What’s happening?
· I don't like how the product works
How can we help?
· None of the above
Other options
· I don't like how the product works
Describe the issue
I am a lifetime Roon subscriber and a long-term audiophile with very high-end digital and analog gear (Denafrips Hermes, MSB Diamond DAC IV, reference-level playback chain). I am frustrated that, despite Roon’s strengths in library management and ecosystem, the platform continues to trail Audirvana Studio (and HQPlayer) for raw sound quality—even when operating with ‘bit-perfect’ mode and exclusive mode from Core to DAC.
On revealing systems, the difference isn’t subtle: Audirvana’s direct and exclusive playback is audibly superior in terms of timing, dynamics, microdetail, and naturalness, while Roon’s architecture—especially under RAAT—adds buffering, multi-room layers, and misses maximal transparency for local single-room listening.
Sound quality is the only reason I (and many others) keep going through painful library workarounds in Audirvana—I’d rather use Roon for everything, but won’t compromise final playback.
Please prioritize a true ‘direct mode’ that completely bypasses RAAT, disables all DSP/process layers, and offers clock-accurate, exclusive output from Core to DAC for single-room setups. The audiophile community is very vocal; this is mentioned again and again in forums, comparisons, and key reviews. Audirvana shouldn’t remain ‘best for sound’ just because of one architectural gap.
I would value an official roadmap update or real technical response; if you need user data or test case info, happy to provide it.
Regards,
Eric Seggebruch
Describe your network setup
Gigabit ethernet all devices wired.