Focal Arche and Roon incompatibility

[Shodhan_Trivedi]

Mac OSX 10.15.3 / MacBook Pro (2020 model) / Roon Version 1.0 (build 186)

Network Details (Including networking gear model/manufacturer and if on WiFi/Ethernet)

Linksys Velop - WiFi

Audio Devices (Specify what device you’re using and its connection type - USB/HDMI/etc.)

Focal Arche USB
Description Of Issue

I know the Arche is not a Roon-ready product but it’s behaving very strangely with the connection to Roon running out of my MacBook which is simply functioning as an End-Point. I use a Roon Nucleus Plus as my Roon Core, accessed over WiFi. For example, I have a Denafrips Terminator DAC connected by USB to the Nucleus and even though that’s not a Roon-ready device, I have no issues. Roon simply will not play on the Arche or if it does, it freezes after a few minutes. To use the Arche, I have to quit from Roon and use Tidal directly streaming to the Arche over USB.

Any suggestions? And how do I completely remove the Arche from the list of available audio devices - I originally Enabled it but have now Disabled it, it still appears on the device list.

Thank you

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

Try plugging your MacBook into the network via an ethernet cable and see if the issue continues.

[Shodhan_Trivedi]

Thanks Daniel. I’ve figured out what the issue is - the Arche simply won’t function under any recent MAC OS. It will work fine with a 2011-era iMac I have running High Sierra but Catalina? Forget about it. Amazing that none of the head-fi crowd have picked up on this - this is my second unit with the same issue. Focal needs to issue a firmware update but so far … radio silence.