I would only recommend a Nucleus if you have little computer knowledge and money to burn. I use an Odroid H3 by Hardkernel which is a fanless computer that runs my Roon Core flawlessly. It’s a fraction of the price of a Nucleus.
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The SonicTransporter series seems fine, to my eye. Small fanless computers, just what’s needed. The i5 should be all you’d need; very similar to a Nucleus. Bit expensive for what you get. Sonore also sells linear power supplies, which to my way of thinking is a warning sign that they are willing to cash in on audiophile paranoia.
I just run Roon server on another computer I already have. Don’t really see the need for a dedicated server machine.
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A neat computer indeed! Although I think an Intel NUC with an Akasa Turing case is a somewhat better value.
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It is a NUC in a fanless case, just that it comes in this case instead of transplanting yourself.
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Is the warranty extendable?
IDK, never looked into that matter for Nucleus(+) products but from experience, it is usually uncommon for ordinary consumer electronics/IT products.
How is a pickup truck better than tying your mattress to the top of your BMW 525
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I used a shared desktop initially, and Roon was never on when I needed it to be. Either the app was closed or someone shut down the computer.
I’m not an IT expert, but I’ve built computers and can figure most stuff out. I just didn’t want to for this. I justed wanted to to hook it up and set it and forget it.
The only issue I’ve had was covered under warranty, otherwise Nuc+ has operated flawlessly.
That’s was better for me, but everyone could have different criteria for better… Some might weight cost more, some convenience, some UI, some solid quality…
My experience is using a Beelink with 16 gb RAM and has been wonderful. i paid about $250 for it. It is dedicated for music. Only issue is that I need to run in OS mode, when using WASAPI I had dropouts.
Sounds excellent.
My Beelink is only used for my listening, is output via USB via an HRT Music Streamer DAC with XLR output to my receiver. It sounds wonderful. Oh yeah, I only use wifi,
I am on this forum, have alot of equipment and have spent alot of money.
I thought of getting a Roon Server, but I cannot, due to physical constraints, have ethernet connection.
For the record, using wifi and Airplay 2 on my other Yamaha Musiccast devices, have a wonderful setup.
Roon actually works seamlessly with my very old Denon 720 dnpae Network Player.
My point is that I am using wifi and some very old equipment and a budget mini PC and getting very good performance with Roon
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Marian,
Could you give examples of the “good” you can define in a computer that has a bearing on Room/audio utility that Nucleus+ does not.
Roon needs to rethink Nucleus now:
Torben
It’s not clear from those stories whether Intel will stop making the NUC motherboards, or just the complete NUC package.
Intel has supplied the motherboards separately in the past to partners, and perhaps will continue to do so.
The Nucleus models use NUC motherboards, Roon Labs don’t buy complete NUCs and strip them down…
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I already touched on that in post #6. Depending on individual requirements (DSP, number of rooms etc.), you can go from mini systems for a few hundred dollars to gaming rigs for over $1K (which exceed Nucleus’ computing power) and still save.
If one buys a Grimm MU1 or even more expensive, the MU2 one gets a roon core and roon endpoint incorporated. A streamer and all in one tiny box. How great is that?
The computer has no effect on sound quality. It only makes bits. There is no difference between the ones and zeros from one computer to another. There is no noise between a 1 and a 0, it is either a 1 or a 0, and that is why digital music is better than analog. Each and everyone’s computer (big and small) makes the same bit prefect data available. The DAC is the first device in the chain where signal distortion is possible. What you do to change the bits into analog and then to sonic waves is where the distortions can occur. The differences between computers are… can it keep up with the demands of the software: drop outs from inadequate memory or processor performance, can it manage a massive database for users with the multi-terra bite libraries, hardware warrantee, software reliability, computer warranty and life cycle…
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I’m sure it works well, but it costs about $10,000 more than a Beelink running Linux and Roon Core – which also works well. I call that kind of price gouging “not great”.
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As I recall, the OS has been optimized by Roon Labs for the Nucleus. Some device drivers are Nucleus specific, either specially provided by Intel or otherwise modded by Roon. Beyond that, I cannot perceive a potential user of R.O.C.K., on their platform of choice, cannot devise. Personally, since the Roon Core is the lynchpin of nearly all local or network playback, I want something that is designed, delivered, and supported by one company. Relying on a 3rd party platform is a link in the chain I won’t risk.
I like a lean server, doing one thing and doing it well. Keep it simple. A multifunction Swiss Army knife adds weight and useless tools. Give me the one-trick pony. And, at least in my setup, no DSP or other functions are enabled. Just send the bits along.
If I find the need, I’ll feed it “cleaner” power, and link it downstream via cabling that mitigates noise, as well as a switch with the same goals.
Sure. Like the Intel NUC motherboards in the Nucleus, or the Linux community audio drivers and frameworks in Roon OS. Unfortunately, modern engineering is all about trusting 3rd party platforms.
I can sure appreciate that point of view, having built extremely simple and dedicated real-time OS kernels at one time. Unfortunately, that time was the 1970’s, and is long gone. A modern OS, like Roon OS, and modern software, like Roon Core, has dozens of things going on simultaneously, and that’s not even counting the operations going on with external servers and network requests. There are no “one-trick ponies” in the OS field any more.
Thinking of this stuff as clean and simple is just misleading.
Having grown up in the ‘50s, and eventually using non-virtual mainframes in the early ‘70s in grad school, including writing device drivers for these, and even learning to use ancient tube-based systems with only switches or paper tape, it’s
been quite a ride. Even back then companies, like the one I worked at for 30 years, relied on parts from other companies, though they wrote their own firmware, OS and applications until they provided customers with the tools and API’s to write their own.
So, I fully appreciate where we’ve arrived. So, when I find companies like Roon or Apple that “own” the product and its support, I’ll drop Redmond add on at the drop of a hat. And having worked on and supported UNIX and Linux based systems, I feel, given their open source nature, that these are not only, by their nature, leaner and more versatile, better suited to a simplified function and easier to support. Ergo, my bent towards the KISS mantra.
The only wish I would have, though it would raise the cost and support of the Nucleus, is for Roon to offer a version of the hardware that offered additional digital outputs beyond Ethernet, USB, or HDMI. Digital AES seems the most likely and beneficial item for me.