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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
kingbarbuda
515 posts
 
@peter_s you need a streamer in between. You can also have your Roon core server on your network etherneted to a switch and you can Ethernet your streamer for best results from the same switch. Then run USB out from the streamer to the DAC. You can make this configuration more complicated and sophisticated with other devices and optical but the above is the basic configuration. Having the streamer separate from the Roon Core shields it to a degree (large? small?) from any noise the server produces. 
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,522 posts
 
It is possible for a Roon Core (PC, Nucleus,  etc…) to serve as both server and renderer.    It is better to have different devices, a server and renderer, but the same device can serve as both.  
For example, you can run a USB cable from a Roon Nucleus directly into a DAC.  I literally have a USB running from my Nucleus+ into my Audiobyte HydraVox DAC at the moment.  
peter_s
1,348 posts
 
@verdantaudio and others.  What would you recommend as a separate renderer downstream of my NUC? I can build a raspberry pi, and run USB from that to my DAC. In this case, the raspberry pi gets fed by ethernet from my switch/router. Then the raspberry pie provides a USB to the DAC. What other renderers would be better in this situation?
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,382 posts
 
@peter_s You've got the idea, that would work. If you go with a Pi, there are lots variants, the ones with Allo hats get lots of praise, but I haven't heard those.
One obvious renderer alternative that's very affordable is the Sonore microRendu. It's the size of a deck of cards, just ethernet input and USB output. It's SQ will improve as you improve the power supply. iFi is a good cheap option, but a top quality linear power supply is worth serious consideration with this or any renderer really. 
IMHO, the microRendu is a tipping point in digital playback value. Chris Connaker at audiophilestyle named Rendus the Product of the Decade.
Cheers, 
Spencer
 
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,522 posts
 
I can't speak about the quality of a Raspberry Pi.   There are a bunch of renderers on the market.  I am not familiar with iFi.  The only option I have heard under $1000 is the Bluesound Node.  Others will be able to offer much better advice than I can.  

In the $2K plus range I am familiar with some incredible options.  It is just the nature of what I have been exposed too.  


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