You can talk to the guys at Magna to verify. I know that Roipee is what is provided for Roon. Any other solution requires a swap of Micro SD cards. No reason you couldn’t get a couple. I have a 2nd card for Volumio (for Innuos’s Sense App)
This unit is ideal if you want to go LAN > I2S (not USB)
Comparing I2S to SPDIF is on my long list to test…
I have not read the whole thread so apologies if this was already brought up but there is a less expensive LAN 2 I2s alternative that supports DSD128 over I2s from Silent Angel.
Has anyone tried this with the DS Sr?
This is their I2s HDMI pin layout
@2muchgear I like them already in that they pre installed the EMI and RF absorber. The purchaser is likely to get full performance out of the design out of the box versus having to hunt for it like in all the other streaming gear.
Hi @Vmax
I use Roon, and was advised to use Ropieee. It worked seamlessly. I just had to go to settings in Roon and add the Mano (and adjust the DSD output setting for the device within Roon).
Rob at Magna Hifi is very helpful and responsive with emails, and he advised me with regard to the media option (and corrected me when I still clicked the wrong option in haste).
This Mano Ultra II is absolutely sensational. Rob said that a week of continuous break-in will get me to 90%. I can’t wait.
Phil
Looks impressive! 
It looks like it will work with PCM, but will reverse L/R when playing DSD.
Continuing my observations… one day later and certainly spectacular. My system is in a large open plan lounge-dining-kitchen room, with a huge sound stage. Previously, I had a preference to listen well back. Now, it sounds fantastic anywhere, from close up, to back in the kitchen. Huge sweet spot! It does sound so much more “live”.
@Vmax. Based on the pinout diagram posted by @2muchgear, I believe the Left and Right will be reversed when playing DSD compared to PCM. The “PS Audio standard” is for pins 1&3 for DSD right and 7&9 for DSD left.
I have been following this with great interest. For those who use the Mano, any issues with clicks/pops/pauses between songs at different bit rates using Qobuz?
Hello - None
Awesome. Thanks.
No pops with Tidal streaming either.
Sounds simply wonderful: detail + musicality. Very natural. Burning in beautifully!
Certainly beats my previous Matrix setup, although I did have my Roon Nuc+ feeding USB direct to the Matrix rather than SOTM or other LAN-USB converter. But why go LAN > converter > USB > converter (Matrix) > I2S > DSD, when you can go LAN > converter (Mano) > I2S > DSD?
I suspect the more direct pathway and avoidance of USB counts for a lot.
I am surprised that no one in this thread has considered a fiber solution.
I have an ER, which I like, and am contemplating adding optical. Still need to convert LAN to I2S - my aim being to avoid USB in the chain.
Current setup:
LAN>ER> A.Dark Cat 8> Mano > I2S > DSD
Same here on the fiber. I am Router>OpticalModule>Fiber.EtherRegen>Cat6>Mano
As Phillip stated I wanted to go ER>LAN>I2S with no other conversions
All things being equal, sure. But unfortunately they are not and so you don’t have a direct i2s option with streamers from, say Lumin, Auralic or Aurender to name a few popular brands. So you either go USB or buy a USB-to-i2s converter. And I don’t think anyone would argue that the Mano sounds better than a U1 even with the extra boxes involved to get to i2s. I’m with you though and eagerly await PS Audio’s own streamer with i2s output. If it keeps getting delayed, I too may go with the Mano. For now though, I am happy with the Bridge II in my fiber optic LAN setup. It’s more curiosity than feeling like I’m missing something.
I don’t think anyone would argue that the Mano sounds better than a U1 even with the extra boxes involved to get to i2s
I am curious, what led you to such conclusion? Have you been able to compare the SQ of the Lumin U1 against the Mano? From your post it seems you do not own either.
Mano’s web page says it can send out DOP 64 and PCM 192/24 to both I2S and SPDIF. Matrix can do more than that.
The point of the quoted post was he basically wondered why anyone would bother going streamer → usb out → Matrix → i2s → DAC when they have the option of streamer → i2s → DAC. I simply supplied a real world example of a well loved streamer that does not provide an i2s output. If you care to receive i2s into the DS DAC, then a Matrix or Sonore converter would be a required addition. Whether it sounds better than the Mano is up to whoever compares. And if you believe the added i2s converter box kills SQ, that too is completely up to you, if you’ve compared of course. I can assure you that the Sonore ultraDigital converter improved SQ greatly with my prior streamer - the Sonore opticalRendu vs USB output into the DS DAC. So my experience shows otherwise.
It’s a pity that it’s difficult if not impossible to trial gear before buying in one’s own home. I just took the plunge with Mano II and am happy with it. I looked at @fdemello ’s personal experience, and that gave me the impetus to try myself. I think it’s better than the Bridge II, and better than USB>Matrix when using USB out of my Roon Nuc+. I don’t have personal experience of adding a LAN > USB converter prior to the Matrix, but @fdemello did.
