We got back our units previously sent to MQA Ltd. for certification.
Another Roon Heavy Handed Policy
- Thread starter Projectman
- Start date
We got back our units previously sent to MQA Ltd. for certification.
It would make sense for Roon to keep the device for testing of their s/w for future releases, otherwise its impossible to quality control but I am not sure if I would technically call the certification as "free".
The recent Build 610 update, in my system, sounds better but only after I moved the library to local storage instead of NAS. One of the serious drawback of Roon that degrades the sound quality tremendously is its constant accesses to the storage device. With NAS, it creates a churn of network events that is detrimental and this has been proven time over time and also with my move to local storage. There has been several request from many of us to cache/buffer it locally but as usual it has gone into def ears.
From purely bit perfect playback s/w perspective, Roon is heavy weight due to its complexities in handling sophisticated UI management, AI, tracking, etc which are necessary evil for audio and thus needs power hungry CPUs. However, if you are DIY'ing there are ways to tame this beast somewhat partially, like processor isolation, etc.
IMO, Roon should consider an Audiophile version of the s/w with simple UI & less jazzy features, if they genuinely wants to hold onto the audiophile market (which I agree is dimunitive) as many companies (Taiko, PS Audio, etc) has started to realize sound quality issues with Roon and started to develop their own version.
The recent Build 610 update, in my system, sounds better but only after I moved the library to local storage instead of NAS. One of the serious drawback of Roon that degrades the sound quality tremendously is its constant accesses to the storage device. With NAS, it creates a churn of network events that is detrimental and this has been proven time over time and also with my move to local storage. There has been several request from many of us to cache/buffer it locally but as usual it has gone into def ears.
From purely bit perfect playback s/w perspective, Roon is heavy weight due to its complexities in handling sophisticated UI management, AI, tracking, etc which are necessary evil for audio and thus needs power hungry CPUs. However, if you are DIY'ing there are ways to tame this beast somewhat partially, like processor isolation, etc.
IMO, Roon should consider an Audiophile version of the s/w with simple UI & less jazzy features, if they genuinely wants to hold onto the audiophile market (which I agree is dimunitive) as many companies (Taiko, PS Audio, etc) has started to realize sound quality issues with Roon and started to develop their own version.
W9TR
Active member
As I read it this compromise Roon position is a good one. It allows current owners of uncertified Roon hardware to continue to use it. I’m not clear if as a developer you can use any uncertified hardware, or just the hardware you happen to own on September 21st. It will also be interesting to understand what happens when a Roon “developer” sells an uncertified piece of hardware. Will another Roon “developer” be able to use it before the manufacturer certifies it? For sure normal Roon customers won’t be able to use it so it’s value will drop on the secondary market if the manufacturer chooses not to certify it.
Roon screwed the pooch early on by allowing manufacturers to actively market product without completing the certification process. That’s either naive or stupid or some combination of the two.
The best approach in this case is to engage a third party certification agency to test the manufacturer’s gear and manage the compliance and licensing process.
asindc
Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2013
- Messages
- 784
I’m not surprised that you found internal storage to sound better than a NAS.
Swisstrips
Member
To be clear, when indiv refer to local storage does this mean you are connected direct to DAC (no end point, streamer)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Local storage means storage that is locally connected to the Roon core. It could be internal driver (NVMe, SSD, spinning drives, SAS, etc) or external USB connected drives.
In my case, I have a DIY music server with DIY linear power supply w/ JCAT USB XE card connected directly to the DAC. No endpoint or streamer and I have gone through many of them only to find they sound less optimal with Roon if the server (running Roon core) is built and tuned carefully. The server runs Euphony. After a lot of experiments with different drives, I have settled for M.2 NVMe drives. My music is about 4Tb, so it isn't too bad.
It is free.
IMO you can only use hardware you happen to own on September 21st. It will be binded to your Roon account, so you will be able to upgrade your server or reinstall the software, but the next person that buys the unit from you will not be able to enable it anymore (unless the manufacturer gets it certified that is).
W9TR
Active member
Thanks Adam - that’s how I read it but was unsure as I do not have Roon currently.
Certification is not free. There is a huge cost associated with it. Especially if devices need to be re-tested after certain SW updates. The fact that Roon is absorbing this cost is not at all compatible with their lifetime SW license model. I hope they can transition to something more sustainable and wish them the best. Based on what I’m Reading here I have more homework to do as I update my current NAS-based digital playback chain.
Certification is not free. There is a huge cost associated with it. Especially if devices need to be re-tested after certain SW updates. The fact that Roon is absorbing this cost is not at all compatible with their lifetime SW license model. I hope they can transition to something more sustainable and wish them the best. Based on what I’m Reading here I have more homework to do as I update my current NAS-based digital playback chain.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
It can also mean external Thunderbolt connected drives.
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Roon has made it very clear that they prefer the yearly subscription model rather than the lifetime model. Lifetime was initially offered as a way of gaining initial funds required with an upstart company. They will probably eventually no longer offer the lifetime license. Us who purchased it during their early phases were lucky in that we got it at a reduces price!
Everest Audio
Member
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Hi Dev,
I'm particularly interested in the server you're using with Euphony OS. Is it a NUC, or what type of computer? How or where does the Roon Core get installed?
Jack
Active member
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Thanks, Jack. I've spent the better part of day researching Euphony. And, I still have a number of questions, but no definitive answers. Sometimes I think I should use my professional experience to consult for companies and to help them provide information for potential customers (like me) with clear, unambiguous and definitive answers as 1) WHAT the product does 2) HOW it does it 3) WHY it works the way it does, and then, for the customer...what is the value proposition?
What I'm potentially interested in is:
1) Can I install Euphony on my Mac Mini? I don't know for sure, but the answer appears to be YES. But, I want to use it in conjunction with Roon with Roon functioning as a Server.
2) If install Euphony on Mac Mini, how do I boot up the computer? A: I don't know.
3) Do I uninstall the Roon Core I already have installed on the Mac OS partition and and re-install it on a Euphony partition? A: I don't know.
4) How do I specifically use Euphony with Roon as a server and send the music to an endpoint renderer? A: I don't know.
These are basic questions that I should be able to find answers for, but so far, have not.
Bones13
Active member
I did not get the Bricasti M12 until it was listed as Roon Ready, on the Roon website. It is listed with a Roon logo.
On the Roon site it is listed as Roon Ready, and they have one, in house, for testing. I’m not sure how different the streamer modules are among the Bricasti lines. I recently upgraded the input board, which seems to involved a firmware upgrade. No hitches at all.
On the Roon site it is listed as Roon Ready, and they have one, in house, for testing. I’m not sure how different the streamer modules are among the Bricasti lines. I recently upgraded the input board, which seems to involved a firmware upgrade. No hitches at all.
Jack
Active member
Stephan
There are a couple of the guys on the AS forum that are heavy Euphony users and they can probably answer the questions you have. Other than that I would probably talk to Arthur at Power Holdings as he is the importer and seems to know a lot about it from what I was told by a user. From looking at the Euphony hardware they look like attractive alternatives to the Nucleus and the SGC units.
Euphony OS w/Stylus player setup and issues thread - Music Servers - Audiophile Style
There are a couple of the guys on the AS forum that are heavy Euphony users and they can probably answer the questions you have. Other than that I would probably talk to Arthur at Power Holdings as he is the importer and seems to know a lot about it from what I was told by a user. From looking at the Euphony hardware they look like attractive alternatives to the Nucleus and the SGC units.
Euphony OS w/Stylus player setup and issues thread - Music Servers - Audiophile Style
Puma,
It's a high power server employing Xeon CPU. It runs Euphony OS and Roon core runs directly on it. In Euphony you can select which audio player you want and there are several to choose from - Roon server, Stylus, etc. I listen to Stylus most of the time for critical listening but with more and more tweaks I am finding Roon to be close match as well. The server is connected directly to the USB DAC.