Roon/Bluesound Node - adding new DAC (non Roon-Ready)
Hi guys,
I'm currently at the start of the 14 day trial of Roon; Roon is running on my PC in a wired network, using my Node as endpoint, with the remote app on my android tablet.
All good at the moment, I'm enjoying using it, but in the next couple of days I'll be taking delivery of a new DAC; it isnt a mainstream DAC, it's a built to order unit from a tiny, 2 man company here in the UK. I don't think they even ship their units outside of the UK, so I doubt they Roon-Ready.
I will be slotting in the new DAC via SPDIF/Coax to my Node; my question is, how will the new DAC fit in to the processing stream if not recognised by Roon?
I'm obviously new to Roon so please forgive my ignorance. I've tried looking online, but I'm still not clear how the system will work after adding the new DAC, or if it will work at all?
For reference, the DAC is from a company called NJC Audio, and is the NJC Reference DAC. It has no software/drivers, and is plug and play.
Thanks for reading
If @painter24 is connecting his new DAC to the Node, and the Node (not the DAC) is connected to the Roon Core by networking, it is irrelevant whether the DAC itself is Roon-Ready. Roon-Ready applies to devices that Roon will control directly. In this case, it's the Node, not the DAC. The only thing necessary is that the DAC not have any quirks that make it incompatible with the Node. That is unlikely, but one could ask the maker or try it to be sure.
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@mike_in_nc thanks for this, that makes sense. I should have mentioned, I'm streaming from Qobuz and Tidal; no stored files at the moment. I'm still confused as to which link in the chain is doing what? Is the DAC in the Node doing the DA conversion, or is my PC/Roon doing the conversion, and the Node acting purely as the analogue out? |
I have a similar set up. My Mac mini is the Roon device and my Bluesound node 2i is the Roon End point. Both need to be on the same internet network. Roon just controls and manages the music on Tidal and Qobuz. In other words I select the music and service via the Roon interface on my Mac mini or IPhone or IPad via the Roon app. Again all devices must be on the same network. Frankly, it is all very confusing at first and not at all intuitive. They need some serious help in that regard. But then again, audiophiles put up with a lot of bad user interfaces.
Your other question is straightforward, because Roon has nothing to do with the DAC. If you run a digital interconnect to your DAC from the Node, the DAC is doing the conversion. This is how you need to set it up. Otherwise you are not using the DAC at all. You will get there.
In my system, the Bluesound is going into an NAD preamp via digital interconnect. The NAD’s DAC decodes MQA on Tidal. I like MQA but that is a whole other discussion.
Enjoy! |
@scottscottsdale thanks very much; I think I'm getting there 😁👍 Everything in the chain is on the same wired network, so all good I don't have my external DAC yet, (waiting for DHL) so still using the Node's internal DAC, but from what you describe, the Node is performing the actual D/A conversion. I think I'm getting confused by the DSP options within Roon |
