But if you want simple streaming from Tidal and Roon I can certainly recommend the Zen Stream
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If your WiFi is strong and stable then I can recommend a Pi running Ropieee. I just use the on board pi4 wifi, no dongle.
I use one into a Zen DAC for my comfy chair headphone rig in the family room. The Pi also powers the Zen DAC via USB.
A very cost effective option for getting Roon into your cans.
Whenever I have experienced streaming issues itās always been an ISP issue and nothing to do with Roon, the Pi or Ropieee.
Infact I will say that Ropieee is absolutely superb for what it enables a Pi to do. Fantastic job by the creator / owner.
I donāt need any new endpoints ATM but when I do Iāll be adding more Pi with Ropieee.
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The āXLā part is not really needed if youāre only using Roon.
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On Ebay here in the UK there is a Raspberry Pi that is already put together with it all ready to go with Roon. I think all I would need is the mains lead. This is at Ā£125ā¦now that nay be an option to see how it goes.
Thanks for the input , much appreciated
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Actually before I buy the above Pi just a final check.
The Pi would connect to my Burson by USB?
I could then use my IPad as I do now to use as the Roon remote?
The roon remote would work in exactly the same way?
Actually the cheapest way would be a Google Chromecast Audio puckā¦
Everyone tends to forget about themā¦lol.
No new ones so itās eBay for a used example but at well under a $100 itās as simple as can be.
I have three of them scattered around the house and they can even do 24/96 hires.
Connect by either mini Toslink or RCA analog.
Roon sees them as endpoints Instantly
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Steve easiest way to test this is just to buy a bare Pi 4 and run it off any phone charger with usb C. Add an 8gb micro SD card and off you go (may be a usb to micro SD card reader if you donāt have one).
Total cost about $65 last time I purchased.
You can add a nice case and power supply and decent USB lead later on
(And maybe a micro HDMI to HDMI cable)
Besides being discontinued, there are a few problems with Chromecast Audio:
- works only with WiFi
- unlike RPi, you canāt add a screen
- S/PDIF limitations (e.g. non-discoverable DAC).
Thereās one advantage though: it works with YouTube Music and Spotify. Itās a shame Qobuz is still the only real option with Roonā¦
But as a simple, cheap, reliable and non techy Roon endpoint it is near impossible to beat!
I think I have had two dropouts on my units total in the 3 years I have had them, hard to complain about and all of them are set up to upsample to 24/96 via Roon DSP over wifi.
Your points are valid but all depends on your end usage and requirements as to whether these might be right for you or not.
I think I might sell my spare one on eBay and then retire as they start hitting record high values 
But yes they are an excellent simple solution for as long as Google still support them. I wish they had made a newer model to replace the original.
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Completely agree but about typical.
Come up with a simple stout winning unit then kill it and not replace it with an even better unit.
I guess they could not have sold enough or similar.
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Google get themselves a hit.
letās kill it boss it might get in the way of search revenue 
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I guess that Google is following the example set by Logitech and the entire Squeezebox line. 
By the way I was going to suggest picking up a used Squeezebox Touch but then I did a quick search on Ebay and saw that the Touches are now selling for more than a Pi unit. Stick with a Pi.
I presently have 4 Touches all running Roon and they all sound great. The EDO (enhanced digital output) app enables the Touch to output 192kHz via USB. Very cool.
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The Chromecast works with Ethernet, you just need to add this:
https://store.google.com/us/product/ethernet_adapter_for_chromecast?hl=en-US
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Nice, I didnāt know they had that. Can you find one though?
Nice to know but I have never seen one for sale.
Fortunately the wifi in these little pucks is pretty robust so for myself I have not felt the needā¦yetā¦lol
I have used a few of these as they are included with the CC ultraās
They have worked extremely well playing 4K Netflix etc.
I have never used music properly out if them Though as I have other ways to play music
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I have ordered the Raspberry Pi off Ebay, it as already configured for Roon so hopefully it is reliable and if it is its a no brainer to get Roon into my headphone set up.
Thanks again to all who contributed.
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I think a good choice, especially if starting out.
Itās easy to get Roon running if there is an issue with what is delivered
Good luck
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The Pi is on its way, I admit after a lot of reading I am a bit concerned about it introducing noise into my set up so we will see
I have a fairly revealing set up I think , with the Burson Conductor 3X Reference feeding some Abyss 1266TCs at present. These are a new purchase and I am struggling a little with the fit, but I hope I can solve this as they sound tremendous.
If the Pi introduces noise I know there are other products like Jitterbug etcā¦but I really dont want to go down that rabbit hole 
I would imagine the Pi could be easily sold on of its fairly new and I would have to spend a bit more cash
Thanks for all of the help and posts