Roon just released their new 2.0 software update. In addition they have also released a new app called Roon ARC. The combination allows for remote listening via a laptop, tablet or phone. This would be particularly useful to folks who want to stream music via Tidal or Qobuz and Roon to listen in your car. Roon ARC can also access your hard drive library music, something never before possible (I think).

It will be interesting comparing SQ via Room ARC vs. Qobuz in the car. I plan to use my Pixel 6 phone> DAC dongle> Aux cable > Pioneer headunit. I may also try Bluetooth, however I never got decent SQ with this older headunit.

For those who might try this new delivery system out, please post your impressions. The only downside I see is that Roon Core must remain on for the connection to Room ARC to work properly. If Roon Core goes down, particularly when the software updates, you'll need to reboot/open the Core. At this point it can't be done remotely.

HK

HK, thank you for updates. When I get around to steaming on my Bryston BDA-2 in the main system and the Cambridge CXNV2 in the 2nd system, Roon and Qobuz will be on subscription.

Brad

I've been streaming Qobuz via Roon on my modified Cambridge Audio CXN V2 for almost two years. My Roon Core is loaded onto a very stable desktop PC w/ an Intel I7 processor, 16GB of RAM and solid state hard drives.

I stream via Verizon FIOS WiFi w/ excellent signal strength and reception at the CXN V2. Sound quality and functionality of the Roon ecosystem is great with one big exception - Roon updates.

Every time Roon updates it's software streaming Qobuz becomes dodgey. Inevitably my Roon app shows an error message saying "Qobuz appears to be loading slowly, check your connection (or something to that effect)". Sometimes albums don't play all the way through, tracks get hung up, and the listening experience goes to hell.

There is a fix, rebooting the core and clearing out the Qobuz & Roon cache works but I have to say it's a PIA in my opinion. Given the frequency of Roon updates these days and the location of my desktop PC (two floors up) running an Ethernet cable is a bit problematic.

Anyhow, not sure if anyone else is experiencing this issue, but based on internet posts it appears to be a regular occurrence. So, I've contacted Roon and encouraged their software engineers to be mindful and hopefully find a solution for future updates. Peace out.

HK

Ugh! I'm really tiring of Roon related issues streaming via my ModWright modified CNX V2. The return of drop outs over the last week and this morning I'm unable to connect my core to Roon servers..Some have attributed these issues to Qobuz delays loading, however I don't think it's the problem.

Why? Well Qobuz loads fine with no delays using the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic app.  Cambridge has done a decent job improving their app over the last couple years. With the Qobuz app set at the highest resolution settings, sound quality is just a smidge lower than using Roon.

Some of the improvement may be attributable to use of my newer WiFi extender + Low Noise Linear Power Supply + Ethernet cablec onnection to the CXN V2. Last time I compared Roon to Stream Magic was via a WiFi connection to my Core PC which is two floors above.

Anyhow if the Stream Magic proves free of hiccups, it may be good bye Roon.

HK

Thanks Steve. However it's my Core PC that's having connectivity issues with Roon OS servers now, the continual half circle w/ vertical lines to the right just blipping away. No changes to the PC or Windows updates which sometimes interrupt things.

I don't think it's the CXN V2, but I'll try the unplug yet again. Such a PITA.

HK

Heyo Hockes!

Nice gear choices, my man!

So I dumped Roon several years ago. I don't have any paid streaming services so I was paying a monthly fee
to fetch a file in one bedroom and play it in another. I loved the interface though.

I've been wanting to try Audirvana again. There's been a lot of fixes but I don't know the specifics.

If you give it a whirl, please let us know how it works for you. The thought of paying for it once is
appealing to me. Although I'm not sure it's an exact replacement for Roon



Ron

Well I'm back on Roon. Been a weird few weeks and the Cambridge streaming app just wasn't delivering great SQ with Qobuz.

To add to my dilemma my Chinese LPS malfunctioned frying two Netgear WiFi extenders. I'm guessing the LPS power output level to the extenders increased beyond 3 amps somehow and a puff of smoke ... ah well.

My workaround has been setting up my trusty Framework 13 AMD to handle music streaming via my Ethernet cable connection to the CXN V2. I'm currently just running the laptop via battery as I don't want to introduce any noise and will probably pick up a Network Acoustics eno2 Ethernet filter once I get my wider equipment rack in October. This seems like a solid, inexpensive one box option.

Ah, the trials and tribulations of audio journey. Life goes on. BTW, expecting a Vera-Fi Main Stream next week. Looking forward to seeing how it works in my set up.

HK

Chipster,

No issues with the Cambridge Audio Stream Magic app or implementation. I tried using Roon via my laptop > Ethernet cable w/ Stack Audio Smooth LAN filter to my CXN V2.

This worked for a while, then continued Roon hiccups. Songs not playing through, hang ups with next songs on a playlist not playing. Just continued frustration trying to get Roon to play right.

I am currently streaming Qobuz via the CXN V2 via WiFi. It simply works better for me. Roon software, when it worked had moderately better sound quality. Stream Magic is close via WiFi, it's hard to quantify.

I'll try Roon again in a week or to but looks like I'll be cancelling my annual subscription in mid-November. It's just not worth the aggravation.

HK

Thanks for the feedback HK, I appreciate it.

Good to know that the SQ issues were not related to the CXN or in how Qobuz integrates with it.

Sorry to hear Roon is still giving you headaches. I've heard good things about it but seems to behave differently through different setups as Hearafter mentions.

I've been feeding the CXN with an ethernet connection and it's been very reliable so far. I hope that continues when Qobuz is activated.

I'll be going for the trial of Qobuz as soon as my room treatment project is complete. I've been enjoying my Decware system for almost 11 months now and I have a good handle on its baseline sound. As I've added treatments I've heard and lived with the improvements over time. I've just recently replaced the stock Decware tubes with good NOS tubes so the originals can be used as backups. A new baseline sound but one I'm familiar with now as well. I'll be anxious to hear what the sound quality difference is over Spotify, which is what I've been using. I have to say though, the sound I'm getting with Spotify is excellent and I guess that surprises me. I thought it would be lacking compared to playing CDs with the CXC (using the digital in to take advantage of the CXN DAC/MWI mods). I actually prefer the streamer/Spotify sound most of the time. It may have to do with the CXN up sampling to 384K as part of its process. Not that it adds any more information, but I think that the handshake between the up sampling and downstream process steps within the CXN is more in tune for the system as a whole. Anyway, if Qobuz makes the experience even better then I'll be extremely happy and will gladly pay the fee.

I hope the Roon issues settle down for you and you get to enjoy it again.