Can the NUC One replace the Oppo? (ref#UGE83F)

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Full Name: Howard Ipp
Email Address: [redacted]

Comments / questions:
Re the Nucleas One I just received an email about it as it is now available in Canada.

I run ROON and ROON server on windows 11. I use the iPad to remotely access my library which is also stored on the Windows 11.
I use ROON ready MOON DAC for 2 channel AND more importantly, OPPO 205 for dolby atmos and multichannel. I also run Exasound 8 channel DAC for additional analogue multichannel, but obviously not ATMOS.music. All the devices are attached with interconnects to a McIntoch Processor which also decodes Dolby Atmos Bit Stream, OPPO sends the ATMOS bitstream to the McIntosh through hdmi..

Question:
Can the NUC One replace the Oppo? For Dolby Atmos. (I currently send the file data to OPPO using Jriver server and remote on the ipad., as OPPO is of course not ROON ready. )
Or is there another product that would accomplish this from ROON products.

Thank You

Howard Ipp (Lifetime ROON member)

Tell us about your home network

· Unifi Dream Machine router. However my issue is the usage of The NUC to replace the OPPO for specifically ATMOS files (mkv) and for some multichannel (5.1, 4.0, 7.1).

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The Roon Nucleus One is a Roon server, not a Roon end-point. Your Oppo 205 should be a very good end-point. The Oppo is Roon Ready, by the way.

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Roon doesn’t support Dolby Atmos

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Hi @Howard_Ipp,

Thanks for your post.

The two devices in question - the Roon Nucleus One and the Oppo 205 - perform fundamentally different roles in your audio ecosystem even if they share some underlying technologies and formats.

The short answer is that the Nucleus One isn’t designed to replace an OPPO 205 for Dolby Atmos playback. The Nucleus One is a standalone headless RoonServer - its role is to be a dedicated, reliable central brain that manages your library and delivers audio to compatible endpoints. Roon supports various high-quality stereo protocols and multichannel PCM, but it does not support native Dolby Atmos. Atmos bitstream decoding and passthrough are handled by specialized disc players or AV components like the OPPO.

So, in practice, a Nucleus One could replace your Windows 11 PC, but you might not have that need. The Oppo (or a similar Atmos-capable device) would remain the right tool for Dolby Atmos playback into your McIntosh processor.

Please see here:

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Thank you very much for the explanation.

Appreciated

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I did not know that.
I will check my system for OPPO as a device on the ROON server.

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Yes I see the OPPO 205 is ROON ready.
For Multichannel it will work with my Exasound 8 channel DAC, (Analogue) but will not decode multichannel in digital formats. Reverts to stereo.

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I don’t know anything about multichannel, but maybe there is a setting in Roon or the Oppo that needs to be changed. IDK.

EDIT: Thanks for posting this thread. As a result, I have learned a little and now can play 5.1 and Dolby Atmos (downmixed to 5.1).

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Thinking I’ve been down the same road your on with the OPPO 205. The Roon Ready connection is 2 channel only.

You can get multi-channel from Roon to the OPPO using the HDMI connection. I’ve played around with that then decided to use the Roon HDMI connection to my AVR instead.

I also have the S88 MKii. Had to have some way to play DSD/PCM multi-channel.

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Hi @Howard_Ipp,

Just to clarify the key point you’re running into:

The **OPPO UDP-205 is Roon Ready, but it is certified as a 2-channel device only. Over the Roon Ready connection, it reports:

  • Channels: 2
  • Multichannel audio sent from Roon is therefore downmixed to stereo by design

Because of this, multichannel digital formats (5.1 / 7.1) won’t play as multichannel via Roon → OPPO, and Dolby Atmos is not supported by Roon at all.

So what you’re seeing is expected behavior based on the OPPO’s Roon Ready profile, not a misconfiguration on your side.

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Thank you very much for the explanation.

Is their a roon ready streamer with no DAC, No storage and with HDMI out that I could use for multichannel. I have looked but cannot find just the streamer portion with HDMI out.

Appreciate your help

Howard

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Thanks. I had the exasound e68 until recently, and will now get the S88 as you have.

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If you have an AVR you can use HDMI from Roon to play multi-channel PCM up to the highest resolution the ARV will play, my AVR is 192/24. I use the Denon 8500H and the S88 for multi-channel playback. Roon doesn’t play DSD via HDMI, DSD gets converted to PCM. The S88 is connected to Roon via Ethernet and will play DSD 512 in Stereo and DSD 256 in multi-channel. There are other dacs that work with Roon for MC playback but I’m not familiar with those.

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You gave me an idea. So, I moved my NucBox G5 to the family room next to my Bose Soundtouch 300 that is supposed to play 5.1 to all 5 speakers and subwoofer. I used HDMI directly from the NucBox G5 to the auxiliary HDMI input on the Bose. It will play Roon through the soundbar but nothing from the rear surround speakers. I have two streaming albums that are supposed to be 5.1.

Any ideas?

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Have you checked the device setup - show advanced - to see what the channel layout is set to? Options are 2 channel 5.1 and 7.1. Is there any setup in the 300 for the HMDI input?

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I’ve put it on 5.1. The Bose only does HDMI through the main input and aux input. The only setting choice I see is for CEC on or off.

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AI says the Bose can’t do a PCM input as anything but 2 channel. It that my issue? Maybe I need to route through the Oppo 203 instead of direct.

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I searched on Bose Soundtouch 300. AI had this responce:

Configuration: To ensure true 5.1/PCM, use the SoundTouch app: Settings > Speaker Settings > Advanced Setup > HDMI IN Direct Audio.

I’m just guessing here.

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Thanks, I already had that set up properly. I’ll look to see if I can go through the Oppo 203.

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Not sure what’s wrong with having a DAC, but any mini PC with Roon Bridge installed would work. You could get one (even with a built-in touchscreen) for something like $300 and it would have both HDMI and USB outputs supporting as many channels as you want.