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Question on Streamer/Dac and Roon

I'm fairly new to digital and am building a system that's both MQA capable and Roon ready. I currently use a 2014 Mac Mini as roon server + streamer connected by USB to the Mytek Brooklyn Dac+, which then feeds balanced into a Mac pre and amp. I keep reading the mac mini is noisy as a streamer and hence the post. If I were to re-engineer a bit there are a couple of choices I can make, assuming my original goals of MQA and Roon remain. 

Should I:
1. Get a Lumin U1 mini, which can act as a Roon endpoint, and feed into the Mytek DAC (ESS 9028)
2. Combine the streamer and Dac functionality into the Lumin T2. I'm not sure if this is indeed a step up since the T2 also has the same ESS 9028 chipset as the Mytek. 
3. Keep the current setup and be done. 

I use the mac mini as the roon server, and that comes to my last question. If I get either of the Lumins, they would be the roon endpoint. I will still need the mac mini or a NUC to act as the roon server. I'm not able to comprehend the point of a streamer other than acting as an endpoint for Roon, sort of like a catcher to what Roon throws at it. If Roon is going to be the front end, does the Lumin really provide me with a benefit? I like the Roon software and being a lifetime member unlikely to switch over to the Lumin app. And I do not have Lumin dealers nearby to audition them. 

And some footnotes. I dont want to spend too much, the Lumin U1 mini or T2 is the max I would like to go, if I can justify their point of existence within my system. Also, not a Nucleus fan if a NUC can do the job for cheaper, and so can the mac mini. 

What would you do and why?

128x128rajivhifi
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
In a roon system the server handles any local music and communication with your streaming service and the player/renderer processes your tracks, and applies DSPs.  

I had a dedicated PC just to running Roon and when I moved from it to a Nucleus+, I was SHOCKED at the difference it made.  Everything became quieter and more dynamic.  

Now, the Nucleus or Nucleus+ are very nice and will connect to your DAC and serve as Server and Player.  I would be surprised if you don't find this to be an improvement over your Mac Mini.  The difference between the two is driven by two factors, library size and whether you intend to apply a DSP to DSD vs PCM or no DSP at all.  

If your library is greater than 120K tracks or you want to use a DSP on DSD, you need the Nucleus+.  Otherwise and Nucleus will be fine.  This is a lovely unit but has limited upgradability.   

Another alternative would be to look at something like an Antipodes S30.  It can server as a player and server but has a nice upgrade path where you can add a second one or an S40 as a separate server and player, it has a separate power supply available and even an external clock available if you ever need one.  
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Take a lot of what you read about "noise" in digital with a grain of salt. Do you have a problem now with noise in your system? If not don't sweat it the Mytek is more than capable of dealing with USB. If the fan is audible from the mini then move it to another room and connect it by ethernet and use a roon endpoint like a raspberry pi4 running Ropiee connected to the Mytek or any other endpoint that's roon ready. If having one box is more to your liking there are a number of streamer-dac solutions. 
rajivhifi's avatar
rajivhifi OP
57 posts
 
When I mentioned "noise" I meant the digital one that others speak of, I personally have not heard the fan of my mac mini come on for the files that I have on it, around 10K. And no DSPs as well. 

My objective is to understand if I'm missing out on the sound quality due to the setup I have now, while at the same time not invest a boat load to attain nirvana. If the mac mini is the compromising factor then for around 3-4K move up to the next level. Thanks for the feedback so far. 


mikem
260 posts
 
I would Stay with your current Mac mini..  Don’t under estimate how good a music server it is. try to split up ports by using thunderbolt and USB. Have you tried an LPS for the PS ? I’m not advocating that as I have not tried it myself on the Mac.. but I am using a SMPS in my other music setup with no negative affects, that was compared to a LPS of the same rating. many swear by the LPS effects on the mini. I use a MBP and a MBA bettering all the various CD players and transport/dac’s I’ve tried, but I did enjoy the Cary 306 SACD player and used it as a DAC for many years, just never trouble free.

rajivhifi's avatar
rajivhifi OP
57 posts
 
Thanks all for your inputs. Anybody has experience comparing the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ vs the DAC in the T2? 
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