Subwoofer on its own endpoint?

Roon Software Discussion
1

Hello,

I have a multi room set up, and right now I am wondering if I can hook up my subwoofer as a separate roon end point, and control it’s DSP and volume as needed separate from my main speakers in my multiple rooms.

Would a raspberry pi with either the built-in DAC, or an external DAC, suffice for the subwoofer? Would there be sync issues? Has anyone tried this before?

2

You would ALWAYS have to set up a zone group which isn’t only annoying but has other limitations.

For one thing, Roon tries to keep grouped zones sufficiently in sync for multi-room without an echo, but you surely want your speakers and sub to be in tighter sync than that.

3

Having done this with Roon before, yes, but don’t do it.

Sync issues.

I think you’re trying to use a single sub across all systems. I might be wrong.

Unless all your speakers are the same make/model there will be a different crossover point.

I’d put the sub in the main system, buy a dedicated endpoint that can integrate the sub with low pass/high pass filters with the speakers.

4

As you suspected and others have said, there will be sync issues.

The correct solution would be to use a multi-channel (more than 2) DAC. miniDSP has a number of suitable products that work well for this application:

  • miniDSP Flex
    The “Digital I/O Version” functions as a DDC, allowing you to use your choice of external S/PDIF DACs for your main speakers and sub. It exposes 2-channels to Roon and uses internal DSP and signal routing to its four output channels.
  • miniDSP Flex HTx
    Higher quality analog outputs, and it exposes eight individually routable channels to Roon, so you could use Roon’s DSP engine to manage crossovers and delays if you prefer.
  • SHD Studio
    Incorporates a Roon Ready streamer in the same chassis as the DDC. No USB input (that’s for setup only), but it does have AES/EBU input and outputs for driving a pair of external 2-channel DACs.
  • SHD
    Similar to SHD Studio, but offers analog inputs and outputs also. You could use your preferred external S/PDIF DAC for your main speakers and the internal DAC for your subwoofer(s).