Roon/Bluesound Node - adding new DAC (non Roon-Ready)
Hi guys,
I'm currently at the start of the 14 day trial of Roon; Roon is running on my PC in a wired network, using my Node as endpoint, with the remote app on my android tablet.
All good at the moment, I'm enjoying using it, but in the next couple of days I'll be taking delivery of a new DAC; it isnt a mainstream DAC, it's a built to order unit from a tiny, 2 man company here in the UK. I don't think they even ship their units outside of the UK, so I doubt they Roon-Ready.
I will be slotting in the new DAC via SPDIF/Coax to my Node; my question is, how will the new DAC fit in to the processing stream if not recognised by Roon?
I'm obviously new to Roon so please forgive my ignorance. I've tried looking online, but I'm still not clear how the system will work after adding the new DAC, or if it will work at all?
For reference, the DAC is from a company called NJC Audio, and is the NJC Reference DAC. It has no software/drivers, and is plug and play.
Thanks for reading
@mike_in_nc thanks for this, that makes sense. I should have mentioned, I'm streaming from Qobuz and Tidal; no stored files at the moment. I'm still confused as to which link in the chain is doing what? Is the DAC in the Node doing the DA conversion, or is my PC/Roon doing the conversion, and the Node acting purely as the analogue out? |
I have a similar set up. My Mac mini is the Roon device and my Bluesound node 2i is the Roon End point. Both need to be on the same internet network. Roon just controls and manages the music on Tidal and Qobuz. In other words I select the music and service via the Roon interface on my Mac mini or IPhone or IPad via the Roon app. Again all devices must be on the same network. Frankly, it is all very confusing at first and not at all intuitive. They need some serious help in that regard. But then again, audiophiles put up with a lot of bad user interfaces.
Your other question is straightforward, because Roon has nothing to do with the DAC. If you run a digital interconnect to your DAC from the Node, the DAC is doing the conversion. This is how you need to set it up. Otherwise you are not using the DAC at all. You will get there.
In my system, the Bluesound is going into an NAD preamp via digital interconnect. The NAD’s DAC decodes MQA on Tidal. I like MQA but that is a whole other discussion.
Enjoy! |
@scottscottsdale thanks very much; I think I'm getting there 😁👍 Everything in the chain is on the same wired network, so all good I don't have my external DAC yet, (waiting for DHL) so still using the Node's internal DAC, but from what you describe, the Node is performing the actual D/A conversion. I think I'm getting confused by the DSP options within Roon |
I agree. Roon is very very confusing. To be honest, while it is cool to discover different "versions" of albums or songs, I am not really taken by Roon. I find the BluOS operating system to be much better. I tend to just use that most of the time.
I suspect you will see a huge difference when your new DAC arrives. Like a kid at Christmas!
Have a wonderful journey! |
Painter24 - the following article explains what Roon Certification involves. If you stay with the application you are currently using the processes described in the article will be performed by your Roon Core computer in conjunction with the Node as an endpoint. https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/roon-ready#Overview There is a possibility that your DAC will work directly with your computer without the streamer involved at all. You could check with the manufacturer if they have tried it.
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