Best Server To Run Roon Core
I have a question. I’m using the Cary Audio DMS600 Streamer/DAC with a Roon Nucleus and a Audioquest Vodka Ethernet Cable. Is there any additional devices that will improve the sound even more like an OpticalRendu, UltraRendu or an EtherREGEN? Any other option available? I am thinking about the Cary Audio DMS700. Thanks |
Get a roon endpoint. Raspberry pi is your starting point but with a small upgrade to include a well designed HAT (hardware attached on top) you are one step from unbelievable sound at a great price. For me, the PI2AES was the way to go and beat my mac mini hands down. https://www.pi2design.com/pi2aes.html The PI2AES (the so-called pi-HAT) is the roon endpoint. You can't install roon directly on a raspberry so instead you install an operating system that functions as an endpoint. I used RoPIeee|XL which is pretty straightforward if you know anything about unix: https://codexwilkes.com/downloads/ropieee-guide-for-beginners.pdf The difference between this and running on my mac mini was like night and day. I would say this was the biggest bang for the buck I have yet experienced on my system. I run this into an ADI-2-DAC FS and it sounds amazing. Here's a great article that does a showdown using the PI2AES: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/streamer-ddc-showdown-pi2aes-vs-sotm-sms200-ultra-neo.939706/ |
One major point i want to emphasize. Everyone focuses on the DAC but most DAC's are pretty darn good. The weakest link is often the music server. I have a several thousand dollar mac mini I thought was just fine but it was destroyed hands down by the pi-HAT described above. So the music server is very important. The music server does NOT have to be expensive. I would be interested to see if others have observed the same as I did. |
@decathlon -- I have a question. I’m using the Cary Audio DMS600 Streamer/DAC with a Roon Nucleus and a Audioquest Vodka Ethernet Cable. Is there any additional devices that will improve the sound even more like an OpticalRendu, UltraRendu or an EtherREGEN? Any other option available? I am thinking about the Cary Audio DMS700.The Cary DMSs have a nice network bridge (renderer / endpoint) built in. If you want to improve something, then upgrade to the DMS-700. There is thread in here about a few people upgrading to the 700 and being very happy. Later on, if so inclined, you can try an EtherREGEN or some other type of Ethernet switch or filter. |
