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roon sound wasn't as good

I'm among a smaller group of audiophiles who have tried roon really hoping to keep it for tis wonderful functionality, but chose not to continue to not use it based on sound quality.   Basically, sound quality via room was different than direct from my Naim streamer using its native (not great functionality) software.  I lose some of the warmth and ambiance and get a harder edged sound  You don't hear this often (though I have read a few others who were also not happy with a perceived sound difference) but I tested several tracks and music types (using tidal in all cases) and the results were consistent  My server for roon was my pc,  the Naim is an ND5 XS2 and is a roon end point.  I am using the Naim built in DAC.  

gshaikun
jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

This is the dirty little secret nobody wants to talk about. 

Innuos Sense vs Roon. Take a comparison listen sometime.

Even with that said I have Roon and will keep it. Reason is simple.

I will trade off some SQ for improved access to new music. 

 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,867 posts
 

That maybe true , but it does have HQ  player built in ,with that you can Taylor the sound  exact to your system.   Innous has Avery good interface ,sounds better and can use HQ player.

vicdior
21 posts
 

I use Tidal with Audirvāna, exceptional sound quality and easy to understand and play.

vandy357
68 posts
 

@audiotroy 

Roon can sound great it requires superior programming skills and hardware designed to run roon optimally, our 432evo servers run Roon in an entirely different fashion by maximizing how roon is run by the CPU:.

 

I don't know about all the technical jargon.  However they managed to implement it, I can certainly confirm that the sound is amazing from the 432evo Aeon. 

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,610 posts
 

properly implemented using a sufficiently powerful and dedicated server, and using proper connections with proper galvanic isolation to the downstream components, i have found that roon does not degrade sound

some companies like innuos et al essentially do this 'optimization' for the customer, and thus can lead the user to believe the sound is 'better'

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