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

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