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Please help with Roon server/core issue

Hi AGers, 

So long story short: I only stream music (do not own any). I have Tidal and Qobuz streaming through Roon. And that is my problem. I started out using a M1 Mac Mini to stream but I often lost connection to Roon. So I bought a Small Green Computer i5 Sonictransporter and LPS. SQ improved but not the Roon problem. 

We have fiber optic to the house, a fully wired network and I have Silent Angel N8 switch feeding the SGC Roon server and my Lumin T2. No wifi anywhere. 

Finally after a couple of years, the problems increased to the point that 192/24 files crackle and pop. So I wrote to the Roon Community Forum under the Support section.

The Roon support person wrote back that:

*****We’ve activated diagnostics for your account and RoonServer and here’s what we can confirm:

  1. Track downloads from Tidal and Qobuz’s servers are timing out with 24/192 FLAC files, and the prebuffer is barely ahead of playback. At times, it’s dropping out.
  2. There are sample dropouts reported with by RoonServer on T2 Zone. These at times accumulate sufficiently to cause unnatural interruptions on the stream.
  3. RoonServer constantly loses connection to upstream internet services due to network reachability changes in logs.

Your RoonServer’s intranet and internet connection appear to be struggling. How are you connecting your RoonServer machine to the internet?*****

Peter Lie from Lumin kindly wrote back and suggested I try changing my DNS to 8.8.8.8 - which I did. That did help a lot with SQ and speed but did not fully resolve the crackle and pop issue with 192/24 files. 

I would welcome any suggestions. 

Thanks, Nadine

128x128atanarjuat99
fastfreight
677 posts
 

Yes +1 Erik. Run speed test many times in same location.

that being said I had issues with an Aries G2 dropping roon and then being a b**** to restart.   Many Roon support queries always ended in ‘a network issue’. I replaced the Aries with a Grimm MU1 and it has never dropped Roon.

I am not saying that one streamer is bad, but perhaps some streamers just don’t like some networks :)

erik_squires
15,714 posts
 

OP:

Also be aware that Ethernet cables do get misinstalled, and the ports on the routers do go bad individually sometimes.  Don't assume it must be a good port or switch.  If you have a port going to a PC which is known good you might want to swap it with the one going to your Roon as a test.

fastfreight
677 posts
 

Yes.  And beware of wall plates, which use very cheap couplers.

I run my cables through the wall at both ends, and use JCAT Ethernet couplers where required.

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,854 posts
 

Who is your internet service provider and what data plan?

I use Verizon for internet with standard Verizon router and run Roon full throttle with DSP strictly over strong WiFi connections. This works great even with highest res files from Qobuz. So running Roon well should not be as hard and complicated as audiophiles tend to like to make things.
 

Start simple with WiFi, mesh or repeaters perhaps if needed (I use 1 repeater in a 3000 sq foot + home) and verify internet service is up to snuff for Roon. Run Roon on any computer that has enough memory and cpu and it should be fine. On commercial PCS avoid running internet browsers and other services unless needed in that these are often resource hogs and could starve Roon from cpu or memory resources needed. If you run Roon core on a PC or similar device use the system monitor to make sure cpu and memory on the device are not maxing out at 100%. If so either shut down other unneeded services and apps or move to a beefier device with more cpu and memory. I observe Roon to be more cpu than memory intensive. A device dedicated to Roon core is best but not required.
 

Also recent Roon releases include important performance and reliability enhancements so make sure you are running the latest and greatest on all Roon nodes. For Roon Arc access via external internet, Make sure TCP forwarding is enabled on the router for the port used by Roon Arc

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,243 posts
 

Nadine…I suspect your router. Have you talked to your ISP to have the router replaced? 
 

The other solution I can propose is mesh network. The gateway unit will broadcast to roon core either via Ethernet cable from gateway unit or Ethernet cable from a node unit depending on the location of roon core and a node unit that is close to your system can feed Lumin via Ethernet cable.

I’ve been using EERO for years with Roon and no issues whatsoever. 

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