Roon Core: best option?

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Geektastic

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#280970 22-Jan-2021 17:29

I’m considering using Roon.

It needs what it calls a “core” to work: this can be a computer or it can be Roon’s own device, the Nucleus (about $2300!).

At the moment, for trial purposes, I’m using my iMac. However, whatever you use has to be on all the time, so when the iMac sleeps, Roon goes offline.

I don’t really want the iMac running all the time and neither at this stage do I want to buy the Nucleus.

Can anyone make any cost effective suggestions?

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#2640210 22-Jan-2021 17:43

Ignorant question No 1 - What does it do that Emby or Plex doesn't ?

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Andib

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#2640217 22-Jan-2021 18:32

What sort of spec does it need to run? You could buy a cheap offlease desktop from pbtech and use that to host it?

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Geektastic

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#2640265 22-Jan-2021 19:24

rb99:
Ignorant question No 1 - What does it do that Emby or Plex doesn't ?

No idea. I have never heard of either of them! It’s music library software that collates music from all your sources.

Dunnersfella

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#2640273 22-Jan-2021 19:47

Roon is very much a step above Plex.

The Elac Discovery server is a headless unit that offers an 'almost' full Roon experience.

They don't offer DSD support, but most of the other features you'd want are on-board.

3 x zone output (digital or analogue), so it's a cool box.

However it's not the full banana BUT it does sound good and it's nowhere near as pricey.

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#2640276 22-Jan-2021 20:15

Roon is amazing (been using it for 4 years now) but the nucleus is outrageously overpriced. Like a lot of stuff in our Audiophile world I guess!

I run mine on my Windows 10 PC currently, but then that never sleeps as it also runs Plex etc.

If you want a dedicated device with a small footprint I would get a suitably specced NUC or even a second hand Mac Mini

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#2640277 22-Jan-2021 20:19

Andib: What sort of spec does it need to run? You could buy a cheap offlease desktop from pbtech and use that to host it?

Runs happily with an core i3 and 4Gb which is what is inside their branded “Nucleus” device.

https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/faq-what-are-the-minimum-requirements

You could get a really nicely specced NUC which would do the job for years to come for half the price of the Nucleus and run ROCK on it

https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/roon-optimized-core-kit

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#2640362 22-Jan-2021 22:33

Does the likes of the Nucleus come with Roon lifetime? Or is it all a subscription based service now?

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#2640378 23-Jan-2021 00:18

Lifetime is available for about NZ970.

The Nucleus comes with one year.

The standard Nucleus is about $2700 here and the + version about another $2000 on top.

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#2640381 23-Jan-2021 05:35

Geektastic: Lifetime is available for about NZ970.

The Nucleus comes with one year.

The standard Nucleus is about $2700 here and the + version about another $2000 on top.

And you still need to buy library storage for the Nucleus on top....

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#2640446 23-Jan-2021 09:01

Dunnersfella:
Roon is very much a step above Plex.

The Elac Discovery server is a headless unit that offers an 'almost' full Roon experience.

They don't offer DSD support, but most of the other features you'd want are on-board.

3 x zone output (digital or analogue), so it's a cool box.

However it's not the full banana BUT it does sound good and it's nowhere near as pricey.

Does the Elac run over the network like Roon currently does on my iMac? Or does it require a physical connection to the player you’re using in my case, usually the Linn system in the lounge).

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#2640562 23-Jan-2021 11:29

Geektastic:
Dunnersfella:
Roon is very much a step above Plex.

The Elac Discovery server is a headless unit that offers an 'almost' full Roon experience.

They don't offer DSD support, but most of the other features you'd want are on-board.

3 x zone output (digital or analogue), so it's a cool box.

However it's not the full banana BUT it does sound good and it's nowhere near as pricey.

Does the Elac run over the network like Roon currently does on my iMac? Or does it require a physical connection to the player you’re using in my case, usually the Linn system in the lounge).

Doesn’t look like the Elac solution has any storage - you need a USB external or a NAS etc for your files.

You already have DAC & Amp etc?

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#2640605 23-Jan-2021 12:37

You already have DAC & Amp etc?

Yes, Linn Selekt, Exaktbox and speakers arriving next week. I usually stream from Tidal or Spotify but also play from the NAS connected to the router.

Through Roon I can access all that in one place with a lot of information, clever algorithms and so on. Whilst it resides on the Mac, it need not be physically connected to the player and I can’t quite work out if the Elac is the same: can I connect it to the network and leave it in a cupboard, or just it be physically connected to the player?

Dunnersfella

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#2640620 23-Jan-2021 13:50

The Roon needs to be plugged into your stereo via coax or RCA.

It can then access the files on your computer, NAS or a HDD plugged into the Elac unit itself.

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#2640658 23-Jan-2021 17:07

Dunnersfella:
The Roon needs to be plugged into your stereo via coax or RCA.

It can then access the files on your computer, NAS or a HDD plugged into the Elac unit itself.

The Roon Nucleus or the Elac or both?

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#2640660 23-Jan-2021 17:25

So my setup:

Roon core/library on my Windows 10 PC in the study.

A Raspberry Pi running Ropieee as the endpoint for my lounge which is connected to

My Hegel H120 Amp/DAC

In the next few months, the Hegel will get full Roon endpoint Certification so I can use it as a direct endpoint and redeploy the Pi to another role.

I also have a pair of KEF LSX which have full Roon endpoint capability in my study and for headphones/mobile endpoint I have a Chord Mojo/Poly combo powering the Meze Empyreans.

As above, if I were to replace the PC as the source for the library and the Core, I would use a NUC specced accordingly and stick it in a drawer somewhere.

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