How to improve my Roon SQ

Audio Gear Talk
#1

I just installed Roon and the streamer/DAC Teac NT-505.
Here is my system configuration: Roon core runs on Dell I7 with music stored on SSD, 35ft ethernet connection to the Teac 505. I have a dedicated high end SACD/CD player connect via Coax to the Teac. I have performed the following tests/results using a same source music:

  1. CD player running stand alone. Most transparent, but not as expansive sound stage as #2, SQ is about 80% of test #2, this could be the DAC in my Cd player is dated in comparison to the new AKM DAC chips in Teac.
  2. CD player/Coax cable/Teac DAC. Best sound. more open sound stage, better dynamic, but not as transparent as in #1, could be due to the inferior coax RCA.
  3. Dell NAS/Roon/Ethernet/Teac using Iphone/Ipad as remote. Open sound stage, warmer, but not as good air around instrument as in #2.
  4. Lumin app/Teac/USB flash drive using Iphone as remote. Better sound than option #3, but not as good as option #2.

To my ears, SQ of option #3 is decent but not as good as other options. How can I improve SQ of Roon in test #3 since I like Roon alot for its excellent interface? I just subsribe to Roon and want to keep it, but if SQ is not as good as other options, I may have to cancel it. May be I should get a better streamer and separate DAC? or interface to the Teac via USB/laptop and just use the Lumin app?
I have about 1000 albums stored on NAS, and don’t currently use any streaming services.
Thanks for any input.

#2

Teac is a good streamer if somewhat less fashionable than some others. How old is it? It should improve and narrow the gap to the best sound. I think a cable as long as 35 feet may be an issue although I am sure some would disagree. Based on my experience I would bring it all closer together and see how that sounds.

#3

A regular Cat5e cable is good for up to 100m runs, and there is even an argument for avoiding short Ethernet cables, so I’d say 35’ is fine. Worth taking a little care to keep it clear of mains power cables, PSUs etc.

#4

The Teac is only 2 weeks old.
I use 30 feet Cat5 cable from office upstairs to HT room, then run 35 feet Cat7 cable from router in HT room to the Teac.

#5

Hmmm…are you using an Ethernet switch between the Dell and TEAC or just a 35 ft crossover cable? It’s counter-intuitive in audio terms, but I’ve found that inserting a switch between Roon Core and the outputs helps.

1 Like
#6

I use an ASUS router as a wired extender at the back of the HT room.