Hi @stevebythebay,
Thanks for the kind words! This brings up a fascinating topic that I’m still actively exploring.
My working theory—and it’s affirmed by others I’ve talked to—is that this three-tier Roon + Diretta architecture (Core > Host > Target) should minimize or even homogenize the effects of network tweaks that are upstream of the Host.
This is specifically because of the network configuration my guide recommends: a routed point-to-point link with NAT instead of a simple bridge. The Diretta Host, when set up this way, isn’t just a pass-through; it physically and logically isolates the Target from the home network via a completely separate, firewalled LAN segment. Any network-borne noise (from broadcast and multicast traffic) will be largely dissipated in the Host, never reaching the private point-to-point link or the Target.
My own experiments seem to support this. I’ve tried tweaks on that private link, specifically an iFi LAN iPurifier Pro (with optical isolation) between the Host and Target.
- The Result: I did not like it. It seemed to reduce the “calm” that Diretta brings, making the sound more aggressive and fatiguing. A simple CAT6a cable sounded much better.
I’ve since moved that iFi iPurifier Pro (and an iSilencer) to the upstream side, between my switch and the Host’s USB-to-Ethernet adapter.
- The Result: I don’t know that they are doing any significant good there, but they are definitely not causing any harm.
This aligns with what I’m hoping is true: that the Host’s routed subnet effectively creates a “dome of silence” over the Target. If this is the case, it could save people a lot of money, eliminating the need to chase expensive audiophile switches, fiber, or OCXO-clocked components to feed the Host.
Since I’m asking folks in this thread to keep an open mind about Diretta, it’s only fair that I keep an open mind about this as well. I have an audiophile switch with 10 Mhz clock input, OCXOs, and associated gear on loan from a good friend and have committed to an open-minded evaluation once the clocks have had time to stabilize. But my limited experience so far suggests that the real magic is in the Diretta architecture itself (amplified by a routed link), not in the exotic network components feeding it.
This is a great area for more tinkering!