Sound quality of Roon

@past This sounds right to me, makes sense and backs up what many experts have told me during my research, the DAC makes the biggest difference to SQ.

I would suggest that if commenters want to be specific about their Roon experience with SQ, it's necessary to state expressly whether the endpoint DAC is (or is connected to) a separate networked streamer or directly to the core machine.

Not that there is necessarily a difference as connected to every core machine, but Roon is designed such that it's optimal to use a separate streamer for the audio endpoint.  Roon is so taxing on the core that there's a very good chance the DAC won't sound best if connected directly to it, even if it's one of those fancy purpose built audio servers.  

The only way to truly gauge Roon's quality relative to others is by streaming from the Roon core to a separate networked endpoint. If you then really hear a difference between software, it's an interesting discussion as to why, since both are supposed to be bit perfect!

@jji666

I would suggest that if commenters want to be specific about their Roon experience with SQ, it’s necessary to state expressly whether the endpoint DAC is (or is connected to) a separate networked streamer or directly to the core machine.

this is a good point, which i would broaden

meaningless for someone to talk about how they feel roon sounds, unless they clearly state how it is implemented, from how the system receives its internet feed, to what core machine is used, to how the music feed is then extracted, filtered and sent to streamer and dac (and which streamer and dac are used and how they are connected)...

one doesn't simply hear the 'sound of roon' - one hears the result of everything above sent to their dac, which then reconstructs the analog music that is played by the system downstream of it

Hi! Tested Roon for a month as a replacement / plan B for BlueSound OS and to connect with my T+A MP3100HV streamer. Upgraded to life time, bought a NUC using their excellent user fora and never looked back. I'm streaming in flac from my basement, I love the additional info and it made me rediscover some music as well. 

One hears the sound of Roon when using Innuos gear vs the Innuos Sense software. Roon sounds different vs Sense on Innuos gear. Obvious and easily heard with a resolving system.

My digital front end consists of:

Netgear modem/router powered by Keces LPS with my high end DC power cable - Network Acoustics Muon Ethernet cable - Network Acoustics Rubicon switch powered by a Keces LPS with high end DC power cable - Ethernet Acoustics Muon filter to Innuos Zenith 3 with power supply upgrades - Tron Atlantic Signature dac. All plugged unto a Puritan 156 conditioner with the additional Puritan Groundmaster grounding system.

Sense sounds far more nuanced and resolute in my system compared to Roon. So much better that I can only use Roon for background music. I much prefer the inner detail and realism of Sense. Roon sounds muffled and flat in comparison. I repeat, this IS ONLY with my Innuos server and front end digital system. I have heard Roon sound great with Merging Technologies gear.

I do not use any of Roon’s DSP capabilities as an FYI. Also, the better my front end becomes with products such as Network Acoustics, the more obvious Roon’s subpar sonic performance becomes on my Innuos server based front end. Without the NA products and my LPSs the difference between Roon and Sense was far less obvious.