I’ve taken the plunge and bought a second Roon Lifetime (as I fear they won’t be around too much longer - Lifetime memberships - not Roon!)
I’d like to have Roon available to me in my office, which I’ll probably engineer by using my current NUC which I hope to replace in the home system with a beast of a machine.
What are my options for listening to the music? Are there USB speakers with DAC included or some such that are just plug and play?
This will be very much background music primarily and a small enough footprint is desirable.
How about something like this from Genelec ?
No in-buit DAC, but they have room-correction.
Perhaps pair them with a Meridian Explorer2 if you’re interested in MQA?
I use an IQAudIO DigiAMP+ board on a RPi 3 with a pair of speakers I had around. works well, roon ready and can be wifi or LAN connected. Only think is you need a case that IQAudio has (tho it could be much improved with something more turnkey. Using DietPi its a pretty easy build but the IQAudio image is also roon ready and maybe more plug n play but possibly LAN only out of the box.
For casual and low-volume listening, the AudioEngine A2+ is pretty sweet, built in USB DAC so just connect them, and they sound very good for their price (just check reviews, don’t know how many “Best computer speakers” lists they are high on).
The lack a little in the bass, but that’s probably good in an office environment.
For my office system is use Meridian Explorer2 and Bose Computer MusicMonitor. These are really little speakers but solid and massive. It is a nice little desktop system. And it sounds ways better then my Sonos 5, I still got in my office too.
I think I’ve looked at these myself about a dozen times, but never pulled the plug for various reasons!
I think they’d be almost ideal to stuff into my suitcase for one of those longer trips - but looking at the specs - they’re only 16/48 capable - although pairing them with an additional AudioEngine DAC & Headphone Amp will cope with 24/192 if required.
Definitely something to consider…
I am using the KEF LS50 Wireless speakers in my office with a microRendu via USB into the internal DAC in the KEF. Sound is outstanding. Total out of pocket cost was about $3K. Might be above the budget.
I use these in my office connected to my desktop (which runs roon). The speakers are simply connected to the soundcard built-in to the mother board of the computer. Nothing fancy. Or I could get a cheap USB DAC and connect between PC and speakers that way.
You can use only one subscription and switch as much as you like. No need to own two.
Also I think there are plans to extend zones to include remote locations, and I’m quite sure you can use open vpn or similar solutions that allow you to be a road warrior, and achieve the same. I haven’t tested, but can’t see why it won’t work.
What do you expect to gain from the beastie ?
Not happy with your NUC.
Why not install Roon in your office computer ?
If you’re up to upsamling DSD 512, you may consider a SonicTransporter i5 + a headless HQPlayer embedded build at home. I can show you examples I think. Anyway that is off topic.
I listened to the smallest EVE Audio SC203 today, and was impressed by it. Sure, it lacks in low end, but a very open and lively sound. And it look cute
