· The Nucleus boots up and I can connect to it in the Roon app without issue, but I have a question about configuration/storage/attached devices
Describe the issue
Matrix element S into nucleus one with two SSD output to Denafrips Pontus 15th to Denafrips preamp Thallo and amp Thallo. The output from the nucleus seems rather small as I have to run the preamp at max ( it is a null preamp) is there a way to increase ? Also what is max GBS for each SSD
Could you let us know what your Signal Path looks like? Please share a screenshot if possible. This will help us better understand what’s happening.
The SSD speeds are usually in the manufacturer’s data chart, but what are you referring to here? Do you have an internal library that you also use and some tracks are loading slowly? Please clarify.
Router Asus mesh6 Matrix Element S transport , roon,nucleus one into Denafrips Pontus 15th, Denafrips Athena pre amp ( null) , Denafrips Thallo , Neat Momentum sx3i hyperbaric speaker 87db w .all connections are balanced XLR apart from input to Pontus which is I2s
Thanks for that , yes that is the setup I have , spent quite sometime last night labelling and checking the route. Do you know ! With two separate SSD connected to room separately what is the maximum storage the Room can read. I realise large capacity will challenge the memory internal in the Roon.
To answer your question about SSD storage: Roon OS does not actually have a strict maximum storage capacity limit for the drives themselves (for example, you can safely connect 4TB, 8TB, or even larger drives). The real limitation is the number of tracks and how that impacts the internal memory (RAM) of the Nucleus One.
The Nucleus One is optimized to handle libraries of up to roughly 100,000 tracks (about 10,000 albums). As long as your total track count stays within that range, the physical size in terabytes of the SSDs won’t be an issue.
Regarding the read speeds you asked about earlier, this depends entirely on how those SSDs are connected to the Nucleus One:
Internal SATA: If you have an SSD installed inside the Nucleus One’s drive bay, it uses a SATA III connection, which provides real-world speeds of up to ~600 MB/s.
USB 3.0 (Blue ports): If you have external SSDs plugged into the USB 3.0 ports, they can reach speeds up to ~625 MB/s (5 Gbps).
USB 2.0 (if connected via an older hub or cable): Speeds will be capped at about ~60 MB/s (480 Mbps). While this is technically fast enough to stream audio, it will make scanning new music or transferring files feel very slow.
Also, regarding your original issue with the low output volume: Since you are using a dedicated preamp (the Denafrips Athena) to control your volume, you want Roon to output a 100% unattenuated signal to the Matrix Element S. In Roon, go to Settings > Audio, click the gear icon next to your Matrix Element S, and select Device Setup. Make sure the Volume Control Mode is set to Fixed Volume.
Just circling back on this. Have you had a chance to check the SSD setup on your Nucleus One, and to confirm whether those drives are internal SATA or connected over USB 3.0, since the connection type affects scan and transfer speed? Also, were you able to switch the Matrix Element S to Fixed Volume in Settings > Audio so Roon sends a full-level signal to your Denafrips Athena preamp? Please reply with any updates or questions.
Thank you for the reply. Roon accesses the drives perfectly well. Yes, Roon is set at Volume control mode and Fixed Volume. I guess it is what it is . Regards Roger
We believe @Rugby makes a good point, and would still be interested in seeing a screenshot of your active signal path if you’re still interested in troubleshooting further.
