Hello. First post here, so bear with me.
I am coming from Plex, due to the dropping of the integration with Tidal.
I mainly stream outside my network (with Roon Arc), but recently I started streaming also at home.
My Roon server runs on a QNAP TS264 and at home I have a Denon AVR.X2700H.
Now, I would like to know which is the best way (in terms of quality of music) to connect Roon to my Denon.
From what I read around, Denon AVR devices are “Roon Tested” which means they connect to Roon over USB, HDMI, AirPlay, and Chromecast.
I do not believe my AVR has Chromecast, however, I have a Nvidia Shield wired (HDMI) to my Denon (for movies), which shows up on my “Audio” devices on Roon. Alternatively I could get a dongle.
Now, my possibilities are: HDMI (the server is pretty distant from the Denon to wire it - still, I could move it closer), Airplay, perhaps UPnP (I ready about an extension that connects to Denon through UPnP, but was not able to make it work), and Chromecast (thru the Shield).
Now, which is the best option if I want to get the most out of my devices?
Thanks!
I’ve had the NUC/ROCK connected to a Denon AVR-X8500H for over 5 years now. That lets you play hi-res 192/24 and multi-channel. Other options are lower res and 2 channel only. It the best of the options in my opinion.
thanks for the reply.
My question is:
Is Airplay the best option when connecting Roon to Denon “Roon-tested”?
Or are there other options that offer better quality?
Sorry, it’s HDMI. Thought I had that listed. HDMI provides hi-res 192/24 PCM playback and multi-channel. Works well except Roon doesn’t play DSD over HDMI, it gets converted to PCM for playback.
The “best” solution will be (if you also using DSD in multichannel) to use an additional Roon endpoint like the Eversolo DMP-A6 and connect this device through HDMI to your Denon.
I’ve as a second Roon server system also a QNAP NAS and connected it through HDMI to a Yamaha AV-Pre, but my “feeling” is, that the conection through the DMP-A6 sounds better…
Thanks!
Currently I am still testing Roon capabilities and environment, so I have no plan on getting new equipment. If I will stick to Roon, I will think about it.
Good timing, I was reading reviews of the DMP-A6 Master Edition and the DMP-A8 yesterday. Too bad for me the A8 is IS2. The A6 sounds just right with Ethernet from NUC and HDMI to the receiver. I expect with that I could play DSD multichannel to the AVR with Room Correction without the Roon DSD to PCM conversion dragging down the I7 NUC.
@Nico_Pizza to reiterate, the Airplay (wi-fi or Ethernet) connection from Roon Server to the AVR works well and sounds good if you’re not interested in the higher res and multichannel playback. If you want the highest resolution your ARV can play, with or without multi-channel, then HDMI is the way to go.
Just curious, why is this not possible when connecting the core directly to the AVR (which is what I do, I just don’t use DSD)? A DMP-A6 is an expensive piece of kit to put in between there.
I believe it all depends on the quality one wants to get out of it and on what one uses in terms of formats and so on.
There are also other aspects to be considered. For instance, with airplay I do not need to turn on my AVR, switch inputs and the likes… I just tap on my phone and the music goes. Which, in my experice, is not the case if I connect my Roon server directly with HDMI.