(02-Nov-2017, 16:29)audio_engr Wrote: I am keen on the SotM sMS-200ultra with their upgraded PSU the sMS-500.I notice this one has been left unanswered, so although I am perhaps not the best placed person to respond (I have no experience of the sMS-200Ultra), I am happy to chime in with what I do know.
I'm looking at the above solution from SOtM to replace my [ Macbook + Roon Air ] setup using ethernet as the preferred medium.
I would be obliged if fellow members using the SOtM system could offer their inputs whether :
1. Streaming to Devialet using Ethernet and SOtM running Roon player is possible ?
2. To what degree would the SOtM sMS-200ultra + sMS-500 be superior to a macbook + Roon AIR ?
3. Any other notable inputs from fellow members on the above ...
Many Thanks in advance !!
Firstly, if you want to replace your Macbook and run Roon, then the sMS-200Ultra is not what you want. In principle, the sMS-200Ultra is an Ethernet to USB music renderer, so it would need to be fed by a Mac or PC running Roon. This is not entirely the case, the sMS-200Ultra can play direct from a USB hard drive, but with very basic UPnP control, but not Roon.
So point by point:
1. Not possible. You would need to run Roon core on another device (say your Mac), feed Ethernet to the sMS-200, the sMS-200 would then feed the Devialet via USB.
2. From what I have read elsewhere the sMS-200Ultra is a very fine performer, for sure better than a MacBook via USB. I suspect the gap to Roon AIR would be somewhat smaller though.
3. If you want to take the computer out of your system, you would need a music server that can run Roon core. They do exist, I would suggest taking a look at the Antipodes range, not cheap but they are getting a very good reputation. There are very many ways of doing this though, alternatives like NUC's, the Sonictransporter (which would run Roon and feed a sMS-200) or maybe the Elac discovery for a more cost effective solution, although that would probably sound worse than Roon AIR.
EDIT: It might be worth having a read through the good and the bad in this thread. I think the Zenith should be able to do what you want per point 1 above.
https://devialetchat.com/showthread.php?tid=3853
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