I’ve been looking hard at lots of Roon options lately, nucleus, rock, sonictransporter, etc. as a full dive into my third attempt at loving Roon. I’m still moving towards a dedicated computer, running as a music server, located in a basement mechanical closet (rebuilding and re-wiring with a 75’ run of multi-mode fiber)…however, no way I’m going to go with a Roon machine only now. It will run Windows and be capable of running both Roon and JRiver. Glad I’m watching this happen. I’m sure it’ll get straightened out but streaming from a computer is my only way to listen.
Roon Core has worked flawlessly from day one, now through two major software updates. I don’t know if the fact that I have been running it on my iMac all of this time matters or not. It shares space on the iMac with JRiver Media Center (MK 26).
FWIW.
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My bigger point is that nucleus, rock & sonictransporter are dedicated Roon servers only. Not gonna do it, I was considering it.
Understood.
On a more serious note, I fear our favorite ball clubs might be headed in opposite directions.
I am NOT impressed with the North Siders’ front office the last 3 off seasons.
Sigh.
Time for a change!! I run a $2.00 a game Cubs/Sox bet every year at work. I won $2.00 last year. First time in the black for some time! Bigger winnings in my future.
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The perceived wisdom is that a dedicated computer is not a great idea as it is not designed for audio. I did not want a Roon-only machine, which is why I went for Innuos. Using it with iPeng is perfectly good, there are other options and they have their own uPnP app coming out soon. Besides that, I can connect Innuos to my system by an ethernet cable rather than usb or SPDIF or anything else.
The other option is just to get a really good server/streamer. If I were to splash the cash, it might be something like Aurender.
However, in a multi-room system, Roon has a lot going for it.
Ya, life is full of compromises. I’ll never know because I have to make a choice and stick with it. Too expensive and difficult to experiment.
I love my dedicated Roon server. And if I didn’t my previous Windows based server is sitting ready and waiting if I decide it would offer something I need. Since I acquired my dedicated Euphony Roon server I haven’t thought of a reason to turn that old machine on. It has Jriver installed which I also do not miss.
When I went from a Windows laptop to the Roon Nucleus +, I was amazed by the improvement. I had been very skeptical about this, but there is no way I am going back to a regular computer for streaming.
This may be part of the reason why Paul doesn’t like Roon (he is using a Mac if I remember correctly). The other part may be that he would rather have us switch to Octave …
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Ditto. Roon nucleus plus with ample SSD internal storage (replacing my NAS and a top of the line Mac) was a huge improvement in sound and functionality. Connection to DAC was Ethernet, not USB.
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In my case Nucleus + > USB > Matrix > I2S HDMI> DSD. The closest I could get to live so far.
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That’s not to say I didn’t get great sound out of my Windows server. I got that thing sounding really nice. It was just such a pain in the bottom to keep on top of everything.
My Euphony server is in no danger on the net. It requires no upgrades. It starts up in 10 seconds but doesn’t require restarts ever. When upgrades are available saying yes usually results in a one minute process. I stream from it to a Signature Rendu Optical streamer and I tell ya, it’s swell. Costs less then the Nucleus servers, maybe $2k with an excellent power supply that you can power both the server and a Matrix with.
I dunno, it seems nice. The new Summus server would take that to $3k but people here who have them say they really pick up the game if you use them as the streamer and server. Saves the cost of a decent streamer.
Comparing the matrix usb and Ethernet, Ethernet achieved the best sound (in my system).
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Bridge 2?
I’ve been at this since2009 and never had a regular computer in play and had a similar system in use in 2009 as I do now (network storage connected to audio server by ethernet). Servers have improved quite significantly. The first was an Iomega networked hard drive, then a ZoneRipper Max ZoneRipper MAX ripping NAS | ripcaster.co.uk that was a stripped down Windows machine that was OK, then a much better Zara Premium clone of a Naim Uniti Server but better made https://www.whathifi.com/news/ava-media-unveils-flagship-zara-premium-music-server. The Innuos with Roon is streets ahread of those. I do wonder how a resolving system is compromised by using a Mac Mini.
Same here, and Roon itself recommends Ethernet over USB on its website.
It gives @sherhan some (hmm) Roon for improvement (sorry, could not resist) 
Putting fiber optic between the server and the streamer is a step up imho.
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I have both fibre optic and CAT6a running 25m between server and streamer. No difference to me. System dependent?
Apparently.
Yes.
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