it clears the cache and operates more fluid 

also you want better sound and faster buy a new router- modem combo 

I bought the Motorola 8702 Thst has docsis 3.1 modtolder ones still use 3.0 

the is much faster bigger processor andbuffer ,wifi too much better for tv  I useRoku. For music to stream better clearer music as I did ,most routers are 12v 

using a garbage $10wallwart   Buy a decent  LPS power supply ,it tells onthe wall wart or unit howmany volts ,they take roughly 4 amp. I bought the gemstone under $1200 for $700 ,have tested many Linial tube Audio, handles up to 8 amps great build quality and comes witha excellent Dc cable to router most others charge $150for , buying onAudiogon save $50 -$700+$30 shipping great build quality 

and streaming is much better sounding. I also but a decent Ethernet hub $600

that has a LPS ,low noise regulators and a ocxo over controlled clock ,very good value , and buy quality Ethernet cables ,the most critical going into the streamer .

everything counts to get good sound.

I’ve ran Roon, audirvana, and pure music on Mac’s for over 15 years. I’ve also had 3rd party servers like the Auralic Aries for a couple years. I’ve also tested Roon on an enterprise Linux server. My current setup is using an m1 Mac mini with a very large library and Qobuz with no issues and it’s fast. The only other setup I would run Roon on is a Linux based server probably on a 2012/2014 Mac mini or a server using a ryzen arm processor. The best technology in todays servers is the arm chip, which is an apple m1/m2/m3 or ryzen.

Roon is very flexible in how its sound can be tweaked including applying user defined EQ and/or DSP. DSP is perhaps the feature now that I could least live without. I use the DSP for room correction and canned DSP convolution filters with headphones. These are game changers and big time $$$$$ savers used right or can also easily be a seeming deal breaker if done wrong, which can easily happen given all the options to consider,

I plan to dive right into that as soon as my basic room treatment is sorted. 

Agreed, something has changed for the better.  Previously, I'd be browsing an album and when I returned to my Artists list the top row of Artist icons were blank causing me to restart my Roon Remote every single time.  That's now stopped happening.  It was a minor bug, but it was getting pretty annoying.

My experience is the exact opposite. Each time my phone locks, the roon remote app on my iphone loses connection with roon sever running on a macbook pro. When I reopen the remote app I have to restart it to resume playback control. I'm not sure what's going on but the issue may be isolated to iOS. Roon seems to work fine when I use my second macbook pro as the remote. Minor nuisance and not worth brain damage to open a ticket. 

Just filled out a survey today, they care, we'll see what changes are brought forth:

Yes I filled out the survey and emphasized improving performance and reliability and making ARC better and more reliable.  Sonic analysis like with Plex would be a nice enhancement. 

I did a couple of things myself recently that also helped Roon performance.

1) disabled some audio devices detected that I didn’t need

2). Ran a clean on my library which cleaned out several thousand legacy items.

Buying a new router won’t improve sound quality unless you are getting dropouts from a weak connection…