2. pc-audio
  3. 162500-153106

Why do I "need" Audirvana, Roon or the like versus just Tidal App?

Hi, I stream Tidal MQA and their hifi via my Macbook Pro. I use the Tidal app on the MBpro which unpacks MQA, contains my playlists etc. In the future, I may also stream ripped cds on very rare occasion from a connected hard drive, as well as any hi res audio files I may purchase. However, 99.9% is an is likely to continue to be Tidal streaming. Maybe, just maybe adding Quboz or Amazon in the future...


I feed this from my MAC via USB out to my integrated amp and DAC (Peachtree Nova 300). I have no plans to have a separate server etc in the short term, …but may do so in the future.


I cannot understand what, if anything, Audirvana (or Roon and the like) would bring to.the table in my scenario. Perhaps better MQA unpacking? Slicker interface? Better sound quality?

I would greatly appreciate you all's thoughts on this! Thank you very much.


bogbeat
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,635 posts
 
You don’t. Unless you have a driver.
Stand alone streamer sounds better than audiovarna on a computer. Use the computer to discover music.
Refraining from streaming does nothing for musicians. Hit the tip jar - good karma.
The record companies screwed them back in the day.  Nothing has changed.
bogbeat OP
47 posts
 
Thanks fuzztone.  What do you mean by "driver?"
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,841 posts
 
As a dieta gard roon user 

Roon can offer upconversion of tidals 16 44  to highres pcm or dsd and many dacs sound better this way
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,608 posts
 
“Why do I "need" Audirvana, Roon or the like versus just Tidal App?”

You don’t....IMO, Roon is overrated. If you’re going to keep the MACBook, Tidal or Qobuz apps are more than adequate to perform all the necessary basic functions. And more importantly they don’t mess with incoming bit-stream like Roon or Audirvana. Roon or Audirvana were developed to overcome the inherent flaws of streaming audio from all purpose computers, like your MACBook.

If you want better streaming experience, look into dedicated ‘audio’ streamers whenever you’re ready.
gryphongryph
392 posts
 
I don’t understand why so many people dislike Roon, if one loves music, Roon is fantastic to discover musicians, you will notice I say musicians and not music, music we can discover other ways easily, but hearing a tune in Roon and maybe liking the drummer, one can just click on the drummers name and find all the other music he has been involved with, I think that is a great feature.
Also the Roon interface is for me great, the product is not perfect, but for me it is very close and is being improved all the time.
I like it.
More to discover