And with the Lekato Wireless Adapter I’m able to keep the FIIO in one room and move about the house wirelessly when necessary.
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This little thing has always intrigued me, although I have no experience with it.
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Hello Mike,
what I’ve as Roon Ready devices with headphone amp:
- Matrix Audio i2 element → really good DAC implementation, great touch screen, a bit high impedance headphone out
- Fiio R7 (also M11 Plus, which the same as DAP, but the R7 has a lot more power) → it’s ok, but I don’t like the handling so much (after starting you’ve every time to activate Roon)
- Naim Uniti Atom HE → really stable, hardware volume control with Roon, nice feeling, big display (but not so much infos on it, while using as Roon endpoint), no native DSD (always resampled to PCM), no USB in, sounds a bit “warm”
- Hifi Rose RS250 → mmh, don’t use it’s headphone amp…
- Gold Note DS-10 (only tested at home) → also a very good package, really not on the warm side
Currently I use from all my Roon ready devices with headphone amp only the Naim (but also here I’ve connected for Stax another amp) directly with headphones (and I love to hear with cans), but have connected external head amps like AudioValve Luminare, Holo Audio Bliss, Cayin HA-3A, Pathos Aurium, Oppo HA-1, IFI Gryphon,… because they are all more or less better, than the integrated amps.
Additional note: Your exaSound s88 has also a headphone amp integrated. I’ve tested a bit the headphone out from my exaSound 68e (which should be very similar) and I was suprised, how good it is working also with cans, which needs a lot of power.
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I think you want a DAP (digital audio player). Daps come in a few flavors, for Roon. You can get a Roon Ready DAP or an Android dap with Google Play that lets you use Roon Arc. Roon Ready means you use the Roon app on your phone and choos the dap using the highest audio quality. A small step down in audio quality (depends on file size and bit rate), you can use Roon Arc, but you have to make sure your network and Roon server is set up for Roon Arc. This lets you stream from anyplace with an internet connection. I have both on my phone and use Roon Arc while driving around. I have both an Astell & Kern SR35 (Roon Ready and Roon Arc) and Hiby R4 (Roon Arc). While using a DAP to stream you need a wifi signal. However if you are out and about and have a mobile signal you can use your phone to stream to your dap through Bluetooth. Make sure the DAP has LDAC if you want the best audio quality while remote. Sorry there’s a lot here!
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I’m going online to look at all the devices listed in the responses and checking the links provided. Thanks to all that responded.
Looking at the Fiio M23 articles, it sounds impressive. One article mentioned it is scheduled for an upgrade to Android 12 with a firmware update next month. Wondering if it will need to be re-certified for Roon Ready status with the OS upgrade. Perhaps that is already in the works.
Anyone familiar with that?
It is 
A great device and Roon Ready
Torben
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I read the articles on the Fiio R9. The technology sounds so impressive with 2 ES9038PRO dacs, one per each left/right channel. If I had the ability to use a plethora of high end headphones I would be tempted by that one.
Think it might be a bit much for my specialty headphones with the left and right Koss Porta Pro drivers installed in the one ear cup. I’d love to hear it anyway.
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Interesting question Mike. I’ve had a couple of software upgrades on my Roon Ready Brooklyn DAC without any hiccups. But I’ve read some in the community have encountered issues with Roon Ready devices after an OS upgrade.
Guess the question would be whether all Roon Ready devices are required to coordinate any OS upgrades with Roon in order to keep their certification?
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Perhaps the FiiO R7 or M23 would better fit the bill?
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I have three such devices. A Gold Note DS1000 which hooks up to my system,it’s beautiful,simply superb,but expensive. I also have a Naim Unity Headphone amp edition. It’s a nice looking device,stable,really good sound. I also have the new Node Icon which has an excellent headphone amp,small form factor nice display screen,integrates perfectly with `Roon. It has the additional benefit of two way Bluetooth which is almost a unique feature. Much more affordable truly remarkable value.
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A lot depends on budget I am 100% headphones and I use a Naim Uniti Atom HE
Literally power cable & ethernet , however a bit pricey maybe
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I am very satisfied with my Topping DX7 pro. This model has XLR and Headphone outputs. There’s also a model for just headphones. Topping is excellent in test (see Audiosciense Review f.i.) and in sound. I use it as PC system.
Edit:
Oops I realize you want a streamer with it.
For that I use Brooklyn Bridge.
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