I have a fairly large library, use Qobuz, run Roon server on Windows, have many Roon endpoints and a few displays configured, run using strong Wifi connections, use DSP almost all the time, etc. I have had Roon for about a year. I compare Roon performance to Plex and Plexamp which I used mostly prior, and Logitech Squeeze which I used with great success for many years prior to that..
Ah, I have read about people like you 😉 I do not have a large library, nor use any DSP. I assume you have read the release from the founder, but it is worth posting some of it, as it emphasizes audiophiles and enthusiasts and their requirements, highlighted below, which looks very promising going forward. Myself, I love Roon, but I have been using more and more squeeze on my Antipodes which on high quality recordings does sound better. Similarly reported by those who own Innuos which named their squeeze based version Sense. I am not sure if Aurender's conductor is based on squeeze as well.
from Enno (Roon) yesterday:
At Harman, we’ve been given a mandate to reconnect with our core audience. These are the curators who are passionate about shaping their music collections, the audiophiles who appreciate the nuances of high-performance audio equipment, and the genre experts who depend on Roon to expand their knowledge of music. These are the people who have multiple streaming services or who have extensive libraries of music files – the people who simply want the best platform for experiencing their music library. Within this community, Roon is still the only product that comprehensively caters to their diverse needs, and now, at Harman, we’re excited to refocus our efforts on serving them.
We’ve taken some steps in this direction. In 2022, we introduced an internet connectivity requirement to Roon. That decision was driven by strategic considerations, but we acknowledge that the change caused genuine dissatisfaction among our users, and we understand why. Today, we’re announcing a return to Roon’s pre-2.0 behavior. This means our users can once again enjoy their music collections without the need for continuous internet connectivity.
We’re also moving the product forward. Just a few weeks ago, we rolled out a significant update to ARC’s downloads functionality, and today, we’re excited to announce the release of support for TIDAL MAX, bringing a vast library of hi-res PCM content to every Roon user with a TIDAL HiFi Plus subscription.
Going forward, we aim to prioritize features that best serve our community. Roon occupies a vibrant niche, and our strategy at Harman no longer requires us to seek larger audiences. As a result, you can expect real changes in the types of features we focus on and deliver.
We’re paying attention to neglected aspects of the product – prioritizing performance and reliability – to ensure that Roon remains rock-solid. We’ll revisit long-requested features that we’ve avoided, like folder browsing and enhancing the way Roon handles box sets. Major improvements to our playlist functionality are in the pipeline (Hallelujah!). In the coming year, we’ll be focusing on features that center on your music library, rather than non-library streaming content.
