Hi
I am in the process of setting up “Rock” to play back to a Klimax DS/1 and a Klimax DSM Hub - the latter being Roon Ready, the DS/1 having the latest firmware, so it should be Roon Tested.
Confusion comes up as to the DS/1 integration, since it is connected to a Klimax Kontrol Preamp via RS232 to enable the Kontrol’s volume control (works wonderful with UPnP streaming controlled by Linn’s apps).
I looked up their support pages, but they left me confused: I do not really understand, what the mean by that:
Blockquote Roon Tested Setup On Linn DS proxy setups, Linn DS with Linn Kontrol preamplifier connected with RS232, the Roon volume control will not control the Linn Kontrol volume. This will only work with Linn DSM or Linn DS with internal volume control disabled. A Roon HUB is required in your network system to allow Roon to control your Linn DS/DSM.
I just do not understand the logic of this:
first, they say, that Roon cannot control the Linn Kontrol’s (preamp) volume via the established way (RS232)
then, they say: “This” (the volume control???) will ONLY WORK, when I disable the internal volume control of the DS. Doesn’t that contradict the previous phrase, especially, because the internal volume control in the Linn DS/1 MUST be disabled in order to activate the Linn Kontrol’s volume control via RS232?
then they say, I will need a Roon Hub. I have done some extensive search and found no reference whatsover for the term ROON HUB other than in this very Linn support document.
So: are you able to clarify things for me, whether and how I can play audio from my “Rock” to the Klimax DS/1 - and if/how I can establish volume control via the Roon app. And: what a Roon Hub is supposed to be.
Thanks and sorry, if I should have missed some crucial information…
Yes, that paragraph seems garbled. I have Roon Ready and Roon Tested Linn systems. Roon’s volume control works with both. My guess is that with Kontrol connected (I don’t own one), the DS/1 will only listen to Kontrol for volume control, not to whatever commands Roon sends. But why not test it directly?
I’m in the process of making the leap to Roon. NUC will arrive in a few days and I want to decide ahead, if I just install a “Rock”-based system or go the route Ubuntu + Roon Server for the KDSM and install the “classic” Asset UPnP/ Minimserver on top for the DS/1.
Btw.: the volume control works as follows - the DS/1 is configured to a fixed output (“lossy” digital volume control disabled) and passes the volume control commands, that it gets via Ethernet/UPnP, on to the Klimax preamp via a RS232 cable/commands to control the ANALOG volume control of the preamp.
Well, then I have to wait, until the hardware arrives and then start with the Rock installation, and if it does not work, then do the much more extensive set up.
Does volume control from the Linn app pass through to the Kontrol preamp? The “Roon Tested” connection mode in Roon is simply a wrapper around Linn Songcast, so it’s kind of weird if the Linn app would be able to control volume, but not Roon.
@Fernando_Pereira
That exactly is, what’s happening.
The DS/1 acts like a translator in that case.
The Linn app either controls any DS’s internal digital volume control (if activated in the settings) or, if configured accordingly (DS’s internal volume control deactivated and the “preamp translator” activated) passes a signal to the preamp via RS232 (small cable) that can control the preamp’s analog volume control. Remember: the Klimax Kontrol stems from way before UPnP times…
That’s why I was so confused by the way, Linn both warns about and describes the whole RS232 situation. I guess, I need to find out via trial and error once my NUC arrives.
.
Firstly, apologies, the block of documentation you highlighted was far from clear. I’ve had a go at tidying it up.
You will not be able to control volume via Roon on the system using Klimax Kontrol. Rules for associating a Kontrol with a particular DSM are all implemented in a control point. Roon did not implement these rules. The changes involved are moderately complicated; given the very low number of systems using this setup now, I think it’ll be unlikely that Roon will undertake this work in future.
@simonc
Simon - great to see, that Linn staff is monitoring the community and jumping in with support.
Thanks for your clarification. I now fully set up all my Linn chains with Roon. Volume control on the DS/Kontrol combo is done via remote or the Linn app now.
Thanks again!