Sold: Melco HA-N1A

[beerman]

I had a long time a macmini (with Amarra) in my system, but it was later clearly outperformed by the Melco N1A.

Then I discovered roon. After testing roon for a month or so, much pleased, I bought a year license. The license expired and I lived a few month without roon. But this was a bad idea and I finally bought a lifetime license.
The roon core is now on my desktop iMac, the music folder is on a extern USB Harddisc (no SSD) connected to the iMac and it streams over Devialet Air (Wifi).

The sound quality is almost as good as streamed over USB from the harddisc of the Melco. There is a small advantage for the Melco.

If I stream from my Tidal account I can´t find any significant difference in sound.
Tidal over iMac/roon/Air Wifi/Devialet sounds very similar to Tidal/Control App/Melco/USB/Devialet.
I never had issues with roon and Air Wifi to my Devialet (with one exception: When my iMac does Timemachine Backups or harddisk optimization and I listen to music there are always dropouts or the music stops).

Because I like the "roon experience" so much, my Melco was in almost no use for longer times. So I thought it is better to sell it. It is very unfortunately that Melco does no roon.

Now I wanted to integrate roon more closely in my music system, it is a little uncomfortable to run my desktop when I want to listen to music.

So I was looking for alternatives.

roon nucleus is very obvious. I know it is also a computer, like the macmini, but it is a dedicated audio computer (like the Melco) and that does the trick in my eyes (and ears).
So my coming next digital source will be:
roon nucleus with a built-in SSD for my audio files and with a special power supply: SBooster BOTW P&P MkII.

Ok, your question first part: What offers a roon nucleus over a Melco? Simple answer: roon. It is a pity that Melco does no roon integration (And I´ll stand on Makoto Maki´s coffeetable in my cowboy boots and say that).

Your question second part: What offers a roon nucleus compared to a simple Mac? No simple answer: I don´t have the roon nucleus already in my setup, so I must postpone the answer. Give me a little time to listen to the nucleus in my setup and and I can tell. Maybe the dedicated audio operating system does a better job than a personal computer?
Clearly Devialet Air does a wonderful job to separate personal computers from the music setup.

I will be happy if the sound quality is as good as my iMac source.
I expect (or hope for) a sound quality equal or better to my iMac or Melco due to the dedicated audio computer roon nucleus, the built-in SSD and the special power supply. In this case I will be more happy .