Thanks, Steven. That’s an interesting comparison between the two products. I would offer a correction, however. Our longer term plans will see streaming itself (as differentiated from serving) as integral to our DACs, a process we began many years ago. Our
Network Bridge is a streamer and it can access files from a NAS, etc. It obviously has no storage. I would imagine future connected products with a newer version of the Bridge built into the DACs, thus I believe we’d be on the same course as Linn in that regard.
We’re getting ready to launch Stellar Integrated next month. That product will have StellarStream built in allowing access through a free StellarStream app (IOS and Android) that can stream Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, radio. It has Apple AirPlay, TuneIn,
Amazon Music, Deezer, etc. and so on.
You are correct that we see a server as a core product within the stereo chain just as we see disc players in that same way.
Sounds like there are going to be a number of interesting products coming up in the next 12 to 18 months, and no one has mentioned loudspeakers for a while!
The only issue I have with your post, Paul is that if you’re running on ROCK , you’re not really on 3rd party software but a custom Linux core they’ve engineered to run Roon. 3rd party hardware? Unless it’s Nucleus, okay. But Roon is ROCK solid for me, pun intended. And feeding a Sprout through usb via Raspberry Pi.
Loudspeakers are a hot topic internally in the engineering department. Work on the AN3 as well as the upcoming Stellar line of speakers is moving at a fast pace - though one might think the runner is a snail (and they wouldn’t be too far off the mark). There
are just so many thousands of small details that I want to yell out loud…. We are hopeful the final, final version of cabinet and drivers will be in house in mid January. If that happens to schedule, we can place orders and with any luck be in production in
time for Axpona show in April.
I’m sorry, but I was not following the Octave tread in the forum. I have an Aurender. Maybe this has been addressed. Is Octave a stand alone server like the Aurender? Does it have I2s that output DSD to the DSS like the DMP? Will it have an app to be use on a Iphone or Ipad?
My brother is interested in getting the Aurender or better yet, the upcoming Octave, if it is a better unit in functionality and sound quality.
The upcoming Octave is a music server like the Aurender. I can’t remember if it will have I2s but I would assume it would. The Octave music server will have its own control app for iPhone/iPad. Regarding sound quality only time will tell. Clearly PSA will feel it is the best in the world.
Outstanding. Hope it comes out soon. Depending on how good it is, I am also interested. The Aurender sounds terrific but it is quirky, Sometimes I have a hard time starting it up after shutdown. It just keep blinking and you wait forever and have to shut it down and restart again. Sometimes several times. Most of the time it starts normally and very quick. It’s like a computer freezing up sometimes. If it has I2s output, then I wouldn’t need the Matrix and all those extra parts.
I am not sure how long more I can wait for the Octave transport.
At the moment I am doing Bridge II for the past 3 years and considering Lumin U1, however, member here couldn’t find much improvement with his Lumin U1 over the Bridge II.
Not sure about all the functions that the Octave will carry, I need as a transport only, and hopefully can control with MConnect as with the Bridge II.
I have the LUMIN U1 (the big one, not the Mini).
It is significantly better than Bridge 2, but also significantly more expensive. And you need a really good digital cable. Most of my cables are from Wireworld, but from the LUMIN to the DSD DAC, I use a Chord Sarum T aes/ebu.
whether it will really sound better than Roon?
Yes, that much is quite easy to demonstrate.
Paul when you state that Octave is clearly better than Roon in SQ it would be useful to state the hardware configuration of Roon setup used for comparison.
Comparing Roon a few years ago to today there has been vast improvement in Roon Sq. based mostly i believe on using more capable hardware.
Also i am not sure I understand what is so special about the Air Gap interface, can one not achieve the same benefit by using a fiber link between server and player?
Paul’s vested interest is in Octave not Roon. Many of us here use Roon in it’s current release and the most recent release of Roon is a complete revision of the code. I have no complaints about Roon and it’s sound. I have a highly resolving system and Roon complements it well. I would ask current users that have exposure to other servers and software, ideally in parallel to Roon, to comment on the sound. When Octave is released, I’ll look forward to trying it and making a comparison
Paul as to what you wrote in the Bridge III thread about a separated Bridge III version, the above is not valid anymore, rather the opposite, correct? I understood not decided yet, but in theory and from sound quality perspective you prefer a separate version now.
I had the impression separate Octave server first than a new streaming Bridge/Module, rather a factor of time/priority than whether or not it will be available.
Hope a Stellar Octave version will become an option on the horizon. I like the complete Octave Music Studio / Distribution / Hardware concept. Well thought through, implementing it, making it sound better than existing systems (whether they are integral or not) and reliable, must be quite an undertaking and a challenge. But when PS Audio have mastered that, it is quite an achievement worthwhile looking seriously in to.
I do respect Linn as they have pulled it off already a while ago and their LP12, Chakra class D amps, Isobarik speakers, Exakt room correction are iconic. Sorry, Iconik.
What they do not offer is as good as DAC’s, native DSD, digital disk players (would not want to miss a CD/SACD player), hybrid tube amps, clear analog sound path after DAC or analogue vinyl.
This seems like a really hard question to resolve the specifics of/make some meaningful comparisons about, as most standalone servers don’t require a “separate” computer/box, and Roon does. This is not to diss Roon, but rather to say that comparing it with something else requires additional layers of Stuff.
I say this as someone who used Roon for three years previously, and someone who thinks a lot about what constitutes a meaningful comparison. There are SO many not particularly meaningful comparisons made on a regular basis.