I want to go back to 2.64
同我的感覺一樣，聲音變薄了，自然度減小了，音樂感差了，低音力量小了，下潛能力也沒了，整體就是差了！其實現在有人覺得好了，好了就繼續用，如果效果不好的就應該安排回復2.64就可以了
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Translation
Just as I feel, the sound has become thinner, it lacks naturalness, the musicality has suffered, the bass lacks punch, and the depth has vanished—overall, it’s just not up to scratch! Actually, some people now think it’s better; if you’re happy with it, carry on using it, but if you’re not satisfied with the results, you should simply revert to version 2.64.
Typically, you can’t go back to an earlier version of the software. If you use a Mac, there is a stopgap version to allow time to upgrade to supported version of macOS.
However, for Linux, there is no such option. If you were to provide more details of your Roon server, more pertinent advice could be given.
Dear Roon Team,
My name is Vincent, founder of VVAudiolab. We specialize in high-end music servers
for serious audiophile systems, and many of our customers are using complete setups in
the USD 200,000 to 500,000 range.
I am writing to raise a serious complaint regarding the sound quality regression
introduced after updating Roon from version 2.5 to 2.6.
In our evaluation, and in actual customer systems, Roon 2.6 sounds substantially
worse than 2.5. The change is not subtle. The sound has become noticeably brighter and
harsher, with weaker low frequencies, less body, and a noisier overall presentation.
On revealing high-end systems, the degradation is immediate and obvious.
This is extremely concerning. In the high-end audio world, software is not just a
user interface layer - it is part of the playback chain. Any change that affects
timing behavior, background activity, processing load, or system noise can directly
impact sonic performance. Whatever has changed in 2.6, the result is clearly negative
in serious listening environments.
The impact has been severe enough that we have had no practical choice but to roll
systems back to older images in order to recover acceptable sound quality. That should
never be necessary after a software update from a premium brand.
This is not a minor preference issue. It is a clear regression, and for customers
investing at this level, it is simply unacceptable. A platform positioned at the
premium end of the market cannot afford upgrades that materially degrade performance.
I strongly urge your engineering team to investigate this matter with urgency and
seriousness. Please confirm whether this issue is already known internally, whether
any changes were made in 2.6 that could affect playback behavior or system-level
performance, and whether a fix or mitigation is being worked on.
We need a direct and technically credible response on this matter.
Our clients expect reference-level performance, and we cannot recommend or deploy
updates that compromise sound quality to this extent.
Sincerely,
Vincent
Founder, VVAudiolab
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I am so excited and interested to see the responses, this has made my Monday!
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The versions you mention are not recent. 2.5 was released April 2025 and 2.6 February this year.
Nonetheless, where is your evidence, and where are the data to support such claims?
Finally, this forum is for the consumer. You should reach out to Roon directly.
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Would love to understand the entire chain of the setup. Such as: is the DAC directly connected to the server?
Other useful information is what the signal path in Roon looks like?
The whole post lacks quite a bit of relevant info and details.
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Bitperfect is still Bitperfect. Different version of Roon does not change that.
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Have you considered a professional hardware test unit that can verify the bit perfectness of the signal reaching the playback chain, such as:
This unit has a bit-perfect test that professionals such as you typically might use to verify that all is well within the digital transmission chain. It can be used to discern whether digital files are undergoing unintended DSP, for instance.
Many folks here have one (as do I). I can assert that these tests continue to run with no issues on the latest versions of Roon.
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Guys, come on! Don’t take away the mystery! I had a bad day yesterday and I need a lift!
Possibly your systems are not so expensive/revealing enough/using the wrong electricity. We need to hear about the magic/mystery/unobtainium proprietary equipment!
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What was British Rail’s excuse one winter “Wrong type of snow”
I’m glad I’m old I can enjoy music not equipment 
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I would think if you are selling your customers half million dollar systems, that you would maintain parallel Roon installations so that you could establish any difference with each software update using measuring equipment.
The direct and credible response is really for you to provide.
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Charitably, could this be the case where a bespoke/boutique server with a ludicrously underpowered processor in the cause of being “quiet” in some vague audio sense is thrown off-kilter by a simple, benign software update? A device that is presumably attached to the DAC by USB (or fires mythical sound quality improvements by miraculous means across the LAN). This is why we have the Nucleus, a simple PC, or a Mac Mini.
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… other than …
should be issued by yourself in the first place.
Your Diretta implementations don’t fix these problems as touted by so many others …
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my experience with Roon, specifically regarding Version 2.6.4. Prior to the recent updates, my listening experience with 2.6.4 was, without exaggeration, the most satisfying it has ever been. On my current setup, the acoustic performance was absolutely phenomenal—delivering the perfect balance of weight, texture, and emotional engagement that audiophiles constantly strive for. It was, in my opinion, a masterpiece of audio engineering.
Given how deeply tailored that specific sound signature was to my high-end system, I find myself missing the sonic presentation of Version 2.6.4 immensely. While I fully understand and respect Roon’s commitment to continuous software evolution and security updates, the change in the audio engine has left a significant void in my daily listening.
If it is at all technically feasible, I would like to kindly request that the development team explore the possibility of allowing users a “roll-back” or downgrade option to Version 2.6.4. Alternatively, perhaps a legacy audio engine mode could be implemented within the settings for those who prefer that specific acoustic profile.
I know that maintaining multiple versions poses a significant challenge for software developers, but for the community of music lovers who prioritize sound signature above all else, having access to Version 2.6.4 would be deeply appreciated.
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Wow! The plot thickens, please can we have confirmation as to whether Roon have made changes to the audio engine?
This is serious stuff now! Pitch fork sharpening stuff! I was under the impression that changes to the software did not include changes to the sq/audio engine/sound output.
Bit perfect is bit perfect, but sq dalliances are a step too far! I am potentially outraged!!
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What change?
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Have you, as well as @chow_vincent, bought an RME ADI-2 DAC and made it part of your apparently high-end testbed? If you have not, I am afraid you will not gain much traction in these forums.
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You’re the best
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