Optical out over wired network

[mvrlogins (Mehul)]

I’m trying to get Roon to connect with my Devialet Phantoms.

Running Roon Server on a headless NUC in a cabinet.

Right now it’s playing over Airplay over a wired network to an Airport Express -> optical out -> phantom

I’d like to replace the Airport express so that I can deliver 192/24 optical into the Phantom

Would a Meridian MS200 do the job? Any additional hardware needed for this?

I have a Raspberry pi 2 with a Hifiberry Digi+ board (w/ optical out) - much cheaper option than the MS200 - any way to use that?

Would very much appreciate some guidance.

Thanks a lot.

[ncpl (Nick)]

MS200 currently runs max 96/24. Depends how much genuine 192/24 material you have. As a network endpoint it works very well.

[andybob (Andrew Cox)]

There were comments about Raspberry pi 2 support as an endpoint with RoonSpeakers by devs in these threads:

Raspberry Pi Support [Released in Roon 1.2]

First, I would like to be able to use my rune audio setup as an airport device on Roon. (I believe this is coming on the next build, right?) We’ve improved compatibility with Shairport-Sync and probably Shairport, too–I am unsure what those guys are using internally to implement AirPlay, but it might work better with the next build. Secondly, I would love to have a proper streaming endpoint option coming from you. I don´t know much about roondevices, but that seems great as an endpoint. R…

RAAT [was Roon Speakers] - What , When, How and for Whom?

Is hi-res possible with Roon Speakers on an iOS or AppleTV endpoint? AppleTV is a closed platform that only supports AirPlay, which is limited to 44.1k on the input side. The Apple TV then resamples that 44.1k AirPlay stream 48k. It’s pretty much a non-starter if quality is a concern, and there’s no indication that future revisions will be better. As for iOS, we’ll support whatever Apple enables us to support. If the device + frameworks can support high-res output, then we will too. This art…

Definitely an early target at that stage. @brian may (or may not !) be able to say something further about it.

Edit: Auralic Aries Mini is a pretty interesting product with 192k/24bit Toslink out, not yet released though and will need RoonSpeakers before it can be a network endpoint.

[brian (Brian Luczkiewicz)]

I have a Raspberry pi 2 with a Hifiberry Digi+ board (w/ optical out) - much cheaper option than the MS200 - any way to use that?

We are actively working on RoonSpeakers for Raspberry Pi now. This configuration will be possible within a few months. If that’s an acceptable solution to you, I would not waste your money on MS200. Use AirPlay for now, and switch to RoonSpeakers once it’s available.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

I would go with a NUC that has a 192/24 optical out. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HYEU0C8/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687662&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00FNPCL36&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=18VN4AM1JRMM7XZ7WR9D

Built mine, 8 GB ram, SSD. Fan doesn’t run at all. Feeding the optical in to a NAD DAC. They sound great and are not that expensive, certainly more than a Pi but waay less than a Meridian. Plus if you decide to go another way later, you have a viable 4k HTPC for use.

[andybob (Andrew Cox)]

Jaw dropping value.

[mvrlogins (Mehul)]

We are actively working on RoonSpeakers for Raspberry Pi now. This configuration will be possible within a few months. If that’s an acceptable solution to you, I would not waste your money on MS200. Use AirPlay for now, and switch to RoonSpeakers once it’s available.

Looks like the best option is to wait.

Thanks

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

I thought that you could route 24/192 through Dialog and out to the Phantoms? Or is Dialog not out yet.

[mvrlogins (Mehul)]

I thought that you could route 24/192 through Dialog and out to the Phantoms? Or is Dialog not out yet.

I have the Dialog. It’s into the Dialog that I want to pump in the 192/24 optical.

The Intel NUC I have does not have optical out.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

Ahh. Did not realize you had a nuc. If you get another try the Brix by Gigabyte, much better. Have you thought about a USB to SPDIF converter? That could work as a fix.
Peachtree X1 USB TO SPDIF CONVERTER. Even seems to be onsale.

[muski]

I also have a pair of Phantoms, a Dialog and a RPI2 with a HifiBerry Digi+ board. While I wait for the imminent release of RoonSpeakers, I’m using Volumio (www.volumio.org). The UI is not great, but it can feed 192/24 to the Phantoms. I’ve also had it feeding DSD64 to my Devialet Expert.

I setup Volumio to pull files stored on my Time Capsule. Nice not to need a server powered on all day.

You should be fine with a wired network connection. I’m using an Edimax AC600 wifi adapter that connects at 433mbps over 802.11a/n/ac . It’s fast enough to play DSD64 and 176/24 FLACs flawlessly. I can playback 192/24 mostly ok, but I get the odd dropout if there is any network load (guess it could also be file access speed coming off the Time Capsule).

cheers,
muski