What DAC do you use with Roon? Please list make and model (and price if you feel like adding it) [2016 - 2021-03]

JunKit_Ho · January 20, 2018, 3:27am

Hugo 2, Fostex HP-A8, Sony TA-ZH1ES, and Grace Design M903

Scott_Muckleroy · January 20, 2018, 4:39am

Roon Core running on QNAP, Windows 10 PC optical out to Emotiva DC-1 feeding Emotiva Airmotiv 6s’s and various headphones.

Peter_Hafkamp · January 20, 2018, 6:12am

A Project Pre Box S2 Digital, USB connected to a Auralic Aries Mini in Roonready mode.

Mike_O_Neill · January 20, 2018, 10:36am

How do you get around Roon Ready, I have CXN running on Airplay

Mike

Mike_O_Neill · January 20, 2018, 10:44am

I feel like the poor relation

Most of the kit mentioned isn’t even available in South Africa

I have a i7 desktop running the core then Ethernet to a Cambridge Audio CXN on Airplay ( for the time being), then via AudioLab M-DAC acting really as a headphone amp to Sennheiser HD 800. I am still sorting stuff out after converting to Roon proper.

For mobile AudioQuest Dragonfly Red, via Bose QC 25 running with a Apple Camera Kit on an iPad Mini.

Mike

Dirk-Pitt · January 20, 2018, 11:05am

FiiO Alpen E17
Meridian Explorer²
OPPO BDP-105EU
Hegel HD25
Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital
Bluesound Node 2 (x 2)
Bluesound Pulse Mini
Bluesound Pulse Flex (x 2)

Alan · January 20, 2018, 11:08am

Chord Dave

Joe_Strain · January 20, 2018, 2:25pm

Win 10 PC running Roon core, connected to a Bluesound Vault 2, outputting to a pair of Focal CMS65 monitors.

woodford · January 20, 2018, 2:45pm

Main System: Logitech Transporter–>Icon Audio ST40–>Focal 2018
System 2: Bluesound Node 2–>Lyngdorf TDAI 2170–>Dynaudio Special 40
Headphones: Squeezebox Touch–>USB–>Schiit Jotunheim–>Beyerdynamic DT880

ged_hickman1 · January 20, 2018, 6:04pm

The Obelisks are used as a traditional speaker with a sweet spot as the woofer is forward firing but it is a huge sweet spot as opposed to the tiny move your head and you’ll miss it of some. You can also wander around the room and retain a soundstage and image.
They need to be away from rear walls as they have a passive radiator at the back. But as they come on castors moving them to where you want them is very easy.

Martin_Webster · January 20, 2018, 11:47pm

Thinking about upgrading my IQaudiO Pi-Dac+ with a Chord 2Qute. I’ll buy, try and return if I don’t think the upgrade is worth the money. The IQaudiO holds its own with £500 DACs I’ve auditioned, so I think I need to spend a little more on an upgrade.

Any thoughts?

DrTone · January 21, 2018, 12:00am

I’m test driving a Yggdrasil w/Analog 2 right now. Had to hear what all the Schiit was about.

I’ve never heard the first analog board so don’t ask.

Rafael_Giraldez · January 21, 2018, 2:20pm

I’m using NAD M51

Andrew_Strutt · January 21, 2018, 2:49pm

I’ve got a Meridian 218. Works great with my legacy Meridian HT processor plugged into its digital input, a turntable into its analog input and Roon via a rock nuc into its network connection. Can control it with the G68, msr or iPhone/ pod. Analog out to mono amps. Sounds great with old Ruark floor standers.

Also have a Meridian director and a couple explorer2’s

Thanks to this forum I am looking to grab a pro-ject pre box S2 to have a play with dsd

eclectic · January 21, 2018, 3:17pm

I’m using an M2Tech Young and I have two Pi with IQAudio Dac+ hats. There is very little difference. They both sound great.

The IQs are a bit more laid back but I could live with either. RRP for the Young is UKP 1000, for the DAC+ it’s UKP 30

LarryMagoo · January 21, 2018, 9:56pm

Give it 30 days of break-in…then she starts to sing! Gonna get the Analog2 boards though…

Cheers!

DrTone · January 21, 2018, 11:45pm

24/7 Roon Radio.

TerryD · January 25, 2018, 8:12pm

i7 NUC running ROCK

End points:
Meridian Explorer2 DAC into Yamaha RX-A3060 AV Amp in PURE DIRECT mode
Speakers = B&W 702

Logitech Transporter (DAC) again into the Yamaha
HDMI into the Yamaha amp (Yamaha DAC)

Meridian Explorer2 DAC to the wife’s B&W PX headphones

PC USB attached MM-1 speakers (own DAC)
2 x Logitech Boom Boxes (own DAC) (great sound with Roon)
1 x Logitech Touch DAC

William_Wicks · January 26, 2018, 12:11am

Currently using Win10, i7-7700k, Roon, Chord 2qute, NAD326BEE(as pre), Roksan Caspian, Spendor A5r’s, Martin Logan Dynamo300 sub. (Previous Gustard x20u, iFi iDSD Micro- iUSB - TeraDak (LPSU), iFi Nano, Woo Audio WDS1, and the one that got me started on this madness, the Cambridge Audio DacMagic).

Martin_Webster · January 27, 2018, 6:13pm

Well, I’ve taken the plunge and bought a Chord Electronics 2Qute at a very reasonable price. And, I like what I hear!

My outgoing IQaudiO DAC+ is excellent, and it’s testament to this little board that the difference isn’t great*. But, the 2Qute is a notable improvement: certainly greater detail and more “energy”. The DAC+ moves to another zone. My Hi-Fi room now consists of:

Roon Server -> Raspberry Pi 3 (Ropieee) -> 2Qute -> Arcam A19 -> Dali Zensor 7s (vinyl playback, for those who may be interested, Pro-Ject 1 Xpression Carbon UKX)

Other zones served by Raspberry Pi 3 (Ropieee) plus IQAudio DAC+/ Pi-DigiAMP+ (Monitor Audio CT165-T2 ceiling speaker)

I now need to decide if I buy another Pi for the 2Qute, so I can reuse the DAC+, or buy a CuBox-i. Any thoughts?

*Edit: Actually, after 24 hours I’m tempted to retract that statement. The DAC+ is excellent and it certainly holds its own with the likes of the Bluesound range I auditioned (and own), but listening to albums such as Tracy Chapman, Love Over Gold, Tigerlily, Ágætis byrjun, Elephant … through the 2Qute is a joy. I neither imagined nor expected such a marked improvement.