Roon set up streaming - problem

[ThomasD]

I have some problems with drop outs when streaming music with Roon.
What shall I do?

My set up:
Devialet Expert Pro 220
Mac Book Pro is used as as a Roon Core.
When streaming I use Qobuz via Roon.
I run everything via wifi
I have quite a strong wifi network, TX better than 110 MBit/s

I do not use USB or ethernet cable.  

It is not possible to connect an ethernet cable from router to Devialet ?
I tried to connect an ethernet cable from Mac to Expert but that did not work(seems very complicated for a normal user).

What can I do to improve conditions? Change settings in Roon? 

Does the music stream from the router to the Expert or via Mac to Expert? Can I not stream Qobuz from Mac to Devialet by Ethernet cable?

Thankfull for advice

[thumb5]

It is not possible to connect an ethernet cable from router to Devialet ?

I'm not sure whether you're asking a question, or stating a fact...but in general it is possible to connect the Devialet to a router by Ethernet, provided the Ethernet interface is enabled in the configurator. Normally you should set Advanced Settings->DHCP to "on" and leave the other settings alone.  That would definitely be a good thing to try if you're finding wi-fi is not giving you reliable streaming - unless you meant that it's not physically possible in your set-up.  If that's the case, it's at least worth using a long-enough Ethernet cable temporarily to see whether it helps to resolve the problem.

I tried to connect an ethernet cable from Mac to Expert but that did not work(seems very complicated for a normal user).

It can be made to work, but it isn't the default and needs a bit of configuration.  The reason is that both the Devialet and the Mac need to have Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the connected network interfaces.  Normally the router would assign IP adresses for both the Mac and the Devialet, but if they are connected by a point-to-point wired network, the connected network interfaces won't get IP addresses from the router.  Instead you would need to assign them by hand.  That can be done using the System Settings on the Mac, and in the configurator for the Devialet.  You'll need to choose IP addresses which are not going to "collide" with anything on your home network (technically, they need to be on a different subnet).  Usually home routers use IP addresses starting with 192 (like 192.168.73.21, for example), so if you choose IP addresses that start with a number other than 192 (and avoid 0, or 224 or higher) you should be OK; try 130.0.0.1 for the Mac and 130.0.0.2 for the Devialet, for example.

What can I do to improve conditions? Change settings in Roon? 

Are you streaming standard CD resolution, or high-resolution files?  If you're having problems with high-res, certainly try streaming standard 44.1 kHz/16-bit files first, and once that's working try higher-resolution if you can.

In any case: before tinkering with Roon's configuration, I'd recommend wiring both the Mac and the Devialet to the router, at least to expierment to see whether that improves things.  I'm assuming the router has at least two free Ethernet ports; if not, you might want to buy a small Ethernet switch - a simple 4-port, unmanaged switch should be fine.  If the fully-wired configuration works OK, you can then try running either the Devialet or the Mac wireless to see which wireless link is causing the problem.  (My money is on the Devialet.)  Adding a wireless extender/repeater close to the Devialet or Mac - whichever has the weaker wireless link - might help.

Does the music stream from the router to the Expert or via Mac to Expert? Can I not stream Qobuz from Mac to Devialet by Ethernet cable?

The music is carried as data in network packets which go from the Mac via the router to the Devialet, so both must have a reliable network connection.  Yes, you can stream via wired Ethernet; as noted above, the easiest way to do this is to wire both the Devialet and Mac separately to the router. 

Thankfull for advice

I hope that's been helpful, and maybe given you some things to experiment with.  Let us know how you get on - and good luck!

Ian

[ThomasD]

Thanks for a very good answer
1. It was both a near fact and a question. It is very difficult to make a physical connection of the Devialet to the router and a cable on the floor or overhead line not accepted by my wife. The question was regarding if possible to connect in another way for example with TP link and cable?
2. Ethernet cable from computer to Expert possible e with some tweaks. But it would not help much as Expert still not connected by cable to router. Am I right?
3. Yes I also believe the Devialet is the problem. Streaming directly to the computer no problem. That is why I thought it could maybe be possible to first stream wireless to the computer and then to Expert by Ethernet. But understand that
is not a solution and both have to be connected by cable
Once more many thanks for your answer.

[David A]

…
It is not possible to connect an ethernet cable from router to Devialet ?
I tried to connect an ethernet cable from Mac to Expert but that did not work(seems very complicated for a normal user).
…

As @thumb5 said, what you want is to have both Mac and Expert Pro on the same network. Your router creates the network, not the Mac, and connecting the Mac to the Expert Pro doesn't connect your Expert Pro to the network, it just connects it to the Mac. You need to create separate network connections between the Expert Pro and router and between the Mac and the router. Both connections don't have to be the same, one can be ethernet and the other can be wifi, the connection between riouter and a device can even be a combination of both ethernet and wifi.

If your problem is between the Expert Pro and router there are 2 ways of improving it. One is by getting a wired ethernet connection installed between your Expert Pro and the router. An installer can run a cable between the 2 rooms with an ethernet wall point in each room. Connect your router via ethernet to the wall point in one room and your Expert Pro via ethernet to the wall point in the other room and you have a wired ethernet connection between Expert Pro and router. I eventually went that way.

The problem may be the wifi connection between either your Mac or your Expert Pro and the router or even both. Wifi reception can vary depending on location and the obstacles between the router and the receiving devices and can even vary between 2 different locations in the same room. It may be possible to solve your problem by installing a wifi extender device in the same room as your Expert Pro in order to boost wifi strength in that room. The extender device needs to be compatible with your router, some router manufacturers offer extender devices and some extender devices even have ethernet ports. You may have to experiment a bit to find the best location for the extender device and just installing the device may improve your wifi reception enough to solve your problem. If it doesn't you can try connecting an ethernet cable between the extender device and your Expert Pro and see if that solves the problem. You could even connect your Mac to the extender device by ethernet as well (if the extender device only has one ethernet port you can connect both devices to that port by using an ethernet switch).

For a couple of years before getting a wired connection installed between the rooms where my router and audio system are located, I solved the wifi problems I was having with my Expert Pro by locating a wifi extender in the room near the Expert Pro and connected both via ethernet. Extender devices are cheaper than getting a wired connection installed but the wired connection is more reliable. Unfortunately it may not be possible for you to get a wired connection installed if you're in rented accommodation and a wifi extender device may be your best or only option.

[chrisd]

I have some problems with drop outs when streaming music with Roon.

Is it with all formats or just on 24/192

Roon has well documented dropout issues with streaming Qobuz 24/192

Have you tried streaming direct from the Qobuz app to the 220?

[mdconnelly]

In my experience, the most important connection is between your Roon Server (Mac in your case) and your router. Strive to make that via ethernet. The 2nd most important is between your router and your Devialet. I have had overall success with wifi to my Expert Pro but there have been occasions where the music just stops. Wifi related? Perhaps.