In computer room (West end of house): NUC with ROCK + external USB HDD with Roon library
Ethernet wire from West to East end of house
In listening room (East end of house): iFi Zen Streamer with USB output to rest of music system
Question: Both the NUC and the iFi Zen Streamer are equipped with USB ports for external drives. If I plug the USB Library HDD into the NUC, it is more proximate to the Roon ROCK core (and music must travel over the Ethernet to the listening room end point).
But if I plug the USB Library HDD into the iFi Zen endpoint, the drive is more proximate to the DAC (where, maybe, the Ethernet connection is for control only and the actual music digits may stream from the drive directly to the endpoint).
Of course, it is entirely possible that I donât understand how this worksâŚ
Iâm assuming so - the drive (like the endpoint) are on the same network. In fact, were it NOT possible for a music program to see a drive plugged into the iFi Zen, then why would the Zen have a USB HDD input jack (and it definitely DOES - specifically dedicated to an external USB HDD).
I donât think so. Youâll need some address of the drive to add to Settings==>Storage.
The USB on the Zen is for the Zen to see the drive to stream from. Roon wonât be able to see the drive. Youâll need to enter it into Settings==>Storage. How were you planning to do that?
One can specify ANY network address as storage in Roon. Iâm 99.99% certain that Roon WILL be able to see the drive plugged into the iFi Zen streamer. The question is âHow does ROCK route actual music data? Must it stream from the HDD through ROCK and then to the endpoint? Or can ROCK route music data directly from a network HDD to an endpoint?â
Can you try both and monitor the network?
I was suspecting that the core needs the files so having the files on ZS it is going to double the distance data travels.
I can only tell that I had a switch with both, core and ZS and second I did connect the core with a dongle to the switch then the core to the ZS with a 25 cm ethernet. Works faster the second setup.
My iFi Zen is on order - not yet arrived. I canât answer that question. But unless the iFi Zen comes with its own music player, it would do no good at all for the Zen to see a drive that the music player (in my case, Roon) couldnât see. iFi does claim that the Zen Streamer is âRoon Compatible.â But Iâm not sure what that means in this context.
What, exactly, is the difference between âRoon Compatible,â âRoon Tested,â and âRoon Ready?â
Iâm fuzzy on what these terms mean and how they differ. Even if there are specific definitions, do third party manufacturers understand and use the terms correctly?
As I said - I donât have my iFi Zen streamer yet - itâs on order.
The answers to my questions may be in the ownerâs manual. Iâll download one and read it. Then comment back again. Thanks for your input - it is very helpful!
