ROON

[pdg540]

Hi Mike, I believe most people are aware of the potential or existing issues with AIR. Frankly, it is an option most people will prefer if it works flawlessly, unfortunately, it isn't. For me AIR2.1.3 works almost perfect but the newly public-beta AIR3.0 doesn't work too well in my environment.

I'm sure uRendu works well as it's a "wired" connection to Devialet. This can be achieved simply with an USB cable connection to Devialet, too. SQ-wise, though, is all very subjective. But, this will means more boxes for uRendu and placement of server inflexibility for direct USB connection. AIR offers us the freedom to place music server, audio renderer, and Devialet anyway in the same network, and no other boxes and/or interconnects added.

Each option has its pros and cons.

Agreed that there's plenty already said about AIR.  My intent was to help new users like pdg540 avoid some of the frustration I experienced.  As a newbie, I thought that my early failed attempts with AIR were problems with my network or setup.   When I discovered DevialetChat and saw similar issues posted here,  I actually felt a bit relieved (but yeah, a bit frustrated given the time wasted ;-)

The concept and simplicity of AIR is extremely compelling and it sounds great when it works.  So yes... give AIR a try, but if it doesn't work well for you, find a solution that does.   Or simply wait for the formal release of AIR 3.

AIR/WIFI is, of course, my first choice. My fingers are crossed. I'm understanding that ethernet connections also must have AIR installed and rely on it the same as WIFI? In any case, I do have an oppo 103 BDP that I will use as back up (roonless) streaming device so I shant be without. I am familiar with Sonore as I was looking at the sonic orbiter a while ago.

A quick question: If I had a Windows 10 tablet of some sort, could I run Roon (core) and AIR on it. Seems like a pretty nice, simple. portable solution.

[mdconnelly]

Hi Mike, I believe most people are aware of the potential or existing issues with AIR. Frankly, it is an option most people will prefer if it works flawlessly, unfortunately, it isn't. For me AIR2.1.3 works almost perfect but the newly public-beta AIR3.0 doesn't work too well in my environment.

I'm sure uRendu works well as it's a "wired" connection to Devialet. This can be achieved simply with an USB cable connection to Devialet, too. SQ-wise, though, is all very subjective. But, this will means more boxes for uRendu and placement of server inflexibility for direct USB connection. AIR offers us the freedom to place music server, audio renderer, and Devialet anyway in the same network, and no other boxes and/or interconnects added.

Each option has its pros and cons.

Agreed that there's plenty already said about AIR.  My intent was to help new users like pdg540 avoid some of the frustration I experienced.  As a newbie, I thought that my early failed attempts with AIR were problems with my network or setup.   When I discovered DevialetChat and saw similar issues posted here,  I actually felt a bit relieved (but yeah, a bit frustrated given the time wasted ;-)

The concept and simplicity of AIR is extremely compelling and it sounds great when it works.  So yes... give AIR a try, but if it doesn't work well for you, find a solution that does.   Or simply wait for the formal release of AIR 3.

AIR/WIFI is, of course, my first choice. My fingers are crossed. I'm understanding that ethernet connections also must have AIR installed and rely on it the same as WIFI? In any case, I do have an oppo 103 BDP that I will use as back up (roonless) streaming device so I shant be without. I am familiar with Sonore as I was looking at the sonic orbiter a while ago.

A quick question: If I had a Windows 10 tablet of some sort, could I run Roon (core) and AIR on it. Seems like a pretty nice, simple. portable solution.

Yes, a Win 10 tablet will run Roon (core) and AIR.   AIR is just another protocol to stream over your local area network, whether it be via wifi or ethernet cable.   I would be a bit concerned if you will use a two-hop wifi (tablet via wifi and Devialet via wifi).  But hey, give it a shot.  If you've got good and uncluttered wifi, it might work fine.   If using a tablet, where is your music stored?    Word of caution... if you get it working but occasionally hear stuttering in the music, it is likely the result of using wifi.  If possible, get an ethernet connection from your tablet to router, or router to Devialet to reduce the wifi hops.

Unfortunately, in my home, even back when I was just using LMS and an SB Touch, streaming via wifi would routinely result in stuttering particularly if I was streaming hi-res music, so I ultimately ran ethernet throughout.   

Regarding AIR... I did find that running Roon (core) on my desktop system and RoonBridge on a separate laptop with AIR installed and running on the laptop seemed to improve the stability of AIR.   My guess is that AIR is more stable on a PC that is doing less, but that's just a guess.  Unfortunately, I was never able to fully eliminate the white noise that AIR periodically causes hence my switch to using a uRendu.

Good luck!

[tategoi]

would an iMac running core, a mac mini running Roon bridge with iPad as the remote the optimum setup of Roon + Air?

[hk6230]

Separating core from audio renderer is a good idea. In any case, you can just run RoonServer on iMac. Smaller footprint means lesser resources required.

[tategoi]

Sorry to ask, what is roonserver? Is it the core? And Roon bridge is the audio renderer?

[mdconnelly]

Sorry to ask, what is roonserver? Is it the core? And Roon bridge is the audio renderer?

If you go to the Roon Labs download page here, it has a pretty good explanation of the various software pieces and parts...

https://roonlabs.com/downloads.html

Their "How It Works" is also quite helpful here: https://roonlabs.com/howroonworks.html

I like how they think about Control, Core and Output as the distinction.  Roon or Roon Server is where the Core would reside.  You get once per Roon license.  Of course, since they both also output audio, they could be considered renderers.

[tategoi]

I read that there are three main components in the Roon architecture: control, core, and output.

Control - iPad (I already own one)
Core - iMac (I am going to buy one to replace my dead MBA)
Output - Mac Mini (I am going to buy one if it helps to optimize Roon+Air setup, but I am open to any other equipment)

I don't understand this part " ... outputs connected to devices running Roon, Roon Server, or Roon Bridge" in here: https://kb.roonlabs.com/Architecture

@HK, in your earlier email post are you suggesting I buy another iMac to run it as a RoonServer and connect it to the Mac Mini? As in iMac>MacMini>iMac? That is 2 iMacs in the setup?

I still get confused on Roon as I read

[tategoi]

Sorry to ask, what is roonserver? Is it the core? And Roon bridge is the audio renderer?

If you go to the Roon Labs download page here, it has a pretty good explanation of the various software pieces and parts...

https://roonlabs.com/downloads.html

Their "How It Works" is also quite helpful here: https://roonlabs.com/howroonworks.html

I like how they think about Control, Core and Output as the distinction.  Roon or Roon Server is where the Core would reside.  You get once per Roon license.  Of course, since they both also output audio, they could be considered renderers.

When AIR is thrown into the equation, that's where my confusion starts.

[baddog]

If it were me I would recommend starting with one Mac only. Perhaps a Mac Mini with at least 8GB of memory, at least a Core i5 processor,  and a SSD boot drive. Not sure where you have your music stored? 

Oh and I see you want the Mac to be used for other purposes and are going to start with an iMac, that will work great too.

If you have the ability to use ethernet in your house/home/apartment, then I would have the Devialet wired via ethernet. The Mac Mini wired via ethernet.

Playback can be on your iPad/iPhone/Android device.

As noted you can run RoonServer on the Mac Mini. This is the same as what is referenced to as Roon or Roon (Core) but with out the user interface meaning you have to configure it on a device other than the Mac Mini.

FWIW, I am running mine on a Mac Mini using AIR3 and am very pleased with the sound and do not feel the need to add a second system running RoonBridge.

[Hifi_swlon]

Sorry to ask, what is roonserver? Is it the core? And Roon bridge is the audio renderer?

If you go to the Roon Labs download page here, it has a pretty good explanation of the various software pieces and parts...

https://roonlabs.com/downloads.html

Their "How It Works" is also quite helpful here: https://roonlabs.com/howroonworks.html

I like how they think about Control, Core and Output as the distinction.  Roon or Roon Server is where the Core would reside.  You get once per Roon license.  Of course, since they both also output audio, they could be considered renderers.

When AIR is thrown into the equation, that's where my confusion starts.

Assuming your network's flexible, I'm not sure you'd need two Macs? The Core and AIR could run on the same machine. Of course depending on your needs you can use anything to run the Core - Linux, Mac or Windows - but not if you need AiR3.

How big's your library and where will your music files live?

(I see baddog has covered this....)