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Roon for high end audio?

I have been listening almost exclusively to CDs but want to start to get into music streaming.  Sound quality is very high on my list, and I am interested in streaming for 2 reasons; broad selection and hopefully better sound.  I am using a dbx Venue 360 with a Jeff Roland Concerto Preamp and Roland Power amp.  I have a Savant system that allows music playback in multiple rooms, controls video etc.  My Savant integrator suggested Roon. Since I am not currently into streaming, I can’t figure out if Roon is the right thing to do.  It seems like a great music server service with the ability to manage very high quality digital files, but the downstream handling of the files and conversion to analog (DAC) seems lacking.  It seems most people are using it for playback in less than audiophile situations, and compatible equipment is very limited.  Quality wise, am I better off with something like Bluenote and a high quality DAC like say, Denafrips?
kingofgix
mazian's avatar
mazian
424 posts
 
The only downside to Roon is the software and it's total inability to get a grip on cataloguing classical music. However that is no different to all other software I have tried except Idagio but they only stream classical music, which is not enough if you have broader musical tastes.
kingbarbuda
515 posts
 
IMO Roon is a MUST for the serious audiophile who is interested in digital music. It facilitates very high Fidelity music playback. You can run a Roon core IMO equally well on ani inexpensive NUC as a server streamer costing thousands. I know. I have done both. It is invaluable for music discovery. I don’t know what I would do without it. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,602 posts
 
Chorus,

You just need to update your Zen to the 2.04 current version. You will have a choice between Roon and Innuos Sense. Select Sense and be prepared to smile. It sounds much better than Roon on the Innuos players. Also download the remote Innuos app. Roon is still a better interface in terms of features, but it sounds harsh and noisy compared to Innuos Sense.

Your dealer can help you.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,310 posts
 
Grannyring  can you still use Roon as a catalog interface and still use QObuz 
and bypass Roons software  for music with your innous ?I don’t allow Roon to 
Take over No executive mode .My Bricasti dac uses its own protocalls 
if nothing on Roon is setup like executive made it sounds Waay better..
every dac is different  it’s processing and abilities.
tatyana69
269 posts
 
I tried Roon for  few years. It does NOT provide quality of SOUND that is touted around here and I hate the file management. There you go. I use a DCS stack and the Roon "processes" are not useful at all at this level
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