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Senore ultraRendu or Oppo 205 as Roon endpoint

I intended to connect a Senore ultraRendu via USB to an Oppo 205 for Roon. But after reading the manual it appears as though I can connect Ethernet directly to the Oppo to play the files. That would eliminate some clutter, but would I take a sonic hit? If the ultraRendu is preferred, should I use the USB B port or one of the USB 3.0 ports? I previously used USB from the ultraRendu to a USB B port of an Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC, but the Oppo has only digital audio inputs, the Ayre only analog. (The Ayre integrated amp needs servicing, but I’ve read that the Oppo 205 DAC is quite good.)
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yyzsantabarbara
4,873 posts
 
I compared the NETWORK (Ethernet) ROON READY input of my KRELL K-300i with a Sonore OpticalRendu into USB (Fibre into Optical). Now it is not the same apples-to-apples comparison, but the Oprical was considerably better. So much so that I bought a second one for another DAC.

I did compare the NETWORK streaming to a microRendu using a cheap default power supply and I thought they sounded the same.

I doubt the OPPO's Ethernet streaming is better or even as good as the KRELL's NETWORK streaming input.
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dbphd OP
1,628 posts
 
I connected Ethernet directly to the Oppo 205 and Roon came up, but the sound quality is less good. Any conclusion is confounded by too many changes. An Oppo 205 and NAD M22 replaced the ultraRendu, Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC, and Ayre A7e integrated amp. I suspect replacing the Ayre DAC and amp is the more likely cause of diminished sound quality than eliminating the ultraRendu. Nevertheless, I left the ultraRend and LPS-1.2 in place for now so all I need do is move the Ethernet to compare. I think I can leave the ultraRendu connected the USB audio port of the Oppo to as a selectable input.
yyzsantabarbara
4,873 posts
 
I recently bought a Uptone EtherRegen (under $700) which some claim to do wonders and others claim it does nothing. It will ship in August and has a 30 day home trial.

It takes in an Ethernet wire and runs the signal through some "moat" to clean it up of noise. The other end of this device outputs the "cleaned up" Ethernet or Fibre Optcal. The output can go directly into my NETWORK streamer or I can try it to a SonoreRendu (either Ethernet or Fibre inputs of the Rendu).

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dbphd OP
1,628 posts
 
Once I got everything straightened out, the sound quality of files played using the Oppo 205 as a Roon endpoint is excellent.  I'll take down the ultraRendu and LPS-1.2.  A big turning point was setting up a Velodyne HGS-10 to augment the KEF LS50s,  I used the Oppo 205 menu to set the KEFs to small with crossover at 80 Hz,  That was so successful that I'll add another HGS-10 and SMS-1 bass manager for set up and acoustic room correction.  It's trivial to move from Roon to disc to cable.
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