I am looking to purchase a Roon Nucleus. Having read the Roon knowledge base, it suggests that If I add a USB DAC, (which I’d then connect to my pre amp) it will turn the Nucleus into a great server/music player. However, most of the dealers and those on various forums have told me that this setup …

Well articulated. I fear we’ve been at cross purposes for the last several hundred posts…

[image] Bill_Turner: Sooooo, you are not aware that “noise” plays a very big part in the output of the signal? Are you referring to digital or analogue here? Can you define what you mean by signal and explain how this is affected by noise?

[image] Bill_Turner: in the bits are bits camp What other camp is there? Is it anti-science?

I recently replaced my Mac Mini with a Nucleus (I was fortunate that my dealer was happy to lend me a Nucleus, with no obligation, so I really was able to compare without being affected by having just spent a fair amount of money on “an upgrade”). Using USB out from the Nucleus to my DAC definitely…

@evand exactly a point I made a little while ago. People chase 0.5% differences from changing bits of wire (should that 0.5% even exist) but don’t make any attempt to fix fundamental problems with listening space, seating position, speaker position etc. A little acoustic treatment will do more for a…

[image] Bill_Turner: Sooooo, you are not aware that “noise” plays a very big part in the output of the signal? Removing that noise IE purity of the signal is required for the best SQ. Output = analogue. We’re talking about the digital part of the chain – ethernet vs USB, switches and cables …

“ Innuos have told me that they were not happy with having Roon as a Core and an Endpoint together at the same time. Innuos stated the SQ from their unit would be better using Logitech Media Server, not Roon.” That is rather strange. I have an Innuos Zenith running as a Roon core and also running s…

[image] DJM: However, most of the dealers and those on various forums have told me that this setup is not ideal, and suggest adding a Naim, Innuos, Auralic Streamer/Network player to the system, would be better. They just want to sell you more stuff! Having said that, Roon recommends separati…

I might have missed this but have you considered Devialet? They make very sophisticated all-in-one units that are of exceptional quality and innovation. You could do away with all of your other pieces of equipment and connect the Devialet to your Roon server. I’ve had a Devialet unit for many years …

Just get a good DAC. Dealers are motivated by greed. I recommend the Matrix Audio Element XSabre Pro MQA DAC. It’s very detailed, extremely low distortion, and very natural sounding. Go to Audio Science Review to look at its measured performance. It’s currently TOTL rated out of 150+ dacs.

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Adding a high end DAC to Nucleus, is this all I need for a great setup?

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