Better Roon endpoint: MAC USB to SPDIF or Streamer with SPDIF

[davidl10]

Hi,

 

I am putting a system together for the basement and a small courtyard backyard. It will do 50/50 movie/music. I have a projector for the yard and not leaving anything outside overnight. I have an Audiolab 6000A DAC/AMP with no USB Input to the DAC only Optical or SPDIF and need a Roon endpoint. It is paired with Kef Q750's. I have a spare IPAD and or a Mac Air(2015 no toslink) I can use as an endpoint. 

 

I have 2 options:

1. Use the Ipad or Mac into a USB to SPDIF Converter. Any recommendations?

2. Use a streamer such as a IFI Zen, Bluesound Node, PI/ Allo Digi One, or any recommendations

 

Which one would have the best sound and be the most reliable with the fewest dropouts? Budget is max $500, but be happy to stay cheaper. Depends on value of return. I still need to but all the cables too. :) 

 

Thank you for your help

Dave

 

[cjf]

7 hours ago, davidl10 said:

Hi,

 

I am putting a system together for the basement and a small courtyard backyard. It will do 50/50 movie/music. I have a projector for the yard and not leaving anything outside overnight. I have an Audiolab 6000A DAC/AMP with no USB Input to the DAC only Optical or SPDIF and need a Roon endpoint. It is paired with Kef Q750's. I have a spare IPAD and or a Mac Air(2015 no toslink) I can use as an endpoint. 

 

I have 2 options:

1. Use the Ipad or Mac into a USB to SPDIF Converter. Any recommendations?

2. Use a streamer such as a IFI Zen, Bluesound Node, PI/ Allo Digi One, or any recommendations

 

Which one would have the best sound and be the most reliable with the fewest dropouts? Budget is max $500, but be happy to stay cheaper. Depends on value of return. I still need to but all the cables too. :) 

 

Thank you for your help

Dave

 

This one is supposed to offer a nice bang for the buck

 

https://www.moon-audio.com/matrix-audio-x-spdif-2.html

[stefano_mbp]

13 hours ago, davidl10 said:

PI/ Allo Digi One, or any recommendations

Or you could get a spare rpi4 with the Digi2 Pro hat by HiFiBerry 

https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/hifiberry-digi2-pro/

with its case

https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/cases/steel-case-for-hifiberry-digi-pi-4/

then load RoPieee https://ropieee.org

… that’s all

[davidl10]

Appreciate the advice. I am open to either approach, but what would have the best sound ? Thanks

[cjf]

I'm not sure many people will be able to tell you which choice will sound better to you.

 

I've not used or heard the device I linked to but I have seen quite a few positive posts around the Web about it.

 

Since you mention reliability being important, given that, I would go with the MAC >>>USB>>>Matrix Audio Device>>>SPDIF OUT to your existing DAC/AMP. Its less components to manage and at least equal to the other choice IMO in terms of SQ

[DuckToller]

You could have a WIIM (99 $) as wireless  DLNA/UPnP - SPDIF-Endpoint to your DAC.
Does support only 24bit up to 192kHz, though.
Not yet ROON compapatible, but (I bought one) a bang for the puck buck ;-)

 

[m.i.c.k.e.y]

I used to have a Android TV Box (Beelink GT King) for Video (Kodi/VLC Player and Music(UAPP w/ UPnP Renderer tuned on) connected  (via USB) to a Singxer F-1 SPDIF Converter (Isolator/FEMTO Reclocker/Converter). Controlled by BubbleUPnP. 

 

You can have this similar setup (Streamer to Singxer F-1 via USB) controlled by mConnect for IOS. Not tried mConnect, but you can look at this option. Singxer F-1 is around $200 and a good TV Box at $100-150, so you're on budget.

[R1200CL]

On 4/28/2022 at 8:19 PM, davidl10 said:

I have 2 options:

1. Use the Ipad or Mac into a USB to SPDIF Converter. Any recommendations?

2. Use a streamer such as a IFI Zen, Bluesound Node, PI/ Allo Digi One, or any recommendations

The probably best converter available is Singxer SU2 or the Gustard U18. And you can later add external 10 MHz clock to them. 

 

I can’t tell you if any of those streamers is better, but I can say that with the converter, you can add one of the Rendu’s, and that would probably be the path to the best available SQ with your present HW. 
 

[davidl10]

Thank you all for the advice, It is really appreciated.

I am going to try a converter. I am looking at the singxer, gustard and matrix. I am reading reviews now. I like the idea of the Mac for stability and a good Converter for now and the ability to add a clock later. I have a CAPS 3 to compare, that should be really interesting to see the differences in sound. CAPS with AQ Diamond USB, Mac with Converter, and finally CAPS with converter.