Pass-through Roon Endpoints

@jazzman7 

Thanks for all this great information. WiFi is an important issue; I rather wonder if the Bluesound Node works better upstairs than the Wiim Pro because the Bluesound has a more robust WiFi implementation -- that's the 'quality of components' issue right there.

I'm fascinated by how small changes can have big impacts. But mostly, just in how much my ear is happy and, in the long run, as you said, how happy I am with this stuff. That's the reason for exploring audio, after all. It's fun. I've upgraded my downstairs system almost entirely over this past year, but like you, I have kept my original pair of speakers through it all; in my case, B&W 803Ds. (Upstairs has B&W 805s models, also very nice.)

So it's a continuing journey. These days I'm not only having fun exploring streamers and their impact, but recently I've started using Roon. 

Is WiiM Pro a certified Roon endpoint now? Or are you streaming from Roon to WiiM using AirPlay? How are you streaming to Bluesound?
How is all this set up? What sources are you using? Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, local music files? If you don’t hear any sonic differences between BS Node and WiiM Pro on B&W speakers something is not right. 
 

The Wiim does nothing to the data; it just passes it through directly.

There’s no such thing as a Roon pass-through. Doesn’t exist. 

Is WiiM Pro a certified Roon endpoint now?

Yes.

Or are you streaming from Roon to WiiM using AirPlay?

No. Roon to Wiim Pro is over standard Ethernet, Cat7 cable to be precise.

How are you streaming to Bluesound?

Via home network with WiFi.

How is all this set up?

NAS with local files, connected to home network via Ethernet; MacMini (M4) on Ethernet runs the Roon Server. Active endpoints include Wiim Pro (Ethernet), Bluesound Node (WiFi), a MacBook Pro computer (Ethernet), and an Apple HomePod (WiFi).

What sources are you using? Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, local music files? 

All of the above except for Spotify.

Worth mentioning: I'm in the process of upgrading part of the system now. Look like I'm going to be replacing the Wiim Pro in the main downstairs unit with a HiFi Rose RS130. This should be a big, big change.

When I tried WiiM Pro it wasn’t yet certified with Roon. Good to know they finally got that done. It’s an OK streamer with Qobuz and Tidal but I wouldn’t put it in a system with B&W 800 series speakers. 
 

What you need to consider is the following:

1. When you have your streamer connected to the DAC via coax you rely on the clock in the streamer. Given the price of WiiM we can safely assume the clock used in this unit isn’t anything special. It’s almost always best to use USB to DAC to rely more on clock in the DAC. With most modestly priced streamers you will get better sound using USB. 
2. Your Roon Core matters. 
3. Digital cables including Ethernet cables matter 

Rose should be a nice step up.