So, in order to have the best sound quality I read that I need to separate the Roon Server from the DAC. Taking this into account, what should be the optimal connections? Ideally I’d use XLR from SMSL to speakers.
My understanding is:
Connect Roon Nucleus to router with Ethernet cable. (No other device connected to Nucleus)
Connect SMSL DO400 to computer via USB
Connect Wiim to the SMSL (USB?) and to Ethernet.
Connect speakers to SMSL (XLR)
I’m confused because let say I watch a YouTube video on my computer, the sound would go to the SMSL and output to speakers. (At least that’s what I want to do) but if Wiim is connected to SMSL does it means to listen to music (Roon) I would need to select different input with the SMSL remote?
Is there a way to get the sound from the computer and also being able to listen to Roon at highest quality?
Sorry if it’s super random, trying to wrap my head around it.
What is the Wiim Pro Deluxe? Do you mean a Wiim Pro Plus or Wiim Ultra?
The DO400 is both a DAC/preamp/headphone amp, but is not a network streaming device, so it needs to be connected to something that is on the network. That may be a computer running Roon or Roon Bridge, or possibly the Wiim device., using either 1) a USB connection (from the computer) 2) possibly an optical or coaxial SPDIF connection (from the Wiim or computer), there is no analog (RCA or balanced input) on it. I am assuming then that the balanced or RCA analog outputs from the DO400 would be connected to the AE1s.
For simplicity, you are correct that Roon recommends the Roon Server computer to be connected to the network via Ethernet cable (which the N1 requires). The N1 may be able to be connected to the DO400, but it depends if the N1 has a driver that is compatible with the DO400. It seems more likely that you would connect the DO400 via a computer or the Wiim device as I noted in #2 aboe.
I don’t know how the DO400 settings are configured, but it may be possible to connect a computer to one of the DO400’s inputs and the Wiim to another input, but not sure if that makes sense depending on the location of the AE1s relative to the rest of your system.
Would you say the streamer is useless in my setup? If I remove it from the equation and simply plug the SMSL on the computer and run roon so N1 detects it, it would be exact same SQ as if I’d be using a streamer?
You will be probably best of connecting the SMSL to the PC. And keep both the WiiM and the Nucleus separated.
However unless your speakers have multiple inputs which can be used at the same time you won’t be able to listen to both Roon and something else at the same time using a single set of speakers.
When it comes to Roon. You could connect the WiiM digitally to the SMSL. In this way you are using the SMSL’s DAC to produce the sound. And the WiiM will act as a streaming device only.
This is how I have it setup in my living room. Roon sees my Cambridge Audio CXN V2 streamer. But the connected Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M DAC is actually the one that creates the sound.
But as Roon takes full custody of the endpoint it is using. You won’t be able to send a second audio stream to it. So no Roon and for example YouTube at the same time.
Why do you have a Nucleus or the Wiim? You do not need either of them. You already have a Windows PC that is USB connected to an SMSL DAC and plays YouTube videos through the Acoustic Energy active loudspeakers. You can run Roon directly on the existing PC with this connection setup.
As to the separation sound quality advantage, it is largely a myth. However, if it is relevant, that entails separating not just the Nucleus from the DAC. It means separating any computer from the DAC. Because the Nucleus is just a computer, too. That is the whole point. But you necessarily have the DAC connected to the PC for YouTube playback, so you have no separation, regardless.
Nucleus One via ethernet to Wiim Pro Plus on ethernet to Acoustic Energy speakers. Simple and easy. You don’t need the SMSL. The Wiim Pro Plus outputs a line level signal which should be fine to drive the Acoustic Energy speakers.