# Roon 1.8 sound quality change? **URL:** \ **Category:** Roon Software Discussion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2021, 5:38am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309 "2021-02-10T05:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/tholt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/tholt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 5:38am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/1 "2021-02-10T05:38:34Z")
Anyone notice any sound quality change with 1.8? I swear things are a tad thinner sounding to me, a bit less mid bloom on down, but if nobody else hears any difference I’m fine to chalk it up to audio nervosa or whatever else. I double checked my settings, everything looks to be the same. EDIT/UPDATE: Up through 1.8, I was using ‘experimental mode’ (uses the Squeezebox engine) on my Innuos Zen mk 3 server to run Roon core. On 1.7 and below, this mode sounded significantly better than ‘regular’ core mode. On a whim I changed back over to ‘regular’ mode and I swear things sound better than they do in experimental mode. This is notable because before 1.8, experimental mode was noticeably better. Not anymore. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![euge\_lee](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/euge_lee/32/116332_2.png) [@euge\_lee](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/euge_lee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 5:44am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/2 "2021-02-10T05:44:18Z")
I can’t imagine there being a change… do you like 1.8? For me, I like it… so if I had to choose, I think it sounds better. LOL. ---
**Author:** ![tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/tholt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/tholt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 5:57am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/4 "2021-02-10T05:57:04Z")
If the consensus is no change, I’m totally fine with that and would then assume it’s just me. Here’s something… I have an Innous Zen Mk 3 using as Roon core. I was using ‘experimental mode’ which used Squeezebox engine and sounded better up through 1.7. Just tried switching over to normal mode and I think something changed – normal seems to sound better. Now I’m wondering ---
**Author:** ![Markus\_Hubner](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/markus_hubner/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Markus\_Hubner](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Markus_Hubner)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 5:58am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/5 "2021-02-10T05:58:09Z")
The only possibility of Sound quality change would be if the CPU demand, RAM usage etc. would be different. This could be the case, though the difference between 1.7 and 1.8 might be very small - if it’s hearable at all. I guess more impact has the time of the day you are listening to your setup - causing the power supply to be different. ---
**Author:** ![Lonek](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/lonek/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Lonek](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Lonek)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 6:55am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/6 "2021-02-10T06:55:23Z")
YES - increased by 7,43% ---
**Author:** ![Oleksandr\_Zeziulin](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/oleksandr_zeziulin/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Oleksandr\_Zeziulin](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Oleksandr_Zeziulin)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 6:59am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/7 "2021-02-10T06:59:23Z")
It was a clear change in SQ in my setup. I listened well known tracks on 1.7 and right after the update to 1.8 without changing any settings. First impression is that the quality of sound has overly increased - better resolution, better 3d imaging and clarity. And what I noticed immediately - midrange was better pronounced. It would be great to get back to 1.7 for further comparison and more thorough observation through different settings but not sure if it is possible. Nevertheless, the 1.8 sounds better to me at a glance so I have no regrets. ---
**Author:** ![tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/tholt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/tholt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:08am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/8 "2021-02-10T07:08:15Z")
I’m kind of noticing that too. But only reverting back to ‘Core only’ mode on the Innuos. Before, ‘experimental mode’ sounded better. Very interesting to me if Roon changed the underlying architecture in a way that affected that ---
**Author:** ![Oscar\_Vromans](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/oscar_vromans/32/118725_2.png) [@Oscar\_Vromans](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Oscar_Vromans)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:12am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/9 "2021-02-10T07:12:30Z")
I also noticed a sound quality update. For me it sounds better in 1.8 version over the 1.7 version. ---
**Author:** ![DanielAvasilichioaei](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/danielavasilichioaei/32/113101_2.png) [@DanielAvasilichioaei](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/DanielAvasilichioaei)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:32am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/10 "2021-02-10T07:32:48Z")
I read somewhere in release description that Roon performed some code optimization for audio, so they changed some things there. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_k](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/billy_k/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Billy\_k](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Billy_k)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/11 "2021-02-10T07:36:08Z")
I can’t tell if these are troll posts or not 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![DanielAvasilichioaei](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/danielavasilichioaei/32/113101_2.png) [@DanielAvasilichioaei](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/DanielAvasilichioaei)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:39am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/12 "2021-02-10T07:39:07Z")
Mine is not. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_k](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/billy_k/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Billy\_k](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Billy_k)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:49am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/13 "2021-02-10T07:49:33Z")
As long as it’s sounding better to you guys in 1.8 then everyone is happy I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Bengt-Olof\_Persson](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/bengt-olof_persson/32/118745_2.png) [@Bengt-Olof\_Persson](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Bengt-Olof_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 8:05am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/14 "2021-02-10T08:05:31Z")
Hi! I cant hear any difference. But I think the 1.8 is wonderful. But I miss the “Focus on mqa” on my iPad remote ---
**Author:** ![ncpl](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/ncpl/32/38739_2.png) [@ncpl](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/ncpl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 8:10am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/15 "2021-02-10T08:10:43Z")
> [@Bengt-Olof\_Persson](#): > > But I miss the “Focus on mqa” on my iPad remote It’s in the column called “Other” in the focus panel. ---
**Author:** ![Bengt-Olof\_Persson](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/bengt-olof_persson/32/118745_2.png) [@Bengt-Olof\_Persson](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Bengt-Olof_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 8:13am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/16 "2021-02-10T08:13:50Z")
Thank you 😊 ---
**Author:** ![tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/tholt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@tholt](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/tholt)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 8:32am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/17 "2021-02-10T08:32:17Z")
Nope, genuinely curious and great to know. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_B](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/mike_b/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Mike\_B](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Mike_B)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 8:37am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/18 "2021-02-10T08:37:33Z")
I also think there has been an uptick ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Graham](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/richard_graham/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Richard\_Graham](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Richard_Graham)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:58am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/19 "2021-02-10T11:58:43Z")
> [@tholt](#): > > But only reverting back to ‘Core only’ mode on the Innuos. Before, ‘experimental mode’ sounded better. Very interesting to me if Roon changed the underlying architecture in a way that affected that Using a Zenith Mk II SE, I too have found the experimental mode sounds less good than ‘core only’, though need to do more testing. ---
**Author:** ![Olivier\_Abbey](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/olivier_abbey/32/85077_2.png) [@Olivier\_Abbey](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Olivier_Abbey)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/20 "2021-02-10T13:32:46Z")
I confirm the same feeling with an improvement in sound quality. ---
**Author:** ![Weirdomusic](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/weirdomusic/32/132660_2.png) [@Weirdomusic](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Weirdomusic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309/21 "2021-02-10T13:36:34Z")
> [@Billy\_k](#): > > I can’t tell if these are troll posts or not 🤣 They are, right? Otherwise the drugs these people use must be really good. [Next page](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-8-sound-quality-change/141309.md?page=2)