Sound Quality

Hi everybody,

I am wondering for years why the most expensive app in the world of hifi and high end only has a sound quality which is only ok.If you compare Roon with JPLAY i think JPLAY has only a few people to develope software and improve sound quality. But here the difference. What is Roon doing to improve sound quality and do they compare with JPLAY or not?

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When discussing audio quality in software like Roon vs. JPLAY, it’s important to recognize that sound quality isn’t determined by the app alone. There are several factors involved
1. Audio Chain Complexity
The audio chain is more than just the playback app. It includes your digital-to-analog converter (DAC), network setup, operating system, power supply, cables, speakers, and even the type of files you’re playing. Any weak link can affect what you actually hear.
2. Design Philosophy
Roon is designed to be a comprehensive music management and streaming platform with advanced library, DSP, and network features, and an emphasis on user experience and multi-room audio.
JPLAY, on the other hand, is designed with a minimalist approach, focusing almost exclusively on audio playback with as little software overhead as possible to reduce system noise and jitter.
3. Software Priorities
Roon’s team puts more focus on features, usability, metadata, and integration with many devices and services. They do offer bit-perfect playback, but audio tweaks for “audiophile” sound (such as specialized driver bypass, RAM playback, or process isolation) are not their top priority.
JPLAY (and similar niche software) focus purely on audio output optimization, often at the expense of convenience or features.
4. User Environment
The same app can sound different depending on your operating system, the hardware it’s running on, network configuration, and background system noise. JPLAY, for example, requires specific Windows setups and tweaks to get the advertised improvements.
5. Subjectivity
Perception of audio quality is subjective and can be influenced by expectations, placebo, or even system synergy. For some users, the differences may be inaudible, for others, very noticeable.

To your specific question:
What is Roon doing to improve sound quality and do they compare with JPLAY or not?

  • Roon provides bit-perfect playback, high-resolution audio support, customizable DSP, and support for various protocols (RAAT, AirPlay, Chromecast, etc.). Their main goal is to ensure the audio stream is delivered to your endpoint without alteration, relying on your hardware to handle the rest.
  • Roon does not focus on “tweaky” optimizations at the OS or driver level as JPLAY does (for example, process isolation, RAM playback, Windows audio stack bypassing).
  • Roon’s improvements in sound quality generally come from better endpoint support, robust networking, and reliable DSP—not from extreme system-level optimizations.
  • Roon rarely addresses or compares themselves directly to JPLAY, as their goals and user bases partly overlap but are fundamentally different.

The differences you hear may come from the technical focus of each software, but also from the sum of your system’s components and settings. There’s no single answer or “app-only” reason sound quality is always the result of the whole chain.

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Please be aware there are already numerous threads in this forum dealing with so called “sound quality” of roon or other systems. Really no need to open another thread for this. Just give the forum’s search a try. You’ll find a lot to read :slightly_smiling_face:

To make a long story short, for roon and other similar systems as well there’s nothing like a “sound quality”. Per default they transmit the original digital audio signal unchanged 1:1 to any rendering device that is compatible. 1:1 is the golden standard in this area. In case you don’t prefer this sound wise with the rest of your gear you’re free to use e.g. roon’s internal MUSE/DSP with lots of options to adjust the sound to your liking. But again, this is not about improving the technical audio quality, it’s about adapting the output to your liking, using your own gear in your very own room :dove:
Thus, what you in your own situation tweak in your gear may deliver your own preferred sound profile but may be exactly the opposite for others :slightly_smiling_face:

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You could start by reading this ongoing thread about the same topic, just another name for a bit-perfect data stream.

Or this:

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Having used both JPlay and Roon I can say they don’t sound any different at all in any of my setups I tried it on. Infact didn’t sound any different to any other UPnP app I tried.

JPLAY makes unsubstantiated claims about improved SQ due to less polling of network, but has no real evidence to claim this other than claims it does. But people will believe what is written and make assumptions based on this. As is the nature of things .

Roon on the other hand don’t claim anything about SQ other than it’s bit perfect and your shown a supposed full signal path (albeit this is defeatable as some don’t show all processes such as DSP). So Roon on backfoot as it makes no claims of improved SQ for its software because it doesn’t need to as it’s passing unaltered bits to the DAC.

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I am not able to remember that Roon is talking about improving sound quality. They are talking about new features for searching for new content or artists. That’s ok for me. But people who are using Roon spent thousands of dollars for cables and other equipment… But Roon is only adding other features and is not talking about sound quality. I can‘t understand this.

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How do you define “sound quality”? What else could you which for than getting 1:1 unchanged digital audio signal from your source to your renderer plus being able to adapt the sound to your liking by e.g. roon’s integrated MUSE/EQ plus even making use of FIR filters?
I believe sometimes people mix up digital “sound quality” with personal preferences in individual rooms.
Please keep in mind that roon (server) is a digital computer application and in no way an analogue audio device :slightly_smiling_face:.

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It’s always interesting how often “sound quality improvements” are reported after swapping software, cables, or even network switches — especially when all components are supposed to be handling bit-perfect digital data.
In the absence of controlled, blind testing, it’s far more likely that people are hearing what they expect to hear rather than any actual sonic difference. The human brain is incredibly good at filling in perceived improvements once money, effort, or audiophile language has been invested.
If nothing in the signal path is altering the audio data or introducing measurable noise/distortion, then the rest is placebo — not performance. And there’s no shame in admitting that; it just means you’re human.

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You can’t improve on bit perfect that’s the reason. You can’t fix what isn’t broke.

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I fully agree.

And in digital this means not a bit if noise, it is dropouts or very loud crackles. Believe me, you don’t need a revolving system or a golden ear to easily hear it.

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You can do so much if using MUSE/DSP to adapt the sound to your liking. You just have to try it. It’s that simple.
Properly created FIR filters are going even further, beyond pure frequency EQing.
roon delivers a very powerful set of tools. You just have to try them.

Some people somehow fear or deny changing the signal on purpose. Alright, then think about proper speaker placement and room treatment. Or look after some other amplifier or speakers.

There are lots of possibilities to change the sound to your liking, very different ones.

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I do feel like any time some one talks about Roon (or any software) that it should include the full signal path including core, endpoint/streamer, outputs, DAC connections etc… hard to have any reasonable discussion without at least that much baseline information

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What more can Roon do other than send an “uncorrupted” bit perfect stream over the network.

They recommend an split Server / End Point (preferably over ethernet) topology so as to keep any noise from the server from passing. What next

The Streamer / DAC does the rest

If you choose to use USB then you are in no mans land (outside of Roon’s control) with the USB implementation of the DAC, it should be up to the job BUT …

The DAC does the rest

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Just as adding an aspect If you are using roon in a normal PC the transmission via usb to streamer or directly a DAC incorporates the usb noise which is significant. It is not quality problem of roon but bad protocol of transmision I have incorporated the Intona usb cleaner which work very well.
As well a network optical galvanic isolator before input of network data into your roon , gives you much cleaner signals
Above without entering in the reproduction quality of DAC and following elements in the chain.
Hope to be helpful

USB galvanic isolators are a proven remedy if unrelated to the music noise is audible or measurable, but do not improve the sound in audiophile terms :hear_with_hearing_aid:

Ethernet is galvanically isolated by design, so one could just stop there …
… unless the audiophile uses shielded to the plugs ethernet cables, but the fix is to just use lesser (=worse?!) CAT-numbered cables :upside_down_face:

Optical ethernet transceivers do not improve the sound in audiophile terms :hear_with_hearing_aid:

Measured proof is easily found in the net.
No opponent has come forward with comprehensible falsifications, but anecdotal evidence seems overwhelmingly present :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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USB Isolators:

Torben

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Interesting @Torben_Rick :+1:

Without starting an off topic discussion on USB isolators, but to my eyes the noise that seemed present prior to these two being used was below audible limits. But cleaner in use.

Thanks for sharing :pray:

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Well it is not improving quality of the source.
It is avoiding electrical noises coming with flow signal in usb transmission afecting the signal and as well the unit receiving it. It is accepted by main Hifi designers that USB protocol and transmision is the worst. So today designers have introduce the I2S through dhmi. I have in a group clearly check sound improvement of for example sreamers with optical isolation, and as well usb cleaner. If you have a great dac, it incorporates ways to get galvanic isiloation and as well noise coming with usb signal. Bit are bit but they are analog shaped signal and its shape affect hte way clocks works with it.

For sure you do not hear at all that so called “noise” below the audible level.But with those cleaners you get better sound definition.