Ok, so this is another newbie question so please bear with me…I have gone through the set-up advice - and looked in the forums- but just looking to clarify a couple of things.
First though, my set-up. My Core is running on a dedicated laptop in my study. In the same room I have my first output device - my main PC which now has Roon Bridge running and my better speakers and Focusrite soundcard. Basic, but this works for me as a satisfying listening room.
Downstairs I have my first couple of Roon endpoints - a Smart TV running Roon on a regular Chromecast attached to it. Sounds ok, nothing special but serviceable for background listening. In another room I have a Chromecast Audio which at the moment is attached via Aux in to a Bose Bluetooth speaker while I am checking out better speaker options. Sound is actually not bad.
So here’s my question - I also have a spare Audioquest Dragonfly Red (I have updated to a Cobalt for use with my headphones). Would I plug that in to another endpoint - e.g. amp or speakers (both of which I have yet to buy, just looking at my options) or do I not need it, depending on what DAC another endpoint had (am looking at a Squeezebox Touch as another potential endpoint, not sure what speakers would fit best with it though). Would seem a shame to just leave the Dragonfly Red sitting in a drawer. How else could I use this?
Am asking because I am thinking from what I have read that endpoints need a device, amp and speakers - please excuse my naivety here - so trying as many others to get a useable setup but with upgrade potential over time. Whether streamer > wireless speakers or amp to wired speakers etc, or even an all in one solution like the KEF LSX wireless.
You need to plug the DragonFly into another computer–which could be a Raspberry Pi or other streamer–or an iPhone/ iPad with camera adaptor. Then connect the analogue output from the DAC’s 3.5mm jack and feed an amp/ active speakers using either custom cable or 3.5mm to RCA adaptor.
I have a Dragonfly Cobalt that I can plug into my laptop USB port or into my iPhone or iPad using a camera adapter from Amazon. Get the one that also allows you to plug in your charging cable at the same time. An iPhone or iPad can connect to your network using WIFI and be setup as a Roon end-point. They can also act as control devices for your Roon core.
the issue with dragonfly’s is that require a computer to attach to that will act as a roon endpoint (roon bridge) like your desktop is doing. A chromcast device has this roonbridge support but its not actually a proper roon endpoint (nor is Airplay) but they like airplay devices are supported without needing another computer and run with wifi etc.
a dragonfly will give you much better quality than any airplay or chrome cast device for sure.
Do you plan to stream music from Tidal and/or Qobuz? Another use for your Dragonfly DAC’s is to connect them to your cellphone and headphones for when you travel. While Roon is not a mobile app, you can stream both Tidal and Qobuz from their apps on your phone. The Dragonfly DAC’s sound much better than your cellphone DAC and the Cobalt will do Tidal MQA if that’s important to you.
Thanks Jim. That’s been my use case for the Red so far and now for the Cobalt. They are amazing for the size and price.
I was more wondering what use I could get from it with an endpoint and how it might fit together, and also whether it made any odds in the first place.
Funnily enough I had done as you suggested before and used an old iPhone as attachment using a lightning adapter. I will investigate doing that again, this time with better speakers and better room placement for them…Cheers for the reply
If you need a Roon bridge to your Dragonfly, you can assemble a Raspberry Pi 4 for less than $100. Mine was $74 from Amazon. This gives you ethernet in (or WIFI) and USB out to your Dragonfly.
Thanks Jim. Raspberry Pi is a voyage into the complete unknown for me. I can do basic tinkering but the very thought gives me a cold sweat when I read through the threads. I am kind of intrigued though. If a complete one encased and good to go for Roon with minimal tinkering is involved I would give it a go!
This is really easy. You download the free RoPieeeXL software to your computer. Then you use Etcher to burn it onto a micro SD card. You stick the SD card in a Raspberry Pi 4 and put the RPi4 in a FLIRC fanless case. It takes about 10 minutes for the software and 10 minutes for the hardware. In no more than 20 minutes, you have a Roon bridge for your Dragonfly.
Wee question - I am in the UK, and on Amazon here you can buy handy kits which seem to have all the ingredients mentioned above. The SD cards come pre-installed with Noob. Would it be straightforward to delete that software and just add RoPieee onto it instead?
