IMHO, Android OS is great on Smartphone, terrible on tablet. The opposite is true for Apple, terrible on smartphone great on iPad. I use Android phones, refuse to use iPhone. BUT iPad is the way to go for tablet and control for Roon.
Think Roon advises a core and end point to be separate?
You can stream directly from the Nucleus via USB or digital output.
It does. This is true. The Nucleus isn’t a great streamer. It’s just a NuC. It’s only advantage is passive cooling so its silent.
That’s exactly what I have been doing since I got my Nucleus over two years ago. I had it connected to a Benchmark DAC 3 and never had an issue. No noise. Now I have the USB directly into the MKII and no problems or noise. I just think Roon is being overly cautious.
I have been running the Nucleus+ into the Mk 2’s USB input via an ISO REGEN instead of the Matrix I2S and it sounds terrific enough that I’m not inclined to do further listening tests any time soon.
Having said that, I am very much looking forward to trying the AirLens when (if?) it becomes available…
My impression is that the Bridge box is designed as a stopgap for users like me who rely on the Bridge for much of their listening. It should be the cheapest option for those of us who already own a Bridge, until the AirLens comes out, and I’m glad that PSA has decided to produce it.
I disagree that the Bridge is the “weakest link“ in the Mark I (remember that the USB input in the Mark II is much improved over the previous version). It does make sense that having the Bridge card inside the DAC introduces some noise. But after some network upgrades (audiophile switch and LAN isolator), I am hard-pressed to tell whether I’m listening to the Bridge or to my PST transport playing an SACD . . . sounds damn good for a weak link.
I’m guessing I’ve missed it somewhere in this or another thread but has there been a price estimation or speculation for the Bridge Box?
There is currently too many details to be sorted out for a price to be estimated. I feel safe saying it should be well under $300,000.
Does that include the power supply or is that extra?
Considering potential for additional delays, and inflation, you may need to adjust your estimate upwards and specify a year of delivery. I’d agree $300,000 is a good start.
… an additional up charge for the cobalt thorium g upgrade on the power cord.
Then double all that for the mystical Air Lens.
Joking aside, I do hope they get things sorted out, and soon.
As I recall from one of Paul’s posts, it will come with a power supply; but I assume this is a basic one. $300 sounds about right to me.
Have you tried the Mac OS or Windows Plexamp app via USB to a DAC for DSD?
I’ve used Plexamp in the car quite a lot since Plex launched the app.
It is, and I have, and it does sound extraordinary. The problem is when intense workloads run on that computer, I get audio dropouts. A dedicated streamer would eliminate that problem.
What do you mean by intense workloads?
I think that has been their advice because the USB out of most Roon servers isn’t that great. It was in Roon’s best interest to steer users away from direct connection. The USB input on many DAC’s isn’t that great either. Combined the SQ is terrible.
Now that there are DAC’s with galvanic isolation on the USB input, the USB issue looks like it’s resolved and we are getting reports that the SQ is excellent when going straight from the server to the USB input.
There have been very good reports for several years from users that have the now discontinued UpTone ISO Regen between their Roon Server and DAC. The Iso Regen providing galvanic isolation.
We are also now hearing that the Mac Mini used with the Theoretica BACCH4MAC directly attached to the MKII sounds very good.
