As a very happy Roon user, one thing I personally miss -and would genuinely love to see added someday- is better guidance within extremely large music libraries and streaming collections.
Example: through my own digital library combined with TIDAL, I have access to an enormous amount of music. I even own the (almost) complete digital discography of The Crusaders, yet I still have no indication which tracks are considered essential, most appreciated, or most listened to by other users.
I am not asking for Spotify-style algorithms, but rather for subtle discovery tools such as:
- essential tracks within albums
- community favorites
- historically important recordings
- most favorited tracks
- AI-assisted orientation within large collections
This would especially help users with large jazz, classical, pop, soul, blues, and other extensive music libraries where it is difficult to know which albums are truly worth prioritizing or exploring first.
Roon already seems to have access to much of the required information through listening behavior, favorites, metadata, and streaming integrations such as TIDAL. The challenge is mainly presenting this information in a tasteful and music-focused way that fits the Roon philosophy.
You simply cannot listen to everything in very large collections. Thoughtful guidance would help users make choices within the enormous amount of available music. In the end, listening time is limited, and discovering new music that truly resonates with you is one of the great strengths of Roon.
You appear to be suffering from an overload of choices and FOMO, and now you wish for a music coach. But Roon canât really tell you what music you havenât heard yet you may like or what are the best tracks on any album for you. Itâs all very personal, IMO. Before the age of digital media and the internet, your friends would recommend a band or a specific album and the shared experience was very much part of enjoying the music. Indeed, you donât want an algorithm telling you what to like, but there are online communities and forums with real people who may share your tastes. For instance, I recently found a thread here on Roon where folks talk about ambient music and that led me to bands I had never heard of. So, take it slow and reconcile yourself with the notion that you canât have it all but you can enjoy what you find by hearing what real humans have to say and share.
2 Likes
I actually agree with much of what you say. I also enjoy discovering music slowly, through other people, forums, reviews, and simple curiosity. And I certainly do not want Roon to become another Spotify-style recommendation machine.
My point is more modest: subtle orientation within extremely large collections.
For example, if I open an unfamiliar album or a huge discography, it can simply be helpful to see which tracks are most favorited, historically important, or widely appreciated by listeners. Not as a command of what to like, but as an entry point.
In a way, this is not so different from how, in the past, friends would say:
âStart with this album,â or:
âThis track is considered a classic.â
I still want to explore and decide for myself â just with a little more orientation within the enormous amount of music now available to us. And realistically, I only have a limited amount of time to listen to and discover new music.
Fair enough. Roon (or Qobuz, perhaps) actually already does some of that. There are check marks at tracks to draw your attention and the album reviews and artist bios also provide pointers. I just canât quite see how this âorientationâ system you advocate would work without becoming the dreaded Spotify algorithm. But I do see your point. I have an awful lot of Tangerine Dream live stuff in my library and just randomly picking one isnât really ideal either. Well, I hope otherRoon users will contribute suggestions.
2 Likes
There is picks, if you didnât already know. You can sort your tracks/albums in library view.
For a large discography, this is a good place to start.
Yes, exactly â your Tangerine Dream example is very similar to what I mean.
And I completely agree that this is a delicate balance. I would personally not want Roon to become another platform dominated by algorithms or popularity rankings.
What I am hoping for is something much more subtle: a bit of orientation within extremely large collections. Especially now that many of us have access to almost unlimited music through local libraries combined with TIDAL or Qobuz.
For me personally, time is also part of the equation. I simply cannot listen to everything anymore, so sometimes it helps to have small contextual hints such as:
- âmost favorited by usersâ
- âoften considered an essential trackâ
- âwidely appreciated recordingâ
Not to replace personal discovery, but simply as helpful entry points when exploring unfamiliar albums or huge discographies.
Yes, I know about Picks, and I do use them occasionally. They can certainly be helpful.
But for me, that still feels different from broader orientation within extremely large collections and streaming libraries.
What I mainly mean is some contextual guidance around unfamiliar albums, large discographies, multiple versions, or huge catalogs now available through TIDAL/Qobuz + your local libraries.
For example, pointing users toward a few essential starting albums, highlighting particularly influential recordings, or simply helping people navigate massive jazz/classical discographies with many editions and live recordings.
Not really recommendations, but more subtle indicators that help users decide where to begin exploring.
