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
gryphongryph
352 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.
tuberist's avatar
tuberist
951 posts
 
Gryphon +1......I think some who dislike Roon resent having to pay for the service although it costs next to nothing
sandstone
358 posts
 
Hi Bogbeat,
There are two good reasons why you will want to consider streaming Tidal via Audirvana:
a) Tidal as of now does not provide a mobile app to allow remote control of your MPro-installed instance of Tidal.  Audirvana does, and its interface for Tidal is different but very useable. 
b) Unless your DAC is unpacking MQA downstream, you are reliant upon a software unpack on your MPro.  Audirvana not only unpacks MQA MUCH better, but also plays your resident albums exceptionally well. I am running from a PC, but the difference here is mind-bending.  All for a free trial, and then purchase price is less than $100.
I cannot speak to Roon, etc., but chose this route from the intercomparison reviews out there.

For the record, I'm running Laptop PC -> Audirvana-> Tidal -> Ayre QB-9 Twenty ->Ayre AX-5 -> Paradigm Persona 3F's.
Good luck.

sandstone
358 posts
 
* Forgot to add, I use Audirvana mobile app on iPad tablet to control everything remotely.  - Sandstone
bogbeat OP
33 posts
 
Thanks everyone.  Hi Sandstone!  FYI, I am currently evaluating Audirvana with their trial.  I haven't gotten around to trying the mobile app yet, but sounds like you have it rocking!

Re b): no, the DAC is not unpacking downstream, so to your point, it needs to happen in the Macbook Pro.  I was wondering what did this better, the Tidal app or Audirvana.  Thanks for sorting that out for me.
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