Lumin U2 or Aurender N200

@lalitk I used my N200. Prior to buying the N200 I was using the network card in the Bricasti DAC as Roon endpoint. N200 sounds way better Roon or not. I first started using Roon back when I was still streaming with Mac Mini probably 2018-2019 
So are you using your Merging DAC as a Roon endpoint? Or us your Merging stack the core as well?

@lalitk

I believe it was around March or so, Roon made a substantial leap in SQ and closed the gap between the two. I went back n forth over the course of next three-month period to fully understand what was going on.

That would be build 1401 released April 16, and some say 1413 released May 15 improved the sound as well. Just for those scoring at home.

It’s really tough to discern though. It is not like a cable change where one can go back and forth, once the update is done it is done- no going back. Roon has had several updates since then as well of course.

On top of that Antipodes is updating my server, and squeeze is also doing bi-weekly updates, so always a moving yardstick.

@audphile1 

Merging + player (DAC + Roon endpoint + Core) supported by external master clock and power supply. 

@lalitk yeah that makes sense. It’s exactly what I mentioned in my earlier post. This is the right way to do Roon with a purpose built hardware. 

@mclinnguy 

Agreed with your take on these updates. The implementation of software + hardware and little bit of diligence with LAN connectivity is the key between these streamers/servers sounding amazing to good enough.