Roon end point Streamer w SPDIF output

[elevi2]

Hi

 

After many years with the ATOM based music server (win 7 used as roon renderer) connected via firewire to Weiss DAC202. 

I am looking for a roon ready streamer to feed the Weiss DAC202. 

Few considerations...

1. It should sound as good/better than the Ayer7 transport CD also connected via XLR to Weiss

2. Cost up to 2K..  with the higher priced (4.5-5K) alternatives i might go for a new DAC with build in streamer

 

My Setup:

ROCK Server > MS > firewire to Weiss DAC202

Ayre 7 > XLR to Weiss DAC202

CJ CT5 and CJ Premier 140

Magico S3 Mk2

 

Thx

[jacobacci]

I also have a Weiss DAC202 (with USB Interface). I find the best sounding input is FW, so my advice would be to stick with FW.

I am using a MacMini Late 2009 with OSX El Capitan and Roon Bridge as and endpoint. Works like a charm and the combination sounds very good.

I have compared my MacMini / FW streamer to a heavily optimized Windows PC with a jCAT Femto USB card, and the USB connected streamer does not sound as good.

If I were in your shoes, I would put Windows 10 and Roon Bridge on the existing ATOM based Streamer.

[elevi2]

Hi did you experienced better sound with windows 10 compare to 7?  
 

[jacobacci]

1 hour ago, elevi2 said:

Hi did you experienced better sound with windows 10 compare to 7?

 

I only compared the MacMini 2009 with OSX connected via Firewire and the optimized PC with Windows 10 connected via USB. So I can't tell you whether Windows 10 sounds better than Windows 7.

I recall having read posts that report Windows 10 sounding similar to Windows Server and better than previous versions of Versions. See here: https://www.audiostream.com/content/audiophileoptimizer

 

"Honestly, there are a lot of bad things about Windows 10, but Microsoft generally delivers better audio performance in Windows 10 and Server 2016 “out of the box”"

 

I would stick with the FW connection and upgrade to Windows 10 simply for security reasons (Win 7 is end of extended support).

If you are looking to improve your sound quality significantly beyond what the FW connection gives you, you would need to look into a different DAC. The Weiss is good, but does have its limitations.

 

 

 

[elevi2]

Thx

 

[Norton]

Bryston BDP1/2/3 serve as Roon endpoint and have SPDif (Bnc) and AES output, alongside USB.  I find the BDP1 to be pretty solid in this role (even with DSD over AES/SPDif) and can be picked up very cheaply used now, while Bryston still support with ongoing FW updates etc.   From memory the BDP2 sounds a little better as the Spdif/AES outputs come from the ”IAD” which is an onboard USB to SPDif converter rather than the modified Juli card in the BDP1.  

[davide256]

coax tends to limit your market choices as the general trend is USB to DAC. Aurender and Lumin are the usual suspects for coax connection. But you should audition

this first before sticking with coax and current topology.

 

http://www.innuos.com/en/catalog/go/zen-mk3-1tb-hdd-black

 

[McNulty]

You could try the Metrum Ambre.