PS Audio Music Server In The Pipeline?

I want to listen to a radio station, not be the disk-jockey.
:grinning:

This is a good way to put it.

Even though this is not for me, I understand why this is appealing.

It is god to make these wishes known now when the programmer is still working on the initial firmware.

Not that amazing. I have a list of approximately 2500 songs that I regularly shuffle and play often. It’s my “Best Of” list. I add songs that I like as I listen to whole albums. JRiver/JRemote make it easy to do so.

It is a rather interesting use case, I must admit: a playlist (which implies curation, choice, and a fixed universe) meets a very broad assortment (which limits choice except for a fairly broad parameter) meets random selection (which introduces elements of surprise in a known universe). I guess we live in a Burger King world where we all can “have it our way.” Party on!

Paul, have you tried AURALiC’s Lightening DS?

No, I have not.

Another. It could access files in googledrive doing my private streaming service. Roon do this already but only with dropbox. And I have unlimited space in gdrive.

I hope it would be 4-5k range. Its a server and DS has a good immunity to bad servers.
I will need a good reason to let aside my macmini > sotm chain (sNh-10G switch>sMS200ultra>TXUSBultra) > Ds sr

Paul Lightening DS is worth looking at. Reviewers have suggested that sound quality is better than ROON. I don’t know how sq is effected by an app, but hay.
GUI is the best I’ve seen and works very intuitively. You will need a Auralic product and it will only work with a Apple tablet or phone.
If you make a better app than I think you will have hit the jackpot and will have queues around the block trying to buy your streamer.

Suggest offering two options: stripped down one with I2S only output for DS use; fuller one with multiple outputs. Don’t bother developing an OS, just offer Roon trial or if you must have an OS pay someone to use a well respected/existing OS. Simply allow for external plug-ins of music drives.

The goals of the PS Audio server are to present the best sound, clothed in the best interface, all within PS Audio’s control. Adopting Roon would defeat all three goals.

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I agree with you on “all within PS Audio’s control”. The other two are up to each individual’s interpretation.

Of course, obviously.

But these remain the driving forces behind PS Audio’s work.

Also keep in mind that many here, and elsewhere, find Roon compromises the sound.

Yes I know many people who don’t like Roon or whatever the product is. And there isn’t anything wrong with that. But by that same measure there are people here and elsewhere that feel the opposite. I’m sure PSA will make the best product they can and I’m sure it will be a great product.

When Roon’s sound has been discussed, the opinion is near universal among those with an opinion that Roon’s sound quality is compromised. There are those who think it sounds fine. There are also those who find the sound quality below par, but feel the interface is worth it. No one, to my recollection, claims Roon’s sound quality is best in class.

If PS Audio’s server only sounds as good as Roon it would be a failure. I am certain PS Audio would not release such a product. Similarly, if the interface only meets Roon’s standard it will have have fallen short.

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In an effort to stop going round and round we can agree to disagree. I have read plenty of articles that rave about Roon sound/interface. Yesterday’s state of the art isn’t always that great today.

If PSA goal is to produce something better than Roon they have lost the war. I hope their goal is to produce the best sounding product they can.

I think that PSA always tries to make the best sounding product that they can - and still stay within the price point target.

I have not seen any articles raving about Roon’s sound as being superior to other comparable offerings, although there are those who do not complain about the sound.

Those who like the Roon interface tend to listen to pop (rock, jazz, top-40, audiophile easy-listening (Diana Krall, etc.). For classical listeners, it is difficult to find specific compositions, etc. as the interface is designed for pop. I enjoyed a true laugh out loud moment when Roon claimed Mahler was similar to Couperin. Seriously?

I have heard servers/controllers in my own system which sound better. As I mentioned, many here have reported this as well.

Why is the war lost if the goal is to better Roon? It is far from perfect in either sound or interface. It can certainly be bettered. Roon itself claims it keeps getting better. :slight_smile:

My read as well, although from what I have observed sound quality wins out over price point; that is, PS Audio is willing to push the price point if they are able to make a product that sounds that much better. They always offer an excellent cost/benefit ratio however, even in their more expensive offerings.

I also respect their trickle-down approach of offering products - such as the DS Junior and the forthcoming new entry level PowerPlant - at a lower price when it is feasible to do so. Everyone wins.

Completely agree. Its always better to push the price point a little for a large gain rather than stay where you’re at and be over priced for the feature set or performance. Especially true in a high end market. I have the DSJr and love it but will most likely end up buying a Sr sometime in the future. Without the Jr I wouldn’t have bought into the product line.
They are like a high end auto manufacturer - think McLaren or similar. Hand made with the highest quality components available. Once in a while one of the components fails or one of the suppliers goes away. I am willing to take that risk for the reward.