Roon/Bluesound Node - adding new DAC (non Roon-Ready)

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

I agree.  Roon is very very confusing.  To be honest, while it is cool to discover different "versions" of albums or songs, I am not really taken by Roon.  I find the BluOS operating system to be much better.  I tend to just use that most of the time.

 

I suspect you will see a huge difference when your new DAC arrives.  Like a kid at Christmas!

 

Have a wonderful journey!

Painter24 - the following article explains what Roon Certification involves. If you stay with the application you are currently using the processes described in the article will be performed by your Roon Core computer in conjunction with the Node as an endpoint.

https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/roon-ready#Overview

There is a possibility that your DAC will work directly with your computer without the streamer involved at all. You could check with the manufacturer if they have tried it.

 

 

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? 

Your PC/Roon Core does not do DA conversion.  It sends a digital signal out over your home network (which cannot handle analog signals). The Node has its own DAC chip; it can output either digital or analog signals to downstream devices. Presumably, you want your new DAC to do the DA conversion.  So, you want  the Node to feed the DAC with a digital signal via S/PDIF (toslink/optical) or via USB (if your Node is the latest version and your DAC has a USB-B input). Your new DAC converts that digital signal to analog, then passes the output downstream (to your preamp or integrated amp).  You also can connect the Node directly to a preamp or integrated amp (or powered speakers) via an analog RCA cable connection. 

The DSP options within Roon Core have nothing directly to do with D to A conversion.  They perform functions such as upsampling or parametric equalization. The output is still a digital signal (unless the Roon Core happens to be running on some device that has its own DAC and analog output).