To clarify, the Marantz Model 30 is a 100% analog integrated amp. The Marantz SACD 30n is primarily a high quality SACD/CD/ player/ DAC that has a streamer added, though I use an outboard streamer instead.
With a lot of efficient power, too. They used a pair of Hypex NC500 Class D amplifier modules.
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Sorry, but this is ■■. Yes, the Marantz/Denon/D+M Group transport is good. As is the VRDS-NEO [VMK-3.5-20S] in my Esoteric.
But Linn we’re right in 2009 to stop making CDP’s. Streaming provides better data integrity, free from the error-correction ‘guesstimates’ of CD playback.
So no. Your supposedly-superior transport is simply not the ‘secret sauce’.
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I’m referring to what sounds best to me. That is a personal subjective conclusion. Therefore, if I type my subjective conclusion, it can be, by the laws of physics, inherently not BS 
To my ears, a physical SACD played in the Marantz SACD 30n blows away the same album of ripped DSD played on a computer with Roon and HQPLAYER. It is no contest. Substantially better.
If you own a Marantz SACD 30n and have performed the same test and reached a different conclusion, then your response would not be BS, it would simply be your subjective opinion.
Dear sir, please try and keep up!
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Not really sure there was ever that much useful information to start with but you could be right.
Can we please try to keep it civil gentlemen 
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I suggest that you improve your digital chain then.
My K-01X sounds great with SACD, i.e. with physical media.
But my Stack Audio Link/Chord M Scaler/K-01X via TOSLINK sounds just as good.
The transport is not the ‘secret sauce’ 
The DAC and the digital transport before it is.
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That is nonsense! Just now I was thinking of inviting Rudy over for any tech support needs 
If useful information were the exclusive standard, audiophile forums would be out of business.
Calm down now sir, I don’t think this thread is ready for Rudy yet.
That’s the Ultimate threat and likely to get your thread closed
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Thank you, David.
Roon users really need to read this as many times as necessary to internalize its truth, understand its meaning and comprehend its implications.
Hopefully “audio nervosa” will be included is the next DSM. It appears to be spreading in the “audiophile” community.
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A power noise buzz saw? Why would anyone use one of those for anything? Indeed, where would one even find something like that?
Since the 1980’s there have been EMI regulations, for both radiative and conductive interference. Computers are forced to comply. The only study I know of that’s looked for audible noise from an i7 gaming computer with a honking graphics card failed to find any.
This idea that general-purpose computers are somehow very noisy is a fairy tale left over from the computers of the 1960’s, where one could indeed tune a radio to listen to the EMI they emitted. Ghost stories to frighten the impressionable, in order to sell more unnecessary frobs and widgets, I’d suppose.
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I appreciate a man who has blazed his own trail, audiophile dogma be damned!
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I don’t know for sure, but I suspect some of the “noise” on the internet suggesting that Roon may not sound as good as (insert name of software are bespoke low-power audio server here) sows the seed of doubt (a recognised technique of sales professionals) that may set some off on wild goose chases / down the rabbit hole for audiophile computers or magic software solutions. We’re then at risk from expectation/confirmation bias emptying our wallets.
This thread has inspired me to buy a Zen Stream (what a brilliant little device - just lovely in my bedroom headphone system) and I’d really like to give the SACD 30n a spin - although to be fair I was already a total Marantz fanboy!
For the OP I would repeat my advice from about half-a-mile up this page of auditioning other transports / endpoints - not necessarily megabucks ones - without committing financially to see if anything makes a difference. Or perhaps to do nothing for a while and relax and listen.
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I once thought like this until the Marantz SACD 30n came along and exposed my computer chain as being absolutely less than. This is after 12 years of total devotion to computer based audio. If it was expectation bias, it was slow coming to manifest. For those 12 years, my computer rig, with reclockers and streamers and Roon/ HQPlayer/ Amarra/ Audirvana et al bested my Ah! Tjeob CD 4000. I was squarely in the computer audio camp. Then Marantz blew the doors off.
I remain convinced that there’s no need to try different Roon end points. That is not the problem. Part of the difficulty with these sorts of discussions is that we all have different gear, thus we end up discussing theory rather than direct listening experience with the same gear, in the same room.
I estimate it’s going to cost at least $2000 to bring my Roon computer side to compete with the Marantz sans Roon. Honestly, 80% of my listening these days is with physical CDs, SACDs, and high res data discs. The other 20% is music service based playlists that I create.
In that scheme, Roon itself is not so significant. I’m no longer trying to bridge a local and streaming library into one. And with my particularl Roon rig, not your rig, or someone else’s rig, but with my specific rig, Roon with or without HQPlayer sounds inferior. So be it.
I’ve moved the Mac Mini out of the chain entirely. I’m content with Roon being a library management tool only. One day I might explore Roon ROCK and a good reclocker/ DDC. Or more likely first an Aurender. But I’ve come to the point of no longer bending over backwards to make my Roon lifetime license not be in vain. Fortunately, I only spent $499 for the license and hopefully one day I can use it. If nothing else, I have a great library management software - just not so great yet for playback.
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Is it possible to use the Marantz SACD 30n with Qobuz?
One way surely would be:
Roon > Mac Mini USB out > Marantz USB in
This should also work for 24/196 streaming. However, is it possible to use Qobuz directly with the 30n? Via the Heos-App?
The answer is no. Honestly, HEOS is quite lame and Marantz ought to be embarrassed by its infantile level of development. The only service that works as one would hope is Spotify via Spotify Connect. The music goes directly from the Spotify servers to the SACD 30n. And playback is controlled via the Spotify app. That works great.
Amazon HD and Tidal will both play directly from their servers, but playback control must be in HEOS, which is a joke.
Hopefully Spotify will go HD, as that would be the best route, by far.
I think if Marantz made the SACD 30n Roon ready I’d be placing my order now. (Or having a good long audition at least.)
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And how about a Marantz SACD 30n in combination with a iFi Zen Stream?
Wouldn‘t this be a good addition for a Mac Mini M1 running Roon? Could this be the „Emotional Rescue“ for Roon / Mac Mini M1?
I have all of those, plus a Sonore MicroRendu 1.4 with SBooster. Yet it was not good enough, hence I started this thread.
I have discussed the situation with Jesus Rodriquez, the designer for Sonore. I asked if I needed to upgrade my MicroRendu 1.4 to the UltraRendu. He said no. That the best route would be for a DDC (digital to digital converter) and a reclocker.
Paul does an excellent job in today’s video explaining why physical CD sounds so good.
This is what the Marantz SACD 30n showed me that has turned my rig, and listening habits completely upside down.
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