Tidal app vs Roon. Wich one sounds better?

i would always run roon i am  gladlypay 10 a month for roon which is their monthly fee and Iam happy to do so for the browsing experience

did you use roons dsp feature or native?

@audiotroy , I don’t consider the Innuous Zenith to be computer.. The question was running an app on a computer. when I refer to computer audio I am referring to people building a pc/mac with crappy power supplies. I have heard the Innuous Zenith in my house and it really is one of the most analog sounding streamers. That being said the squeezebox interface from 15 years ago SUCKS!! I would have to have it controlled by Roon. The Auralic Aeries lighting app interface is awesome. The reason I didn’t buy Innuous is because I would also have to buy $500 Roon license in addition.  Also, I want to try out the lastest Innuous version once my system configuration settles down.

AudioTroy speaks the truth. If you just install and play music through Roon without using the DSP functions, you are not getting the power from Roon to upsample.

Also, Roon’s DSP defaults, specially the sample rate conversion filter, should be altered based on your DAC. I noticed a clear difference using the smooth min phase conversion filter vs the default, as well as when I chose the DSD upsample option. I use Audeze LCD3 too and Roon has a DSP setting from Audeze that is integrated and works well. I did not play with the built in EQ or room or speaker correction but some have liked it.

Roon discovery features alone make it compelling. Add the DSP settings and it made my Lumin D2 sing. I compared with native Tidal app, and also when testing out a Bel Canto streamer and DAC, and always preferred Roon.

Here’s an easy example where a PC comes ahead of the G1:

PC - Roon - convert to DSD 512 - T+A DAC 8 DSD single bit converter

That would easily beat a G1 sending PCM into the chip based converter on the T+A DAC 

The best DAC designs I’ve heard have been LESS sensitive to the source than more sensitive, as they take great care of keeping noise out of the system.

Three Easy Payments, how were you using Roon with a Vega G1?

Were you using a Laptop directly into the Vega via usb,? Or a Laptop or desktop into the Vega over ethernet? Were you using the DSP function?

For a Vega user Roon, if you are using the DSP function, might sound better there is a difference how and what device you use as a Roon server to your Roon endpoint.

Cytocycle thee are are many people who own the Innuous Zenith who will disagree with your statement, any and all servers including your Auralic are exactly the same as a "computer" they all have cpu to do processing, something to hold the running program, ie Ram, and have a sound card, the difference is the quality of the device in tems of build quality and engineeering, a dedicated audio server is usually built with the sold purpose of isolating and sending a clean data signal.

An Innuous Zen or Zenith does a fantastic job so does the Auralic device, a fairer comparison would be to use the Auralic as a dac with a Zen or Zenith server running Roon core and then seeing if that made a difference. However for someone who owns a good streaming dac you don’t really need to run Roon if you just like to stream Tidal or Qbouz th overall experience using Roon is far superior to the native Auralic App,

We doubt that you got really deep enough to really try out Roon it has extensive features, if all you did was to quickly run through Tidal and did not try the DSP feature, Roon Radio, Focus on and a lot of the meatier functions of Roon we don’t think you got a valid taste of the program, but like we said earlier the Vega is a good device that goes its own way, the same can be said of the excellent Lumin devices or the Naim streamers.

We use a Zen or Zenith even with thoese devices and the sound quality still improves, we are not running a standard computer or laptop with these devices.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

The Auralic Vega G1 will always sound better than any computer based audio output.

Hello guys,
I've just found out that Audinirvana since this year has a Windows 10 version and they are working right now to make it compatible with Dirac Audio Processor.
As I understand that Audinirvana should sound better than Roon, I will wait until they have their soft modified and I will try it.
I will post my impressions after trying it.

@audiotroy 

I tried the free trial over the weekend and I've already cancelled.  I could hear no overall improvement in sound (it didn't sound worse)  But I didn't feel like for my use and interests I was getting much value from the Roon platform and perhaps it was adding layers of signal disruption (I'm not knowledgeable enough to really have an opinion on that but simpler seems cleaner to me).  In many ways I preferred the simplicity of Auralic's free Lightning DS app for my Vega G1.  I like that there is no core, computer, and wireless transmissions in the way between stream and my DAC.  I use a Wireworld CAT8 ethernet plugged directly into the Vega and I like that the iOS-based app lets you see the streaming rate in real time.  Roon doesn't show this, only the tortuous path that the signal is being routed through and the ideal quality rate.  It's kind of cool being able to drill into bios and concert dates but this is all free info you can find on your own and I just don't need it in a paid platform.  It was worth a try and perhaps I will try again at a later date and if my interests change.

 

The issue is the upconversion and transcodding to DSD you can't do that with the Tidal app, most dac's will sound better with an upsampled file. 

You can clearly hear more sense of space and air with the up sampled file and considering you can get a free trial of Roon what do you have to lose.


Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

@audiotroy 

You can upconvert a digital stream to a higher quality up sampled one which often sounds way better depending on the dac.

Can you give us some examples of DACs you've used where Roon sounds way better than the Tidal app?  That alone would be enough for me start a free trial.  I'm curious if others here can also attest to this improvement.

Tidal' app is lame compared to the Roon experience.

Also Roon does so much more:

1: You can stream and control music throughout your house Roon talks to Googlechromcast devices and Airplay.

2: You can upconvert a digital stream to a higher quality up sampled one which often sounds way better depending on the dac.

3: Roon can also catalog and access storred music and integrate that into one seemless streaming experience.

You can use a free Roon trial as well.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ