I propose to use a ParaSound Halo P6 amplifier’s analog input (with a ParaSound A3 amplifier then Martin Logan Aeries electrostatic loudspeakers)
Home Network Details
Currently I am running Roon 2.0 build 1353 on macOS 13.6.1; I shall shortly upgrade to Sonoma. I want to move all my raw FLAC files off my internal Macintosh boot volume - either onto a Nucleus, or a NAS - and connect that to a Nucleus. I can use a spare Ethernet port of my Apple Airport. But am not sure how else to build this system: do I need a Streamer such as the iFI Zen? And - most importantly - will I be able to back my Nucleus up to my other Mac’s hard drives with Carbon Copy Cloner etc? I have been told to use SMB. How well, if at all, does the Nucleus support Mac networking?
@Mark_Sealey, I moved your post to the Roon software discussion where other users in the community may provide guidance. Roon technical support does not typically provide configuration advice.
That said, the Nucleus supports connections with Windows, Macs, and Linux systems. One recommendation is never to use a cloned system (either Mac or Windows) with Roon as Roon’s system identifiers become confused with system clones. Roon has its own backup process which works very well, and can be made to a locally connected drive (on the Nucleus or ROCK or via USB) or a network connected drive or system.
Roon offers a number or guides online for migrating Roon Server to a different computer, and moving music libraries to different computers:
Having been a computer user since the early 1980s (and Mac for 80% of that time), I still cling to the idea of a filesystem backup being safest.
Which is why I really want to know whether I can backup the Nucleus at the Mac filesystem level; and if so, how.
No, I’d use a ‘clone’ only as a backup - just in case; never boot from it or rely on its files to slot back into an environment where Roon is’t expecting it.
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…Roon has its own backup process which… can be made to a locally connected drive (on the Nucleus)…
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So Nucleus shows up as a device on a macOS network?
Thanks for those links!
Am I right that currently only the Nucleus + Revision B is sold and maintained?
I think it was, Yes. Although I now wonder whether I would be better off buying a storage-only Nucleus and a NAS like this one…
None of the vendors of the ‘big three’ software solutions say they can guarantee a clone or backup with the Nucleus - even though, as you know and say - users here can do that!
I don’t think I do, do I? Wouldn’t that duplicate what Roon does?
That’s because the Nucleus is a niche product and it doesn’t really matter which kind of device is abstracted away behind an SMB network interface, as long as it speaks the SMB protocol.
The Roon server sends the music data out either via the network or by USB. If you use the network method, there needs to be something on the other end that can receive it. Preferably this is a streamer that is “Roon Ready”.
If you use USB, it can be simply a DAC with USB input. Preferably “Roon Tested” but it’s not completely necessary.
To a degree. That’s because barely anyone will try to market a streamer that can only work with Roon. Usually they will have a bunch of methods to stream built in, and Roon is one of the options.
Other options may be Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, UPnP, AirPlay, Chromecast, or the device manufacturer’s own app. But none of them give you what Roon does.
Only by USB because USB and Coax/Optical are apparently the only inputs it accepts. The linked website doesn’t even say that it has a network input, much less being Roon Ready.
Roon recommends using a networked streamer.
If using a direct connection, there’s nothing that’s better in any meaningful way than a well implemented USB interface.
It’s true that USB wasn’t designed to carry audio because there is no audio to carry at this stage. It’s carrying digital data, which really is nothing but a long string of very large numbers. Audio only comes into play at the analog side of the DAC, which is well isolated in any competent design.
Yes, for instance. That gets you the digital data over the network from the Roon server to the iFi and from there to any DAC you like that has matching inputs. And it’s probably one of the cheaper ready made options.
You could do cheaper with a little Raspberry Pi that’s running Roon Bridge, but you’d have to set it up yourself. Even a phone that’s running Roon and has a USB output would theoretically be an option.
Or pick one of the many available integrated Roon Ready streamer/DAC options
Personally, I like to keep it simple and affordable. I have a Nucleus connected to my router by ethernet through an unmanaged switch. From there I have three Roon end-points, all via Roon RAAT over my network with no direct connections to the Nucleus.
I use ethernet to a Roon Ready Oppo 203 with HDMI to Bose sound system.
My main system is WIFI to a Raspberry Pi 4 running RoPieee with USB to a Meridian Prime pre-amp and RCA to Denon AVR-2805 and Pioneer HPM-60 speakers.
Ethernet to RPi4 running RoPieee with USB to Mojo 2 DAC and Focal Clear headphones.
Nothing too elaborate or expensive, but all glorious to my 75 year old ears.
There is no better way to transmit digital audio (e.g. to a DAC) from an external device than USB so it’s your best bet with P6. Or use a streamer with its own DAC and connect it over the network, which is fine, too.
