My Roon Core runs on a NUC in one room in my house. In separate room, I plan to have a Geshelli J3 DAC connected via XLR cables to my headphone amp. There is ethernet network ports in both locations so I don’t plan to use wifi. How do I best connect the DAC to the Core in a way that allows for streaming high resolution files (i.e DSD256) and minimizes any USB jitter/noise on the USB cable I connect to the Geshelli DAC?
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You’ll need to get a Roon Ready network stream, and connect the DAC to this using USB. Jitter isn’t an issue in this scenario.
Router or switch
|
----- Roon server
|
----- Streamer ----- DAC
Do not use a long USB cable to connect DAC to NUC. Alternatively, move the NUC into the listening room (under normal circumstances the fan should be inaudible from the listening position.)
You can use a Raspberry Pi with RoPieee as streamer with USB output.
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As @Marian suggested, a Raspberry Pi is a popular DIY solution. It’s not difficult, but if a project like that does not interest you, I’ve had great luck with the relatively new FiiO SR11 streaming transport.
Here’s more info about it:
I bought mine here:
It’s only a little more expensive than a Raspberry Pi 4 by the time you add a case, power supply, and microSD card. It also has very nice casework, a display, and a remote control. Hard to beat for ~$110.
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Thanks for your input. Is there a Roon Ready network streamer you suggest? I don’t need it to have a DAC. I simply need a reliable streamer connected to my home LAN via CAT6 that has a clean USB output.
Buy a WiiM Pro, if you want to use coaxial or optical to connect to your DAC. Buy a WiiM Ultra if you want to use USB to connect to your DAC.
Connect WiiM over ethernet.
Stream Roon to your WiiM streamer.
Done.
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Raspberry Pi 4 running RoPieee with USB out to your DAC. There are HATS you can add if you need some other connection to your DAC. You can also add a 7 inch screen if you want.
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The FiiO SR11 suggested by @David_Snyder is Roon Ready.
The RPi solution suggested by @Marian runs Roon Bridge and so will work and behave in the same way as a Roon Ready device.
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I’d probably take a look at WiiM first, if I needed a new streamer.
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That’s literally what my post was about:
The FiiO SR11 is a Roon Ready streaming transport. It has no internal DAC. Just USB and S/PDIF outputs.
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I have an SR11 for sale if you’re interested. UK only mind. It’s very good but I have upgraded my whole setup for this side and no longer require it or my dac.
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I generally agree, but WiiM does not support DSD (something that @Jose_Cadalzo said they were looking for). I’ve tested the FiiO SR11 up to DSD256 and 32-bit, 768 kHz PCM from the USB output. DSD64 works from the S/PDIF outputs via DoP with compatible DACs.
That, and they would be paying (although not much) for a DAC that they don’t need. 
Bonjour, un Rose 130
WiiM Pro for sure
What about support for DSD256?
Good point… Actually personally I’d go for the DMP A6 for the fancy display.
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Yet the DAC specs state …
DSD64 – DSD512 Compatible
… which to me suggests it will accept DSD, but convert this to PCM, or requires drivers, to achieve DSD512. So, for a NUC running Linux, DoP would have be used, limiting to DSD128.
If the WiiM is used a a transport, surely it will accept DoP, too.
Fans of DSD are generally not satisfied with streaming transports that convert DSD to PCM. They want a transport that bitstreams DSD to an external DAC instead, like the FiiO SR11, Raspberry Pi running RoPieee, etc.
I love the WiiM products. I personally own nine of them. They are my default recommendation for Roon-compatible audio devices. However, WiiM is not a fit here if native DSD playback is important to @Jose_Cadalzo.
They mentioned that USB jitter/noise is a concern; however, a modern DAC, like the Geshelli J3 is incredibly unlikely to be affected (measurably or audibly) by the tiny amount of jitter from these devices.
Reference: Playing DSD Audio Files on WiiM Devices : Audio Help Center
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28 posts were split to a new topic: General discussion about DSD over PCM
Thanks to all who provided me with advice. I have ordered a Fiio SR11 and will give that a try.
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