Hello, my name is Keith and it’s been six weeks since my last ROON-less day. It has been quite the adventure, here’s my configuration so far:
Server (in office & wired to primary ASUS XT9 router):
Intel NUC (i5, 256Gb M2, 256Gb SSD, 16Gb RAM) running ROCK w/WD Black 2Tb external drive for library (~23K tracks) =Ethernet=>
managed switch
Office endpoint:
managed switch =Ethernet=>
Ryzen9 Windows 10 PC =USB=>
Scarlett FocusRite 2i2 audio interface =XLR=>
Adam A4 + Sub7 near-field active monitors
Living Room endpoint:
ASUS XT9 mesh router =Ethernet=> and SMSL PL100 CD transport =Toslink=>
WiiM Ultra streamer/preamp =Coax=>
Fosi ZD3 DAC (preamp disabled) =XLR=>
Fosi ZA3 amp (mono mode) x 2 =cables=>
Polk Monitor 70 II floor-standing speakers
Bedroom endpoint:
Raspberry Pi 3B+ running Ropieee with WiFi =pinout=>
HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro hat =RCA=>
Edifier M3 active speakers
Roon ARC:
Samsung S22 Ultra phone =Bluetooth=> car stereo, or HiBy R4 DAP =LDAC=> Technics AZ80 earbuds
The first three projects were pretty simple to implement since by dumb luck I already had an unused NUC as well as the PC-based audio in my office (used mostly for mastering concert recordings) and all of the recently acquired living room audio components. The last three projects required considerable research and trial & error to get working correctly (the bedroom was also my first Raspberry Pi project), but I figured I’d try to resolve the various issues that arose before running to the forum for help. As of now everything seems to be stable and several devices have updated successfully.
What’s left to conquer:
Our family room, since it requires some rewiring and someone is always watching TV. Also planning to use REW software to improve EQ for the living room since the area is irregular and (according to my wife) our speaker placement and acoustic treatment options are very limited.
Thanks! Much of this is beyond my limited understanding of electronics, but are you suggesting I’d be better off implementing EQ in Roon due to superior DSP filters as opposed to implementing in the WiiM Ultra which presumably is using more limited ones? I did implement the built-in “instant” room correction in the WiiM using the crap mic on my Samsung phone and it definitely helped (with a few manual adjustments), but I’m sure it can be much improved with a better calibration mic and software.
Just use Housecurve. Far better app than Wiims for doing room eq. You can then translate these to use the Wiims eq settings. Using Roons EA is ok if that’s all you use if not then your better using Wiims EQ. Their app isn’t the best for doing the readings and measurements though, hence the recommendation to use HouseCurve.
Actually not sure it’s available on Android but might be. But to get best you need an external mic with Wiims or any other software, the iPhone mic really isn’t that accurate.
Ahh, gotcha. I’m not an iPhone user and I’ll be doing the analysis with a Dayton Audio EMM-6 USB calibration mic, so I don’t know if Housecurve will work for me unless it supports using the microphone with an iPad. But I’ll find out, thanks!
It works on iPad and it supports external mics so if you have a calibration file for the Drayton it should work fine. I use mine with a mini DSP umik 1 on either iPhone or iPad.
Don’t neglect the garage and bathroom(s) gotta have tunes when wrenching and, err, bathing (yeah that’s what I’ll say)… also, only one bedroom? what about the rest of the family and guests?
I wouldn’t say “room correction” is a deep rabbit hole in roon but rather with the tool and procedure to produce such FIR files which, once created, can be easily used in roon. Though, proper documentation is thin on both sides .
If you want best possible results you may want to go into the dark abyss of REW with a USD100 Umik mic. Once you know what and how to do things with it it’s pretty straight forward. But it needs a learning curve to obtain really great results.
And even not too bad guidelines on YT don’t show the whole game.
I went this way and exited at the bright light. Still Impressed
BTW, choosing a proper target curve is crucial for a great experience. I prefer harman and Neumann curves. They deliver a good balance, IMHO.
Yeah I watched the 2-part Youtube tutorial on REW and it’s not for the faint of heart, was planning to run that on my wife’s Windows laptop when I have a day to spare. Already have a good calibration mic. And thanks!
and several devices have updated successfully.
.
All in due time (after I rig the tool shed).