Roon

[theboss]

Anyone using this?

Just set it up with a trial and it looks really good - albeit fairly pricey (USD120 a year) for just a management wrapper which hooks into existing content and services.

Essentially this manages your own FLAC/ALAC/whatever content on NAS and overlays it with Tidal and/or Qobuz. They integrate with a large number of devices from different vendors so the idea is whatever kit you have, you have one phone / tablet / PC / Mac app and you can manage your music and listen to it without moving between different systems.

It's certainly very well executed and device compatibility with what I have so far is flawless. Just wondered if anyone else has bought into it.

[Ballistic]

There doesn't seem to be many Roon users here on PH.

I've just signed up and think it's a vast improvement on what I was using before - Ipeng/Innuos Music Server

I have Roon integrated with Tidal and it all links together seamlessly and the presentation is second to none. I like the information it provides as you play each track and the alternatives suggested. It will even tell you if the artist has any gigs coming up.

Well worth the money IMO.

[outnumbered]

I use the poor man's version - latest version of Logitech Media Server with a few plugins. That gives me a unified view across Spotify and local files, also has some basic metadata available (reviews, lyrics etc), and is free.

I'd need a new server to run Roon, plus the annual sub, which has always put me off from exploring further, but I know a lot of people really like it.

[VEX]

Roon really is a craking bit of integration and there are more and more manufacturers of all sorts of bits of kit that have either Roon Ready or Roon Tested hardware.

[tonyg58]

It's a nice product, but the only thing it gives you that other free (or very cheap) apps give is the ability to use products from different manufacturers.
Stick to one range of products and save money.

Last time i looked there was a yearly fee or a lifetime option for about 5 years fee.

[spikety]

I've been using it for a couple of months. It's excellent for music discovery (I use it with Qobuz) - it's like Wikipedia for music, I spend a lot of time going down enjoyable rabbit holes. I don't use the DSP or multi-device elements.

[Magnum 475]

I've had it a couple of years now.

Roon Server - running on an Ubuntu box that also runs several other things (PiHole MySQL etc)
Music stored on a Synology NAS box.

Several clients:
NAIM Muso
2 x B&W Z2s
A tricked up Raspberry PI running a HQ DAC board feeding my main hifi.

Controlled by iPhones, iPad and my MacBook depending on where I am and what I'm doing.

No issues, no problems, it just works really well.

[sociopath]

outnumbered said:

I use the poor man's version - latest version of Logitech Media Server with a few plugins. That gives me a unified view across Spotify and local files, also has some basic metadata available (reviews, lyrics etc), and is free.

I'd need a new server to run Roon, plus the annual sub, which has always put me off from exploring further, but I know a lot of people really like it.

Me too. Logitech server around the house and Blueos NAD streamer for my listening room.
I did look at Roon, but couldn't work out what I would be paying for that I wanted or needed

[theboss]

It’s definitely very good. Beforehand it was a pain either browsing one collection or another and I was often neglecting my own ripped library or in some cases streaming the same at a lower bitrate out of sheer laziness/convenience.

It’s also nice being able to use any device without introducing another control ecosystem and having to switch between apps. I have a couple of Linn DS’s which are great but I don’t want to buy one to front-end a bedroom or kitchen speaker just to maintain consistency. With Roon I can do that with a Pi for £60 as somebody mentioned above, or indeed any other cheap airplay or chromecast or whatever device with a digital output.

A good example is a Meridian F80 a relative gave me, which is currently in my study, it’s a great sounding speaker with no modern integrations but has an optical input. It has sentimental value as it belonged to my late stepdad who loved his audio otherwise I would probably just swap it out for a Naim or equivalent all-in-one with Wi-Fi and Roon support, so I’d rather find a way to make use of it. I can integrate this with my system seamlessly for the cost of a Pi or Chromecast audio device. Right now it’s hanging off a PC via Meridian Explorer and again it just integrates perfectly with the Windows app.

[callahan]

I’ve been using roon since it came out and Sooloos before that which was developed by the same people.

I think it’s the best interface available and brings all of your media together seamlessly while maintaining (and displaying, if you like that kind of thing) the best sound quality available.

I’m just waiting for my Trinnov Altitude 16 to arrive with Roon integrated, which will work with my various Squeezeboxes, Chromecast audio and PCs. Can’t wait.