Linn introduced “Roon Ready” for many streaming devices in Davaar Beta 106 (22 Feb 2024).
This release is being actively discussed on other threads but I thought it would be helpful to start a single, descriptively named, thread to continue the discussion. This should help Roon and Linn monitor our experiences and feedback.
The Davaar Beta program is described here with notes for specific releases a bit down the page: Beta:DsDavaar - LinnDocs
As of Davaar 106 Build 535 (22 Feb 2024), the following devices are stated to be “Roon Ready”:
All Klimax DS and DSM Organik variants
All Selekt DSM variants
Majik DSM/4
Series 3
Kustom DSM
Let’s share our appreciation for the work Linn and Roon have done on this and help them, and one another, explore the new features and capabilities!
I just swapped a Selekt Classic with 2-channel amp + Organik for a Selekt Hub with the amp/Organik cartridge moved into the new chassis.
Prior to installing the beta, Roon correctly identified the device as “Linn Selekt DSM Edition” and displayed the correct icon.
Beta installation was straightforward and the device showed up as Roon Ready. Everything looks correct in Roon’s device settings (Max sample rate 384kHz, Max bits per sample: 24, Max DSD: DSD256).
All features seem to work exactly as expected. Transport controls on the Linn remote now work as expected. Playback has been flawless across the (non DSD) content I’ve tested with. I can group with other non-Linn, Roon Ready devices including KEF speakers in other rooms.
This is a very positive step forward for Roon and Linn. Things worked well for me with the Roon Tested integration but Roon Ready is confidence inspiring, adds new capabilities, and creates the impression that this is a fully supported configuration. Thank you to both companies for working on this!
Just for awareness, there have been occurrences of users experience a crash-boot loop when in Roon Ready mode, I’ve been discussing on the Linn Development forum since it happened to me on Monday evening. It’s going to be fixed in the next beta, if it happens to you a couple of options:
via Manage Systems, switch your device back to Linn Streaming via the Music tab. To get to a stable boot, you might need to switch off your Roon Server first (in my case, I had to power down my ROCK NUC)
During the boot loop in Roon Ready mode, monitor your Roon app, and briefly you may see the Linn device as active; in that moment, hit track skip. This worked for me to break the loop.
Apparently there is an issue with the code that handles metadata updates from Roon, and it’s been noted on the development forum that there is another cause of boot loops which will be fixed, but these workarounds are worth a go pending the next beta.
3 Likes
Torben_Rick
(Torben - A Dane living in Hamburg - Roon Lifer)
5
Sadly yes Worked just fine for a couple of days, but this afternoon crash-boot loop started. Have to go back to Linn Streaming
It doesn’t really add anything to this discussion but if you’d asked me a week ago what I thought were the chances of Linn kit being Roon Ready, I’d have said ‘nil’, yet here we are!
I’ve only had our KDS working as Roon Ready since this afternoon but so far it’s worked very well.
Two thumbs up to all involved.
I updated it yesterday. So far it works fine.
I am using Selekt DSM: Classic Hub and had to change Max Sample Rate - PCM from 384 to 192 and DSD from 256 to 128 in Device Setup - Advanced Settings.
I Updated my Linn Klimax Exakt DSM (2016-2018) to Davaar 106 Build 535. But my DSM is still in Roon Tested mode using Linn Steaming (Songcast) as protocol. Will this unit also be Roon Ready (with Raat) streaming?
Torben_Rick
(Torben - A Dane living in Hamburg - Roon Lifer)
9
Davaar 106 Build 537 (4.106.537) Released on 29 February 2024
has been relased:
Fixed crash/reboot loop handling long metadata with Roon Ready
Fixed gapless playback for DSD tracks
Fixed #8582: crash on some systems with Exakt devices attached which can put DS into a reboot loop.
Torben
2 Likes
Torben_Rick
(Torben - A Dane living in Hamburg - Roon Lifer)
10
After installing the new beta make sure to power our Linn off - not just standby.
Klimax Exakt DSM will continue to use Linn Streaming for its Roon integration. The same will apply to all other DSM models that launched before Selekt DSM.
The good news is that there aren’t too many differences between Linn Streaming and Roon Ready. Roon Ready allows for multiroom sync between Linn and other manufacturers devices and allows for use of Linn’s Ir remote. The most important feature - audio quality - is unaffected.
Now, just in case you’d like more detail on why Roon Ready won’t be supported on your DSM…
Roon Ready uses a protocol called RAAT which was created by Roon. Implementing RAAT requires running a substantial block of code from Roon on a streamer. The RAAT code will not run on your DSM.
Linn was first to HiFi quality network streaming and we started working on the first iteration of our core digital platform in 2003. This led to us making choices about hardware and operating system that were completely appropriate at that time but very different from people who entered the market much later. RAAT makes assumptions about Operating System and available memory that match most of the market but are incompatible with earlier DSMs. When Linn and Roon first started talking, Roon explored changing RAAT but concluded that a bespoke integration - Linn Streaming - would be more practical.
It’s pity that the RAAT protocol doesn’t fit in my generation of the KDSM hub. The reason that the Linn App sounds slightly better then Roon is due to the UDP based songcast protocol Linn streaming is using.
Note: I was misinformed about this. The by Linn implemented songcast protocol is in fact tcp based.
People are hoping that switching to the RAAT protocol, solve this.
But if it’s technical impossible, then we need to live with the current configuration. Upgrading to a KDSM/3 hub is out of range for me…
At the risk of drifting off topic, Linn Streaming does not use UDP. It uses a single TCP connection, just the same as playing a track on Playlist using a Linn control point.
There is a constant TCP connection between sender and receiver
There have been a small number of reports about performance differences between Linn app and Roon. We would not expect this; providing you disable all DSP in Roon and direct both apps to stream the same version of a track, Linn Streaming and native Linn Playlist should sound identical.
Installed and working without issue on my Selekt Edition (2ch amp + Organik).
Thanks for your contributions to this thread, @simonc. I mentioned this in an earlier post but I’ll say it again - thank you to you and Linn for doing this work. The feature benefits may be small but the large win, in my opinion, is the clear indication that Linn and Roon are invested in the partnership. As a committed customer of both companies, I want to see them succeed individually and together. So…thank you.
5 Likes
Torben_Rick
(Torben - A Dane living in Hamburg - Roon Lifer)
16
I see that I was mis informed about the SCD prototol. I made a note about it in previous post.
The reports, that Roon with Linn Streaming does not sound as good as the Native Linn App are common in the several Linn fb groups, and also noted Linn retailers / specialists like Nigel More [Peter Tyson].
Of course, All DSP / up-sampling will be done by the DSM. It does a better job with SO then Roon can do with DSP /muse. Same for upsampling,
But your explanation is clear, the RAAT code does not fit in the earlier generations (K) DSM’s. It’s only for the last generation DSMS’s. Thank you for the quick and clear explanation.
That is no different to any forum, make and Roon. There are always some that say the devices local streaming is better. Same as those that claim each version of Roon changes sq. You will find same amounts claiming Roon sounds better on same device and same again saying they hear no difference. You will find those that feel there is a difference tend to be more vocal about it.
Worked just fine for a couple of days, but this afternoon crash-boot loop started. Have to go back to Linn Streaming
