Roon Nucleus as a Streamer

I found the Nucleus+ to be a step up from the dedicated tower I had running Roon sending a signal via USB.  That said, I found the Nucleus got better when it ran as a server only.  

I think that is the important point here.  It is not bad as a server and player, it is better as a server alone.  This is the case even with much more expensive devices. 

The reason is that roon servers work best when very high powered as they are dealing with Roon DSPs and a very volatile internet along with other accessing flies etc....  Players, are best when mid-powered.  Excess processing power tends to introduce noise in this stage.  

I decided against the Nucleus, because it’s not easy getting human support. I got a Small Green Computer Sonictransporter Roon server instead, and it’s been excellent (and Andrew has offered excellent tech support when needed). I paired mine with a MicroRendu streamer into my DAC. Not sure they sell the Micro, and maybe only the UltraRendu now.

SGC Roon server

SGC Sonictransporter Server + Rendu and power supply

Looks like the MicroRendu is discontinued
Sonore

 I have a Roon Nucleus and have utilized it as a server/streamer. In my opinion, it was decent, very enjoyable, but not great.  Together with an Sbooster LPS in place of the stock power supply and a decent USB cable (in my case Curious), I thought it was somewhat better (say a smidge better) than a Node 2i hooked up via coax to the same Chord Qutest DAC.  Then in March of this year put a Bricasti M5 in play as my network player and Roon enpoint via Coax to the Qutest, and this took things to a whole other level. 

I agree with lalitk. There is no need to purchase a separate server if you already own a Windows or Apple computer. I used a ten year old MacAir, on which I installed Roon Core. The resulting digital signal can be conveyed to a Roon-ready DAC (in this case PS Audio) via WIFI or USB. The sound is great, and is indistinguishable from that produced by a Roon nucleus, or any other server that has a CPU powerful enough to run Roon software.

Roon themselves recommend keeping the Roon core away from the Hi-Fi and not connecting it directly to the DAC. I am not sure why they would recommend this unless they had done trials to determine it as the optimum method. I would therefore accept their recommendation as being correct.