I’m considering a Roon Nucleus and wondering the best location for it in my network. Should I place it:
a. next to my music library computer, an iMac?
b. next to my router, so it feeds straight into the LAN distribution hub?
c. next to my DAC, connected via an Ethernet hub?
d. next to my DAC, connected to the LAN and connected to the DAC via USB?
Thanks
Robert
Which DAC is it?
It depends on how you will connect the DAC with Nucleus/Roon and on the topology of your network.
Can you provide more details on the two above?
I would pair it with a Weiss 501 which has its own ethernet network connection. At present the iMac goes to via ethernet direct to the DAC, but I wonder if i moved to a Nucleus and placed it closer to the DAC it would give a better signal. I seem to remember Roon saying in the early years that Ethernet is the best connection of all. Hence my question.
What determines sound quality in an Ethernet-wired setup is what’s inside the DAC, not the Roon server, assuming the server machine is dimensioned adequately and not otherwise overloaded or suffering from hardware or software issues. If everything is working well now, there’s no reason for a different Roon server machine to make it sound better.
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In this case, the only thing that would help would be to connect the Nucleus and the DAC to a switch, and this one to the router. This would make the Nucleus - DAC traffic no longer pass through the router. In fact, this would help the router, and only if there is substantial traffic in your network.
I keep my RoonServers in the basement Next to the main post Router Switch, and out of the main living area listening setups.
I have everything which is server like in the basement. I do not want to listen to the fans of computers or moving heads of hard disks when I listen to music.
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The Nucleus is silent, so any of the options would be applicable.
Given that the Weiss 501 is Roon Ready, then connection via ethernet would probably deliver the most functionality (I’m not sure that Roon Ready functions are fully supported via USB).
It makes no difference. Place your Nucleus anywhere it has an ethernet connection to your network. It would only matter if you needed USB or HDMI from your Nucleus to a DAC.
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You do know the nucleus is just a computer, there’s no secret sauce. If you want to shift the server from the iMac to something dedicated there are less expensive options.
The simplest for a Mac user is a Mac Mini M1, which is plenty powerful for the job and goes for ~$500 in its basic configuration. It can be managed remotely from other Macs using Screen Sharing.
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Where ever your ethernet can go.
Add a small ethernet switch. Connect one port to your nucleus, connect another port to your Weiss 501, connect another port to your home router.
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I could see this last suggestion, from mikeb, working very well: short hop to the DAC and still open to any other Roon-ready device on the LAN.
Can you add some clarification per:
1- I ran a RJ45 cat 5 cable to the cable router/modem.
2- The cable out of the modem/router to my switch
My Aperio is across the other side of the room. I had a ethernet RJ45 wall jack cable run directly to the modem/router then I plug the Aperio RJ45 out to the wall unit and the MBP on my network see the Aperio.
Sound right? Is there a better option for better sound quality?