Streamer apps critical
I don't understand why high end manufacturers release streamers with terrible apps. One of the strongest advantages of the Nodes is the BluOS app. It's simple and effective, though not full-featured. I understand the Innuos app is great. Not all of us like much less want to pay the cost of ROON and the online apps, like USB audio Player are clunky. I would love to see a paid-for version of BluOS or other manufacturers license a common but customized app, much as early versions of Windows were available from Dell, Gateway, Compaq and so many others.
Not surprising, +1 what @ghdprentice stated. Roon and the other music player app firms likely expend far more resources on software development vs the streamer manufacturers with their native apps.
As for sound quality, Roon and other independents have to work with virtually all streamers, variability in sound quality is a result. Generally speaking Roon and the others with sophisticated interfaces will require more processor resources so low latency important for best sound quality. |
Audirvana is another very nice app, I used it for years, thought sound quality just a bit more analog in direct comparison to Roon at the time.
I've also used my Euphony OS Stylus app with present setup, sound quality about on par with Roon. I also have option of Stylus and Roon with embedded HQPlayer.
Having direct experience with all these apps in both single streamer or bridged modes (Roon core on server, Endpoint on streamer) I most prefer Roon sans HQPlayer in bridged mode.
I will posit music player app sound quality very closely allied to the equipment its being used with. These native music player apps have the advantage of being designed in league or specifically for that single streamer. Roon, HQPlayer, Audirvana, J River, etc designed to work with all streamers so completely logical that sound quality all over the place. I know most of these generalist apps require powerful processors, much RAM, great network to work their best, people have issues because their setup hasn't been optimized for these apps. I've paid great attention to every single link in my streaming chain in order to extract max potential from Roon, high end vinyl like presentation is the result. IMO there are many paths to reach the summit, no single music player app is the undisputed champion of the world. |
