My First Roon Setup -- Need Advice

That is correct, Tim. You install RoPiee (the operating system) then install Bridge (the app). Just follow Roon’s instructions and it really is simple.

I have an external USB drive off of my ROCK. This is better, IMO, for its ease of carry, interchangeability, and no installation hassles. Use the internal SSD drive/chip to carry the bridge and OS only.

Correct for ROCK. :slight_smile:

If you already have an external disk you could use it. There’s no better or worse regarding external / internal disk, I think.

And the roipeee author is an active member of the forum @spockfish

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Wake on sleep, not sure. Looks like there was a request but can’t see if it was ever implemented? I have windows core and endpoint, may be different for rock core, etc. Maybe someone else knows. I just leave mine running all the time.

Note: Airplay capabilities can be had with a Raspi solution too, just not with the ropieee OS, I think.

For instance DietPi does it, so does volumio (have both variants working here), just not with Hifiberry but allo HATs.

Er, no John, this is not correct - Ropieee is an all-in-one package. It includes the support for a Roon Endpoint (i.e. the Roon Bridge software component is included).

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Ah yes. Brain fart.

Could I recover by saying, “A Ropieee install will include the endpoint software.”? That’s what I meant to say. :blush:

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To be correct as I understand it ropieee installs the Roon Bridge software from roon labs current maintained location version as opposed to part of its own installation application. But we are splitting hairs here and I digress…

But I use ropieee exclusively and it’s well supported and works like a champ.

If you are happy as a clam on Macmini then you could use that and have headless operation as Roon Server with no issues. Nuc will give you similar performance but without the os maintenance issues. Windows…well let’s not go there unless you really have no other choice :wink:

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Thanks again, this is all very much appreciated. I am now confident I can manage to assemble/install both a NUC and a HifiBerry-DAC. Still not sure about HiFiBerry soundquality vs. the Bluesound, any thoughts there?
About the NUC: Would a machine like this fit the bill:
https://www.cyberport.de/pc-und-zubehoer/pc-systeme/intel/pdp/1126-05j/intel-nuc-boxnuc7i5bnkp-mini-pc-i5-7260u-8gb-256-gb-ssd-650-windows-10.html
It has 8GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD (for OS and ROCK only) already integrated and the price seems to be OK.
And is this the Raspberry Pi that I would need:

… in combination with this:

Thank you!

looks like you are paying about a hundred euros more than the parts for assembly and of course the windows 10 license.
The Pi will also need a case that fits the berrypro a 4gb+ micro SD card and a power supply. Hifi berry have a shop where you can bundle up all the bits in one order.

As @ged_hickman1 said: the Cyberport offer is a bit of a waste. You don’t need Windows 10 so you’d be better off with buying just the needed parts, like:

NUC – you’re going to use an external disk so there’s no need for additional disk space inside the NUC, that’s why I’d suggest a “K” model
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01N6SRT4H

SSD
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07CGGNX7S
(Most of the storage space will be wasted but it’s cheaper / has longer warranty than lower capacity older versions so what…)

RAM
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01BIWKP58

I’m using exactly those components with an i3 version of the NUC (this one: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01N245UXY) - but that’s out of stock at amazon (de) right now and with the i5 you’ll have some more headroom anyway. But I believe those components will work together - they do in my i3 NUC. :slight_smile:

Keep in mind: you’ll need an external monitor (hdmi to TV should work too) and a keyboard to initially set up the NUC (BIOS update). See http://kb.roonlabs.com/ROCK_Install_Guide

As for the Raspi: I would go for the 3 B+ model.

I can’t comment on the Hifiberry stuff - not using it. An (almost ready) alternative: https://allo.com/sparky-eu/boss-player.html (Case + Raspi + DAC + Powersupply + SD card ca. 160 EUR)

I’ve seen a complete kit with Hifiberry+ is also available at amazon: https://www.amazon.de/Multiroom-Streaming-Komplettset-Raspberry-Soundkarte/dp/B06ZZCTW7P - you would just have to reflash the SD card

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Some will no doubt disagree with me, but based on a number of auditions I came to the conclusion that a Raspberry Pi plus DAC hat is comparable to retail items costing around £500. Differences are minimal, which is why I made my earlier suggestions.

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How’s that for service?

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Absolutely fantastic, can’t thank you enough! Wow!! This just saved me a couple of bucks :slight_smile: I am going to buy exactly what you recommend for the NUC. For the Hifiberry, I might go for the DAC+ Pro rather than the Digi that you had in your link and then order it directly at Hifiberry.

And great to hear that the little thing will sound like a 500 GBP piece – that’s fair enough for me …

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If I may do an suggestion for a NUC. This is the latest incarnation and working absolutely fine. It is cheaper, but as it is an later model processor, as quick as an older NUC7i5 or even i7.

Sounds like you’re already going down the NUC route, but just to chime in: I started with a headless Mac Mini for my Roon Core, and it worked fine. The Mini is on all the time, so when you start a track on the iPhone (using the Roon Remote app on the iPhone), it tells the Core (running on the Mini) to start sending the track to the designated endpoint, which can be either of those or somewhere else entirely.

Thank you – looks intriguing as well. So it’s an i3 but just as quick as the old i5? How did they achieve that, do you know? And it’s only 277 Euro on amazon where I am, so even cheaper …

Thank you, I was more on the Mac mini road this morning, but now I think I will choose the NUC. Should be the best solution, all things considered, and future-proof. But it is good to hear that the mini will actually start streaming on trigger through the iPhone (although power consumption should be rather high and higher than the NUC, from what I am learning here …).

What @Cees_Vreugdenhil didn’t mention: official hardware support doesn’t include the NUC8 models. It may come in the future - who knows…

From http://kb.roonlabs.com/Roon_Optimized_Core_Kit:

That’s quite right. But I’m sure that it will in the near future. The series 7 will fase out soon enough. The series 8 work perfectly, so why not choose for the future…