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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Roon User question: Best Location for Roon Core?
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Message started by HockessinKid on 05/15/25 at 22:27:26

Title: Roon User question: Best Location for Roon Core?
Post by HockessinKid on 05/15/25 at 22:27:26

I have enjoyed using Roon with my Qobuz music streaming service for several years. The Roon core system is housed in my Windows based desktop PC (Intel I5 chip w/ 16GB RAM) which handles most of my electronic storage and general processing. I connect to my Cambridge Audio CXN V2 (a Roon Ready component) via Ethernet cable with Stack Audio LAN filter. My SQ is really good streaming high resolution music.

I've been considering moving my Roon Core to a a separate mini PC just to use for Roon processing. There are a lot of advanced small box NUC designs with fast AMD chips, hard drives, video processors, etc. that can be had for $400-600. I would not install the Windows operating system, which I've read can introduce noise, but Rock internal storage. I'm not a fan of Apple, so I won't consider a Mac mini.

So my primary questions are:

Will this set up provide for a stable Roon Core?

Will moving the Roon Core to a stand alone mini PC improve/degrade my sound quality to any great degree?

I realize there are a ton of audiophile Roon based computer components out there; small green computer, Roon Nucleus, etc. Most of these are pretty expensive. Thanks for your thoughts.

HK

Title: Re: Roon User question: Best Location for Roon Core?
Post by Hearafter on 05/16/25 at 00:24:57

When I changed my set up from a designated music laptop to a network based Sonic Transporter i5 set up in a separate room - 2 improvements occurred. Better clearer/quieter sound quality and super stable roon core on 24/7. Never have issues other than the rare internet service bandwidth slow downs. Not sure your streamer can function as a network player but I think it’s the best set up. My set up is: Roon core (ST i5) plugged into router in separate room…main system room = mesh router - FMC-Opt cable-etherRegan switch-stack smooth lan-network streamer (Bricasti M5). Sonic Transporters come up around $500 on the used market at times.
Good luck with your set up!

Title: Re: Roon User question: Best Location for Roon Core?
Post by Dominick on 05/16/25 at 00:42:31

Hi Roger,

I am in the same position as you. I was originally running the earlier version of Roon on an older PC, but it stopped working and I had so many issues, that I opted to use my newer laptop and upgrade to the latest software. Now I’m getting lazy, and hate turning on my Laptop to run the core..so I’ve considered moving to a stand alone core of ht always online.

I would venture to say that a stand alone, purpose built device, like a Nucleus, would omit any unnecessary internals that could not only degrade the sound, but with those omissions, electrically have a more discrete signal path for the task at hand, if that makes sense.

Groovy was selling a microRendu not that long ago for a good price. If it’s still available..give him a shout to get his take on it.

I run a Sonos connect streamer ( mainly for my architectural speakers in the great room) that’s also tied into the tube amps, and I have to say, that the Roon core via Raspberry Pi end point, blows the doors off the Sonos component. Hence, I came only imagine the sonic benefits of a truly purpose built device for the Roon core.

Dom

Title: Re: Roon User question: Best Location for Roon Core?
Post by Donnie on 05/16/25 at 02:51:43

So could someone explain "Roon Core" to me?

I've been using JRiver for the last 15 or so years so this "Core" thing is foreign to me.

I have my music saved on my computer(s) and on external drives and send the files from JRiver to my DAC's.

I don't understand all of the extra hardware.

I have looked at some of the NUC computers and have thrown around the idea of a Raspberry Pi for my main system.

I've also looked at real cheap used Mac Minis, you can find them for just a few hundred bucks.

I've also messed around with Linux for a while a few years back on a stripped down system. It seemed to work well until I filled the innards of the laptop up with aluminium dust from a Flathead Ford intake manifold I was polishing!