2019 Mac Pro vs. Roon

I recommend you borrow a good quality streamer… like an Aurender, Aries, Linn or some other audiophile streamer. That will make the difference clear. They sound significantly better… assuming you buy one at the appropriate level for your system. 

I used a Mac… which I unplugged to get power supply out of the equation… as well as PCs, with different software. There is just no comparison. Streamers built from the ground up as streamers are different animals. Forget white papers or theories…take a good one home for a test drive. If you have a good DAC and system, all your questions will be answered. They sound better.

I resisted for years because it didn’t sound right that this real expensive box should make a difference. I now own a $22K streamer and consider it to be one of the best values I have ever purchased in audio.

Dave and Troy- I’m guessing those 2 servers that you found to be the best, you probably sell those too, correct?

“Roon has a dedicated Linux  program you can use”. Roon provides software for many different OS’s. 99% of computer users don’t know linux, so it would be difficult for these people to build a Linux server. I prefer linux myself for enterprise servers, but I will not use any server with a tainted linux OS, which most music servers use. For example, who is going to support the linux OS of say an Aurender or Aries server if the company goes out of business?

Apple, Ubuntu, Red Hat, and many other OS companies have a better chance to be around for the long run.

What I normally see are people concerned with SQ but they use USB. Most 3rd party servers claim they have better sq using usb. Better than terrible, sure, it’s still bad.

You can configure a server using linux/apple to minimize processes that aren’t needed for a music server. Audirvana for example for a dozen years has documented how to shut down processes that are not needed.

I’ve been streaming (local and remote) for the past 16 years. I did go to 1 of those dedicated music servers described above around 4 or 5 years ago and went back to running on a Mac using Roon and have better sq. But at the same time, my server is in a different room than my dedicated audio room and I use Ethernet to the dac.

From the peanut gallery - I’m using Mac/Roon, with Tidal as a streaming service, and find it a delightful complement to the vinyl chain on the same rig.  15 minutes to download and set-up, maybe, and one is off to the races - it’s so simple to implement there is really no reason not to, because you can be enjoying the music in about as much time as it take to read this thread, with nothing invested but the cost of the Roon software (a bargain)

Let us know what you decide to do! 

I am about to get a taste of Mac Pro laptop vs. Cambridge Audio 851N music server. I run the MacBook Pro streaming Tidal Master to the SMSL SU8 DAC via USB > XLR balanced to Sub> XLR out to AudioPulse A200 and another set of JBL 305 stacked... it sounds very good into these powered monitors. No hiss, very enjoyable rocking sound with nice soundstage in my small listening area. The JBL 305 is the weakest component but the sound has more authority with these blended in a bit. I decided to change it up and see if there is an improvement as my 2012 MB Pro is on it’s last leg and I also multi-task on this computer while streaming Tidal Master quality. The USB sends a low voltage charge to the aluminum MB Pro, which is annoying. I am going to side-grade to a Windows laptop due to finances and get the MB Pro out of the equation... so I shall see.... the Windows system also plays DSD natively and I get to sample that as well.

Your Mac Pro and the Marantz 30n are both examples of music servers. You don't need dedicated hardware to make a music server - just a computer with the right software (or the right options enabled). You can make a music server with a Windows PC, a Mac, a Raspberry Pi, etc.

The only thing that matters with respect to music servers is that it gives you the features you need with the type of convenience you're seeking, e.g. DIY or plug and play, integration with streaming services, etc.

FYI, the Marantz 30n has an interface - the HEOS app.

Also, don't worry much about cables or boxes that regenerate signals (unless you have to run USB cable longer than 5 meters). If the data isn't reaching your DAC intact, you'll hear pops, ticks, and dropouts during playback. Otherwise, you're fine.