Roon Ready headphone amp/DAC/streamer

Audio Gear Talk
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I’m new to headphone use, for reasons covered in another topic. Got my first pair last November. So far I’m really enjoying this new experience.

I’ve used them connected to my Denon AVR, Oppo 205, and S88 MKII with the entertainment system in the living room, and Laptop in the office with and without Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt.

I’m interested in a Roon Ready headphone amp/DAC/streamer for use without the entertainment system or connected to the laptop.

The enhanced sound with the Cobalt is great but I’d like to free myself from the laptop.

I’ve read a few articles online for the Matrix Audio mini pro 4, and a topic in the forum on various Matrix units but nothing recent.

Think I’d like a single box solution with just Ethernet and power for Roon.

Does anyone know of something along those lines other than the Matrix Audio mini pro 4?

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Mike I have the MA Mini-i 4 (non pro so no headphones) and the Mini-i Pro 3 and think they are both excellent. I didn’t need headphones where I have the Mini-i 4 but it is a definite step up over the Mini-i pro 3.
I use both mine with Ethernet and they never skipped a beat, so highly recommended from my side

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Hi Mike

What headphones are you using and what is:

sensitivity ? dBspl/V
impedance ? Ω

Torben

4

Chord 2go and Hugo2 (single box if mounted and screwed together).

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As @BlackJack says the Chord 2Go/Hugo 2 is very nice.

I’ve ended up using it on battery far more than I expected (it often sits next to me with a short cable to my headphones running over Wi Fi)

There are some things I prefer over the Poly/Mojo2 (both 3.5 and 6.35 headphone sockets, rotating rather than button volume, ethernet for when I want it, feels more substantial(!)) - but I’m not sure I hear very much difference in the sound quality using roon. So you might want to try both.

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6

FiiO R7 Desktop Streaming Player and DAC/Amp

FiiO R9 Desktop Streaming Player and DAC/Amp

I have the FiiO R9 and it is a beautiful sounding and looking unit that can drive just about any set of headphones. It is Roon Ready, works as a stand-alone unit and can even be used as a pre-amp. The R7 has similar features but has less power for driving those power hungry headphones.

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Hey Rick, I don’t know any of the technical specs of my headphones. The 2E1 (2 ears in 1) are custom made for single sided hearing (deaf on one side). They use the Koss Porta Pro drivers with modification to allow us to hear stereo imaging from one ear cup.

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I had a bit the same thing last year.

I bought a cobalt which made it possible to listen with a chosen headphone wired to phone or iPad. But it lacked power and I was also interested in a more steady setup. So ended up buying separate because I couldn’t find a device that did all in one for a price I liked.

Bought an spl phonitor one d and a Wiim pro. Wasn’t happy with the Wiim and replaced it with a bleusound nano. Happy now.
Most used headphone for now is an older akg k271 mk II. Looking for something to replace it but I’m also quite attached to the akg.

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I’ sure they are easy to drive.

Do you know what the processing is? Is it a simple mix to mono - or something more complex?

As you probably know - roon can do mix to mono…

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Hi Greg,

Mike turned me onto these headphones. Prior to that I was using Roon’s mono processing mix and the 2E1 headphones are a lot better sounding in my opinion. They use two separate drivers within the one good earcup that gives the music better imaging than the one directional mono mix did.

Here is the maker of these headphones description and a link to his site…

" 2E1"® means: "Two Ears in One"® Separate Left & Right channel speaker drivers producing true stereo audio for one ear! ~ No more down-mixing of the two channels stereo audio signal into one channel mono!"

2E1 “Two Ears In One” True Stereo Headphones For The Single-Sided Deaf – 2E1Headphones

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Hi Greg, I wanted to hear what others enjoyed, something other than mono. When I found these 2E1’s it was a a whole new experience. The speaker drivers were spaced in such a way that I could hear the music moving around in the cup. Or better identified by @jb76 John as Stereo imaging.

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I know you say Ethernet but I use my FiiO M11 Plus DAP fully portable around the house and sounds fabulous with any headphones I have tried. A very flexible and rock solid solution and even manages DSD256 over my WiFi with no issues.

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Hey @Mike_LC , I think @CrystalGipsy onto something with respect to his FiiO M11Plus recommendation.

I told Mike that I’ve only owned one DAC, the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, and I had no way to compare it to any others. But I do own the FiiO M11Plus and listening to it for the first time I do not notice much difference in SQ vs. the Brooklyn DAC using the 2E1’s.

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14

The FiiO M11 Plus is a great recommendation, however, FiiO is replacing the M11 Plus with the M23. The new “desktop mode” feature looks interesting.

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Good to see another M11 Plus User. Had mine Two years now and it never lets me down. I do like they I can go into any room and be able to stream to it.

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Yeah same applies to the M23. It’s the portable nature that I like and they don’t break the bank like A&K and from experience equalled the A&K I tried and was more reliable with Roon.

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17

I should have stated it as network and power. A self contained unit with no need for a host connection with USB etc…

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Wow, never expected to have so may replies and choices. Many thanks to everyone. Now I’m like a kid in a candy store with lots to choice from.

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Then these are perfect for that and you can be anywhere in the house not tied to the one room. You just have to remember to charge it when it gets low.

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All the FiiO units mentioned are fully self contained and are all Roon Ready headphone amps/DACs/streamers plus they can run other music apps, such as PlexAmp, Tidal and Qobuz. Oh and they can all play back music stored on a microSD card. In the case of the desktop units (R7 and R9) they need AC power and can work with WiFi or Ethernet. The portable units (M11 Plus and M23) only need to charged and are WiFi only. As stated the M23 also has a desktop mode, which would require a power connection.

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