Hi Ben,
I do not understand your first question, but I’ll provide all the information I can regarding my digital audio system that may be helpful. I do not wirelessly stream any music in my system; it’s all connected via a very stable LAN (which I can explain more fully in response to your second group of queries).
My music server (the specs for which I’ve already provided to Noris in this string, but will repeat below for your convenience) is connected via ethernet to a Netgear 24 Port Gigabit PoE+ Network Switch. From this switch the music data is transmitted via Cat6a in the wall and from the wall via a SOtM dCBL-CAT7 Audiophile Ethernet Cable to an SOtM sMS-200ultra Neo Special Edition (receiver) followed via Audioquest Cinnamon USB 2.0 by an SOtM tX-USBultra (USB renderer) which carefully re-clocks the music data prior to passing it via a Transparent Audio USB DIGITAL cable to my DAC, a T+A PDP 3000 HV (I have a note that specifies the USB interface with this unit from the T+A CTO as follows: " the USB receiver is based on Amanero technology (because this USB receiver is the best we could find in terms of jitter performance) but it is NOT the standard Combo384 OEM module. We build the hardware ourselves with a few refinements and enhancements to increase the performance to even higher standards. But I think what is important for you is that our receiver behaves exactly like the Amanero and it uses Amanero firmware." It’s a very high quality interface that supports resolutions up to 32/384 PCM and DSD 512 via USB.
For your convenience, my music server is as follows:
HP Z420 Workstation
3.2 GHz Hex-Core Intel Xeon E5-1650 Processor with 12M Cache
32GB (8x4GB) PC3-10600R Memory Kit
RAID 1
500GB SATA 2.5" Solid State Drive (this SSD is where Roon Core is kept along with the OS)
SATA 2TB 7.2k 3.5 3Gbps Drives (2)
NVIDIA Quadro 600 1GB Graphics Card
Blu-Ray Drive 1 (which I use for ripping CD’s)
Microsoft Windows 10 Professional (and I try to keep bloatware to a minimum)
Everything downstream from the T+A PDP 3000 HV is analog and, unless I’m mistaken, is probably irrelevant for what you’re seeking re: my system.
Additionally, I utilize an iPad Air 3rd Gen as my Roon Controller for this system (and that is my exclusive use for this particular iPad). Of course, it is connected wirelessly via my Ubiquiti HD Wireless Access Points 802.11ac High Density Wave 2 Enterprise model (which provides a very stable wireless network throughout my home, including my listening room where the system is located.)
I’ve stated on several occasions and will do so here again - Roon v. 1.7 worked FLAWLESSLY for me and it wasn’t until the unveiling of v. 1.8 (from the very start and continuing throughout the plethora of subsequent builds) that I began experiencing playback issues as noted throughout this lengthy message string. I can’t help but think that there are memory hog or other caching-type issues inherent in v. 1.8 that were not present in v. 1.7 (at least the behavior I’m seeing reminds me of such issues).
I really don’t require a lot of the bells and whistles of v. 1.8 and I long for the stability I enjoyed with v. 1.7.
Since first using Roon with this music server, I ensured that no firewall or other network security issues would interfere with the Roon Core and, to the best of my knowledge, that remains the case as previously verified with Noris in this message string. I utilize the music server only for music - ripping CD’s, copying over my hi-res FLAC files from my other computer I utilize for music purchases, maintaining my music library and NO other applications.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Lon