New to Roon, Questions regards my exsisting set up and if it will work or do I need additional equipment

Roon Software Discussion
1

My set up consists of a Dell Laptop i3 processor with my music on a external USB HD. The laptop is running JPlay and the USB out on the PC is connected to an Auralic DAC. I use an iPad with a IPnP App to select my music. I assume Roon gets installed on my PC? a Roon App gets installed on my iPad? will that work? Thanks.

1 Like
2

yep.

depending on your library size, the dell might be a bit underpowered but it should run ok.

https://kb.roonlabs.com/FAQ:_What_are_the_minimum_requirements%3F

1 Like
3

My library is about 2tb.

4

Hello @jim_giordano,

I have moved your post to the software section so that we can better assist. You will probably want to take a look at our Knowledge Base (https://kb.roonlabs.com/Roon_User_Guide) while still getting started with Roon.

I suggest that you install the All-in-one version of Roon (Not RoonServer or RoonBridge) for your setup and then add the external USB drive as a Watched Folder in Roon Settings. Please also be sure that you select the correct Zone in the bottom right-hand bar before starting playback.

Any other questions you may have just let the community know and we can certainly clarify!

Thanks,
Noris

1 Like
6

OK so the only thing left is will I be able to use Roon and JPlay Femto together? I was told Roon has to support UPnP?

7

Jplay Fenton is I believe a upnp server and renderer. Roon would be an alternative to it they would not work together as roon does not use upnp.

8

Hi is all in one version same as roon core i have installed on windows 10 ? Thankx

9

Probably… The All-in-one version contains the three main components of Roon: Core, Control, and Output. See this page in the Knowledge Base for a description of what the various software packages contain.

1 Like
10

Thank you for info. I have the correct software . And did some reading :nerd_face:

1 Like
11

I understand the concept of core,control, and output. But where does Rock fit into this, I assume that includes a 4th component called the Roon OS?

12

No, when you have a NuC, you can install Rock as Roon OS, instead of Windows or Linux. On your laptop with Windows you just use the Roon software.

13

ROCK is a package that contains both a Roon Labs designed OS (based on Linux) plus the Roon Server software (containing the Core and Output components).

14

Is it only a NUC? Or any machine sans OS?

So you install the Bios updates and Rock. (does anything get installed after ROCK? Or does it also include Core, Control and output?

15

As is said in the articles in the Knowledge base for ROCK:

  1. ROCK is designed for particular models of the Intel NUC range. You can try installing it on other hardware, but it’s at your own risk, and Roon Labs won’t support it. Folks who do this are tinkerers, and they have their own thread where they exchange experiences…
  1. As I said in the post above, ROCK is a package that includes the OS and Roon Server, which does NOT include the Control component of Roon.
16

My $.02: your setup will work fine although you may see your i3 challenged to do any massive DSP or other processing, DSD conversion, etc. But you’ll know if and when you hit that ceiling.

If and when you become a Roon fanatic, you will probably want a more powerful core and would upgrade your PC to something with more power and maybe out of audible range of your stereo system - it doesn’t have to be electrically quiet as long as it is not your primary endpoint.

You’ll probably also want an output endpoint (i.e. device connected to DAC) that is electrically quieter than a laptop. There are small RAAT friendly devices that do this or you could use a low power, no moving parts type of PC thing, or Raspberry Pi, etc.

None of this is necessary to make Roon run at 98% of its potential. That last 2% is when you’re working on getting a pitch black audio background and that last bit of musical detail. Many never go that distance, but from a tweaker standpoint, my guess is that’s where you would head.

17

The topicstarter uses a windows laptop, so no Rock os is needed. Just the plain Roonsoftware which can be found here https://roonlabs.com/downloads.html Choose the one with control, core and output.

18

great responses thank you so much. So here is where i am at.

I have a less than optimal machine. (PS I do not expect to do any DSP) A Dell i3 Laptop. I would only like to use it temporarily before I get a better machine. I have decided I don’t want to go with a NUC/Rock. I want to go with all in one Roon.

Question is what brand/model/type machine do I get? Is an i5 good enough?

Thanks all.

19

How big is your library expected to be over time (i.e. number of albums or tracks, both local and via TIDAL)? A Core i5 machine would certainly cover you at the moment, I would think.

You may want to check out this post:

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/suggested-hardware/90/20

1 Like
20

OK I just read it, good info, my library is “small” <1000 albums. I have a 2tb drive. Eventually I see myself streaming Qobuz and only purchasing a small amount of files. From what I read the i3 may work fine but it is now a SQ issue. The laptop has a touchscreen which many have said contributes a lot of noise. So an i5 should suffice for quite a while. Do I buy a machine with linux? Windows?

21

I would really question the whole touchscreen SQ thing. Also I run a really cheap i3 and it copes just fine. You have got a good DAC so IMHO you are good to go.