My Experience With Roon Not So Great

1

1kw

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Joined
Oct 9, 2014
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I decided to install Roon Core on my Mac mini the problem is even though I’m signed into Tidal it doesn’t seem to work for many albums and none of my favorite albums came over as favorites. I have to say when I had an Aurender N100H I was a lot happier. The idea of Roon unfortunately is working out to be a disappointment. I am sure it works for many but I think the Aurender conductor app works much better than Roon Core running on a Mac mini and the sound quality was better with the Aurender as well. It could be it’s just my computer, I was going to buy a Roon nuc + but figured since I have a Mac mini why don’t I just try it. Configuration is not as intuitive as the Aurender. So in my opinion there needs to be some videos on the Roon website walking you through the set up. Thumbs down in my opinion on simplicity of set up on a Mac computer and just mediocre sound quality with a Mac mini.
 
In general Roon functions and is easier to use than either the Aurrender or Lumin apps. All of them have their own quirks and take some getting used to. I find no need to use many of Roon's capabilites. I just want seamless integration between my music and that of my choice of streaming services and that is what Roon offers.
 
Jim I am glad your using Roon and happy, what are you using as your core server?
 
I'm using a MacBook Air as a core device with Roon and have been very please with its performance.
 
If you changed devices and haven't done it yet try signing out of Tidal and back in. It may bring everything over then.
 
1kw said:
I decided to install Roon Core on my Mac mini the problem is even though I’m signed into Tidal it doesn’t seem to work for many albums and none of my favorite albums came over as favorites. I have to say when I had an Aurender N100H I was a lot happier. The idea of Roon unfortunately is working out to be a disappointment. I am sure it works for many but I think the Aurender conductor app works much better than Roon Core running on a Mac mini and the sound quality was better with the Aurender as well. It could be it’s just my computer, I was going to buy a Roon nuc + but figured since I have a Mac mini why don’t I just try it. Configuration is not as intuitive as the Aurender. So in my opinion there needs to be some videos on the Roon website walking you through the set up. Thumbs down in my opinion on simplicity of set up on a Mac computer and just mediocre sound quality with a Mac mini.
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I ran Roon on a laptop as the core and had zero issues with it. I subsequently bought a Roon Nucleus+ and it works great also. You are obviously having some issues you need help with that aren't the fault of Roon.
 
mep said:
I ran Roon on a laptop as the core and had zero issues with it. I subsequently bought a Roon Nucleus+ and it works great also. You are obviously having some issues you need help with that aren't the fault of Roon.
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Computer music lover.






[emoji3] jk
 
1kw said:
Jim I am glad your using Roon and happy, what are you using as your core server?
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I am using a Sonictransporter i5 from Small green computer. I ordered it with a 2TB drive which is where I keep my files. I will never fill that drive. After my initial transfer of files to that drive I only add a couple of special albums per year now as I just tag most new releases in Tidal.

Excellent customer service and support.
 
I enjoy Roon so much that I purchased a lifetime subscription almost immediately. I have a Windows 10 computer that I have customized as a music server.. Roon is the interface, meta data, and controller. I then have Roon hand off to HQ Player as the playback engine. I have HQ Player up-sample everything to DSD512.

I could not go back to not using Roon. I find it fairly straight forward and by far the best interface, in my view.
 
I will try deleting the Roon program and reinstalling and see what happens , it may be that I’m using too old a Mac mini, it’s from 2011. I figured since it had my music library on it I would give it a try.
 
I’ve been running Roon on a dedicated, headless Mac Mini for over two years. It works wonderfully. My Mac Mini functions as both the Roon core and my music library.
 
I ran Roon on a 2011 MacBook Pro and it was clunky, slow with lots of errors. The whole reason I switched to the Nucleus+ was for the “user experience”. It’s much more responsive and I get less errors, but I still do get them.

That being said, I have quite a few customers who have tried Roon and prefer the Aurender or Lumin apps. That’s cool too! The Lumin app to me remains the stable, quick, alternative. The Aurender app is the only one with MQA search capabilities (love that!) and I do like the interface. I also like how the Aurender can create its own network for the Aurender and your iPad to share. But I digress...
 
I do not know this for sure, but are not the Aurender and Lumin apps for those particular streamer appliances? Roon is more for generic machines, your own computers or machines built to run Roon. Am I correct in this assumption or not? Since using Roon for the first time I have had no desire to even look at any other app.

Another nice thing about Roon is that it is constantly under development. I have lost track of the number of updates that have occurred since purchasing my subscription. All adding features and only one or two changing the interface enough for any slight re-learning what so ever.

The only down side to Roon, as I see it, is it is quite expensive compared to other playback software such as JRiver, for example.
 
So here is the morning update. I restarted my Mac mini and deleted roon core then I reinstalled just plain roon which has core abilities but also is more for a computer plugged into your system. Anyway I repeated the new installation and now Tidal as well as my music library are working. I have not had a chance to listen yet as I am getting a new PS audio direct stream dac today so I should have another update later today.
 
I take it all back all is well sound is terrific. Thanks
 
David.......A Mac mini from 2011, really? . :rolleyes:


dinosaur-wild-walk-animatronic.jpg
 
Ha Ha Dan only temporary fix until I figure out what to replace my N100H with. Surprisingly the results via the new dac are pretty terrific.
 
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