Hi, I currently have this setup: ROCK/NUC → (Ethernet) → Lumin T2 Roon Ready streamer → preamp
I’m thinking of replacing the Lumin with a combination of a Kitsune Holo Red plus a DAC. The Holo is a Roon Bridge.
In my desired configuration, what functionality will be missing or SQ issues might crop up? I don’t quite understand what Bridge vs Ready differences are. Thanks
A bridge is what it sounds like a device that bridges between roon server and a dac. The bridge could be a specific device or a pi,pc, Mac etc.
Roon ready is for an Ethernet device that uses RAAT.
But I still don’t understand what features I’ll be missing if I go from a roon ready to a bridge. Volume control through Roon? What else
It all depends on what DAC you select and how it is connected to the Roon bridge.
If it’s a USB DAC and supports hardware volume control then Roon will be able to control it, just like it would if it was connected directly to the Roon Core Server.
If it’s a SPDIF connected DAC Roon will not even be aware it’s connected (SPDIF is one way comms).
Power management you will need to ensure your dac is powered up all the time for Roon to see the zone and if your using it with other inputs manually switch it over,
I’ll be connecting the Holo to my PS Audio DirectStream DAC through i2s (so neither USB nor SPDIF).
Why, this DAC is Roon Ready, why not just connect it via the network?
Roon Core → LAN (RAAT) → PS Audio DirectStream DAC
This is the most elegant way, no bridge and no additional interfaces.
Wait what? 
I’ve had it for years. Hire come no one told be about it?
Check out
No the problem is to need the PSA Bridge to make the DS DAC roon ready. Note I remember.
It’s an add on network card which adds noise to the DAC
I bet ps audio would beg to differ 
Actually no. Paul the CEO himself said it. That’s why they’re supposedly coming out with a separate isolated box that replaces the bridge. And they were working on their own Roon Ready galvanically isolated streamer called AirLens, but that’s delayed now. I was waiting for it, but now looking other alternatives
Both the same. I have the same dac and it made zero difference using a bridge or direct connected to the server.
Thank you very much Sir CrystalGipsy for your knowledge and experience you shared.
But how about this in option “C” ? Is this distance minimum 3 km it will work without audio quality degradation?
Why do you think it would make any difference at all. It’s just data transfer, this makes it or it doesn’t it can’t change the sq of it. You might suffer other issues related to poor data transfer if its susceptible to interference this will result in dropouts and the stream failing it won’t change the sound quality. I would imagine RAAT will not like the latency likely caused by such a connection and likely give issues related to this. Roon doesnt like high latemcy at all.
Next step for best SQ is one’s own geostationary satellite
From the point of view of sound quality, it will be the same with any of the three setups.
In regard the C setup, I have a similar setup with a couple of differences:
1 - The distance is about 500 m
2 - The Layer 2 protocol is Wi-Fi (CSMA/CA), yours is airMax (TDMA)
The good news (for me, at least) is that it works, even at 192 kHz/24 bits. I have not tested to higher data rates.
As @anon77144803 has said, there is an element that is out of your control: The radio channel.
