My system:
Roon core: mac mini 2012 (i7 quad core), 16GB RAM, 120GB SSD (system, Roon db), 3TB FW HDD, mini and HDD on linear power supply
DAC: dCS Rossini DAC + dCS Rossini master clock
Connection: DAC network port to mini directly, then mini to router via Thunderbolt-Ethernet adapter (mini ethernet ports bridged together).
Question: Is there any sound quality difference from replacing the mini with a better server?
I’m going to have to say, no. But it certainly can improve browsing and the overall experience if you give it a little more power and a smoking fast m2 SSD.
The impact of, say, an 8th gen NUC with ROCK vs a Mac mini is speed mainly:
modern day i7’s are way faster than the Ivy Bridge variants in the 2012 mini
M.2 NVME SSD’s are much faster than the mini’s SATA interface that is limited to 6.0GB/s
DDR4 RAM in the NUC is a bit faster than DDR3 in the mini
RoonServer/ROCK runs more efficiently than macOS
That said, I would not expect it to sound differently. I have run Roon Cores on everything but the kitchen sink (Macs, NUCs, NASes) and never detected a speck of difference using networked endpoints.
Simple bridged ethernet config - don’t need a switch for computer + network DAC (dCS Rossini)
I do notice that browsing Roon can get a tad slow once in a while.
Currently Roon db is on the system drive, an OWC 6G 120GB SSD (minimal install so only ~ 30GB are in use). I am wondering if replacing that with a Samsung Evo 860 might help.
If you swap a Mac Mini for a small form factor PC like a NUC or Nucleus, you are essentially changing like for like. Newer will be faster with better thermal properties but your limitations remain the same. The new Uptone product will help. A new server built around an ‘audiophile’ network card would work in your case as it did me. But the only way to prove this for yourself is to find a way to test these options.