Hello. Do I have the ethernet properly routed to both the ROCK and my DAC/streamer/preamp? Or should the ethernet only go to the ROCK? Diagram below.
That’s good. You can compare the SQ using USB to your DAC versus ethernet and see if you can tell any difference.
EDIT: Many/some people would expect ethernet to sound better.
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Please make sure you are using an Ethernet switch vs an Ethernet hub. They are much faster.
Roon’s recommended “best practice” is to isolate your core from your streamers which would mean use the Ethernet connection, not the usb connection, but if they are near each other and doesn’t take a complicated setup to connect them via usb, try both and see which you like best as others suggested.
What DAC/Streamer/Preamp do you have? Is it Roon Ready? Roon Tested?
Thank you all for the great suggestions. To answer ipeverywhere, it’s a Roon Ready Cambridge Audio Azur 851N. As for the rest, advice on the switcher is noted and will be looked into. My only question is how would the streamer receive audio information from the ROCK without the USB connection? There would be no physical connection between the source (my storage is inside the Intel NUC on the secondary 2.5" SSD). Or are people saying that information on the ROCK would reach the streamer using the ethernet connections, i.e., the signal would travel back along the ethernet, to the switch/hub, and then back into the streamer?
My bad. I just realized I do, in fact, have a TP-Link switch. Don’t know why I was thinking hub.
Yes. That’s correct,
Ah, OK. I think I now understand; in fact, whenever I have “helpfully” switched my 851N to USB Audio, I’ve lost connection to the remote core. I have to select “Roon Ready” on the input screen and all is well. So that’s what’s happening. Thanks!
Two birds, one feeder.*
*nonviolent version 
You should have this setup in Roon Audio as two devices, one connected by Roon RAAT (ethernet) and one connected by USB. This will show up in Roon as two different zones that you can select one or the other to play to and can switch back and forth to compare SQ.
If it’s Roon Ready use that and disconnect the USB. How does data get there? Think of your network as a “backplane” connecting the Roon Core to the DAC/electronics on the 851N. Under the hood its using a Roon protocol called RAAT. But don’t worry to much about it. 851N connected via the network is the Roon reference way of connecting everything together and gives great advantage over USB.
OK, now post a picture of your signal path. That will really tell you if you’ve got it setup right. Happy listening.
That’s good. Some DAC’s require a USB or HDMI connection. For instance, an Oppo 205 requires USB for MQA, etc. You can have multiple connections.