Desktop roon ready option

Roon Software Discussion
21

This is a great option. I’ve been through three iterations of this for my work desk over the past few years. Here’s a quick list. For all three, Roon server and speakers are unchanged:

RoonServer running on an old MBP in the basement, ethernet
Desktop speakers have always been a pair of Bose Companion 2

First Setup

rPi 4 w/ a HiFiBerry DAC+, rPi 7" touch screen, Ropieee, ethernet

I have a smaller desk so space is premium and this was just too big and too bulky, and the device is oriented in a way with the RCA cables and the DAC+ that just didn’t work for me. Love the setup though, have multiple of these with various HFB hats throughout the house, so I now use this rig to power our basement audio.

Round Two - Schiit Stack

Homegrown rPi w/ 3.5" screen all in a form-fitted case, ethernet, RoonBridge →
USB out to Schiit Modi DAC →
RCA out to Schiit Magni Heresy (later replaced with the Piety) to speakers

This was a great setup, ran it for 2-3 years, loved it. Small, compact, sounded great, and the Pi screen was running the Roon web extension so I had a nice now playing screen and basic control without opening a full Roon client. But over the years I found myself wanting to route my PC audio (for things like Nugs and YT) through the speakers. While the Bose does support two simultaneous inputs, unfortunately where I live the headphone jack out of my MacMini picks up terrible interference, and on the weekends when a lowfi talk radio channel in my area gets FCC perms to jack their power, the cable became a perfect antenna.

Current Setup (Endgame for this desk setup?)

WiiM Ultra:
Input 1: Roon via Ethernet
Input 2: MacMini USB → Schiit Modi → RCA to WiiM

This has been an excellent setup for the past two months, really love it and ticks all of the requirements: Small, stackable, screen, screensaver clock (a huge bonus as this is my work desk), basic Roon control (the remote is a nice addition I didn’t expect to even use), easily changeable between Roon and MacMini sources via presets, and no more talk radio bleeding into the desktop speakers. I originally chose the Ultra thinking I could use the HDMI out from the MacMini to the HDMI in on the Ultra but the Mac doesn’t support Arc out and then WiiM doesn’t support USB in, so I had to re-use the Modi. Works great.

That was a very long response to say you have tons of options, all at very reasonable prices, assuming you don’t go with the dongle approach.

22

May I suggest that you replace the Schiit Modi DAC with this inexpensive USB to Optical adapter:

The Modi is not doing anything useful except adapting USB from your computer to a format that is compatible with one of the inputs on the Ultra. However, as I’m sure you’re aware, the WiiM converts all analog inputs back to digital. What you’ve created:

USB Digital (from Mac) → Analog (from Modi) → Digital (ADC in Ultra) → Analog (DAC in Ultra)

What you could have with the Hifime Adapter:

USB Digital (from Mac) → S/PDIF Digital (from UT23) → Analog (DAC in Ultra)

I guess if everything is working to your satisfaction, there’s no need to change unless adding the $30 adapter enables you to deploy the Schiit Modi DAC to another system where it will actually be beneficial. I just mention this since not everyone is aware that WiiM products have no pure analog signal path.

2 Likes
23

That’s the plan. The current setup w/ the Modi as an input was a stopgap (b/c I had it and it was literally sitting next to the new stack) just to test the Ultra to see if it was a keeper. Turns out it is a keeper. The internet suggests an off-board DAC for the Ultra so I’ll convert the Modi to that role after replacing it with a device like you’ve suggested from the Mac. I don’t think I’ll notice a difference at the desktop volumes I play during work via the Bose, but it’s there and unused, so why not? :grinning:

24

To circle back, I ended up using one of these to go from my Mini via USB to the WiiMUltra:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL5XJPGC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

It works as expected, although on occasion I do have to unplug and plug it back into the Mini’s USB after rebooting the Mini to get it to show back up as a USB device after the reboot. Not huge, just have to remember to do it.

And now the Modi is functioning as an off-board DAC for the Ultra, which is where it will stay unless/until I have a need elsewhere such rebuilding the Schiit Stack w/ the currently unused Magni.