I went down that road. It was a learning experience.
I’m not aware of any DSD streaming services. Could be wrong but I think DSD is mostly SACD rips, or purchased downloads (available from Qobuz and other sites), then copied to the Roon internal library for playabck.
With my surround system setup, Nuc/Rock feeds my AVR via HDMI for up to 192/24 Stereo/MC PCM. My Denon AVR handles DSD playback, SACDs/Blu-Rays played on an OPPO disc player via HDMI and 7.1 analog connections, but Roon won’t play DSD over HDMI. Instead DSD gets converted to PCM for playback.
So I purchased a DAC for DSD playback that interfaces very well with Roon over Ethernet and feeds the AVR surround system. That is the setup I wanted but it is not inexpensive.
I’ve had this setup for several years. Now I’m hearing/reading about much less expensive equipment (streamer/dacs) etc. that works well with Roon for DSD playabck. I do not regret any of the choices I’ve made but it is good to know there are much less expensive ways to do it know.
Just curious, i thought the source had to be DSD, then send to a DAC to be converted to analog and voila we have best quality. Since this is not available via streaming (yet) i am done since i have only a small library of CD’s i ripped 10+ years ago into 192Khz sample rate MP3’s, if i remember correctly. I am definitely not looking to create a DSD collection of downloads, so for me these highend sampling stuff is mostly not interesting then. Am i right concluding this?
You seem to confuse bit-rate and sample-rate terminology.
That MP3 is likely generated at a sample rate of 44.1 kHz, compressed lossy to a bit- rate of 192 kb/s, as compared to CD at 1411 kb/s - both at a bit-depth of 16 bit.
Anything above CD spec is called hi-res, and Qobuz delivers up to a sample-rate of 192 kHz at 24 bit, equalling to a bit-rate of 9216 kb/s.
(Above numbers are valid only for two-channel audio)
My setup will play most hi-res formats and up to 8 channels, not just DSD. I was thinking about the DSD playback mentioned. Definitely not needed to enjoy music with Roon.
Most folks aren’t interested in multi-channel playback and are happily satisfied with 2 channel playback and CD quality or higher PCM playback. That is easily available with Roon without extra equipment.
I’m really into surround sound when its available, I’m deaf on the right side and like the music all around me so I can sit in multiple areas of the room and still hear everything. Plus my setup is for home theater and music.