Best Server To Run Roon Core

Here's what I have and it has been running great for many months with zero issues:

Roon Optimized Core Kit (Rock) running on Intel Nuc NUC8I7BEH (Intel Core i7-8559U 2.7GHz). I have 16GB of memory, 256GB SSD for the OS and a separate 1 TB SSD for Storage of the music files. I also added a second external 1TB SSD connected via USB for additional music storage.

I wanted zero noise - no fans. So I took the Intel Nuc board out of the Intel case and installed it in an Akasa Plato X8 fanless PC case. You can buy these on Amazon. This black case looks great, and more importantly it keep everything running cool despite my fairly complex Roon DSP settings or when I play DSD music for hours. When I touch the case, it's barely warm, not hot. And I leave my Roon Rock on all the time, it is never turned-off.

My music files are Flac, DSD/DSF, and some Apple lossless. 

I have used this Roon server with USB connected direct to an integrated Amplifier (Lyngdorf TDAI-2170), as well as through Ethernet to a Naim Uniti Nova. I also used it connecting to a DAC that was connected with Raspberry Pi running RoPieee connected to my Oppo DAC, which worked great also.

Hope this helps, but message me if you have any specific questions.

I found no need for extra computing power when I first installed Roon.  I just put it here on my desktop iMac (old, 2009, 24", 4GB RAM).  It isn't the fastest in the world, but acceptable for and old retired audio nut going on two years in the basement.  I too am looking for a Core, but the sound is very good.  My first move will be to hook the iMac to the rest of my audio system with Ethernet.

Hello all that have commented on my question. I definitely appreciate the suggestion. My thing is at the end of the day, I don’t want to re-event the wheel and start the whole process all over from the beginning.ive already been down that rabbit hole and don’t want to experience that again. Those who have truly dived into the whole streaming process understand where I’m coming from. I’ve owned some of the best and expensive streamers and DAC/ Streamers out there  As far as DAC and Streamers are concerned, I finally found a unit that does Hi Res, TIDAL with MQA and Qobuz well without any hiccups. Having experience with computers, at some point they will require upgrades and act funny. And then comes the disaster, dropping your music while you’re listening. True DAC/ Streamers offer better security of less disconnect. The Cary Audio DMS600 uses the flagship VERITA Series AKM4497EQ VELVET SOUND architecture premium 32-bit DAC. The only reason why I haven’t switched to the DMS700 based on the other thread is because most have switched from the DMS500 or DMS550 but haven’t heard anything about the benefits of folks switching from the DMS600 to the DMS700 and see an improvement in sound quality. The DMS600 is by far superior to the 500 or 550. The 600 was there Reference piece last year and did extremely well against other top of the line streamers. I just want to see if there are any other add-ons that can help even if an individual that has owned a top of the line Lumin and added an additional item to improve the SQ. Don’t get me wrong, the Cary withe the Roon Nucleus sounds incredible. It’s like a high performance vehicle or your home, you always want to improve something, lol.

Thanks

@decathlon1991,

If you would like to further improve the SQ of Cary, try ENO Ethernet Filter Ag between your Cary and the router. It’s based on a same principle as EtherREGEN but works passively. You can read about it on this thread.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/streaming-sound-quality-want-the-very-best-sound-quality-netw...