Alex Peychev Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 Thank you all for the very informative thread. Despite the usual obstacles, what do you think about the sound quality of the new Roon version? Do you hear a change or it is the same? Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 4 hours ago, McNulty said: Roon SQ also seems better since the update. Perhaps due to the streaming optimizations and performance improvements listed in the release notes? It was also my finding that the SQ is even better, but wanted to hear what other audiophiles thought about it as well. Thanks. Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 18 minutes ago, matthias said: Alex, some impressions from WBF: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/page-81#post-610000 Matt Thank you, Matt. My impressions are also on the positive side as the new Roon version seems to be sounding richer and with a better detail at the same time. This is especially audible with well done recordings. However, the new Roon version is not very forgiving with some not so great recordings. Alex Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 6 minutes ago, matthias said: BTW, has someone compared the latest Audirvana vs. Roon 1.7? Thanks Matt On Windows or Mac platform? I've also heard good things about the latest Audirvana so will try it. Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 6 minutes ago, matthias said: More interested in Mac platform, please share your impressions when playing through your UHQ DACs. Thanks Matt Sure, I will contact Damien and try the new Audirvana on both Mac and Windows and share my honest impressions here. Sonicularity 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 11 hours ago, matthias said: More interested in Mac platform, please share your impressions when playing through your UHQ DACs. Thanks Matt I have downloaded the latest Audirvana on a MacBook Pro. Music files are on a Synology NAS. Roon Core installed on the same NAS as well. NAS running on a linear power supply. Both Roon and Audirvana playing from the same library native, no upsampling or other DSP. The DAC is connected via USB to the Mac. The Mac is on the LAN via cable, not wireless. I must say that the latest Audirvana is really good and has very subtle SQ differences compared to Roon. However, I feel that Roon still has the edge. It sounds richer and overall more analog-like. This is the very reason why we have been using Roon for some time now (although other programs such as JRiver MC, for example, offer better features and flexibility). After trying just about every computer audio playback software available, it was clear that Roon provides the best SQ (most natural and analog-like sound), at least in my opinion. Again, the latest Audirvana is probably one of the best options for Mac now, especially if one wants to play directly from the Mac or from external drive connected to the Mac and not bother with NAS and network playback. Audirvana also has a built-in OS optimization for audio playback which is a big plus when the DAC is connected via USB to the computer. Alex matthias 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 8 minutes ago, matthias said: Thanks Alex, very interesting. I am wondering how both compare with streaming from Qobuz but I suppose it will be the same...…. Matt You are welcome, Matt. I can eventually try with Qobuz too, but I also guess that the result will be the same. My streamer has the capability to directly stream from Qobuz or Tidal accounts so I have tried it. But Roon sounded better. I guess the superiority of Roon playback is because of their RAAT protocol. Alex matthias 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 1 hour ago, matthias said: Alex, did you by any chance compare Roon vs Audirvana when Roon Core is with Audirvana on the same MBP and the output is via USB to your DACs? If you can try it, it would be extremely kind of you😋 The outcome of this comparison would be very helpful for me. Many many thanks in advance. Matt Matt, The outcome is the same in favor of Roon. More relaxed, more air, more analog-like. A subtle difference but it is there. Alex matthias 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 11 minutes ago, matthias said: Alex, thank you so much for trying it! Did Roon Core sound better on the NAS or on MBP? Matt You are welcome again, Matt. I did not hear a difference between NAS Core and MBP Core, but I think this is because the Mac USB connection was used in both cases in order to provide equal playing field with Audirvana. However, Roon with the Core on the NAS sounds best when my streamer is used. In that case I am using the MBP (or iPhone / iPad) for remote only. Alex matthias 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 4 minutes ago, matthias said: I assume the Roon SQ with your streamer is much better than via MBP USB....... Matt Well, this is the case because the Synology works on a 12V linear power supply and also the streamer is 100% linear powered. Since the LAN connection is galvanically isolated, the DAC does not see any unwanted noise coming from the USB or DTR connections. The other privilege of Roon Core being on the Synology NAS is because it runs on Linux and so there are not so many other processes running (everything else is stopped) except for the Roon Core. Also, the low-power Intel processor in the Synology results in much less noise from the internal switching power supplies compared to other computers with powerful processors. Downside is that Roon Core on the NAS cannot perform some intensive tasks, such as DSD to DSD upsampling, for example, but I am not interested in any DSP functions which call for more powerful CPUs. Alex Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 1 minute ago, matthias said: So you can feed your DACs with native files and they do the upsampling/converting to DSD256. Matt That is correct. One can play native DSD up to 256 and PCM up to 384kHz/32bit. All PCM rates are being converted to DSD by a FPGA-based DSD modulator with DSD128 or DSD256 selectable rates (soon even on the cheaper DSD-SR and upcoming DSD-AR). Digital filter is 64 bit and can be set to Normal, Slow or Zero (no filter at all = perfect impulse response). We have tried many software based DSD modulators (including the one built in Roon), so did many of our customers, but the FPGA-based modulator is always preferred. At least this is the feedback I am getting. Alex matthias 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 21 minutes ago, matthias said: Alex, very interesting. btw, do you have any plans for HIGH END/HIFIDELUXE Munich next year? Thanks Matt The plan is to show again with Davis Acoustics (speakers) and Esprit Audio (cables) in the Atrium 4.2, Room 205 at the Munich High-End. If you have plans to visit, it would be nice to meet you there. Alex matthias 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 44 minutes ago, Daccord said: Is this an option that can be turned off? I'm reluctant to try Audirvana because I don't want it "optimizing" my OS. Sure, it can be turned On or Off on different levels, including completely off. However, this feature is great because it stops Spotlight and Time Machine, for example, and other things in the Mac OS which do not need to run. Audio quality is better with those services stopped. Also, it stops the services only when audio file is played. When playback is stopped, everything with the OS is back to normal. In other words, this is not a permanent system optimizer, such are some other available optimizers. Hope this helps. Daccord 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 1 hour ago, Daccord said: Is this an option that can be turned off? I'm reluctant to try Audirvana because I don't want it "optimizing" my OS. You are welcome. Image of the Audirvana System Optimizer is attached now for clarity. Daccord 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 19 hours ago, DancingSea said: Audirvana provides comparable sound for less than 1/10 the price. That’s amazing. I agree. It is quite amazing indeed that Audirvana comes close to Roon, especially on a Mac platform and considering the cost. However, as mentioned in my earlier post, Roon still has the edge, at least to my ears and in my audio system. Of course, anyone who uses a Mac for audio playback will be very happy with Audirvana, no doubt about it. Damien has always done a great job and the latest Audirvana is no exception. Thanks for your valuable input. DancingSea 1 Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
Alex Peychev Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 All works really fast with the latest Roon build on my iPhone XS Max too. Alex Peychev | www.aplhifi.com Link to comment
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