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Alternative to Roon....

terryforsythe said:
You may not necessarily need Roon endpoint functionality. I use Logitech Media Server (LMS), which is free. It connects to all of my devices, two of which include Roon functionality, but it connects via UPnP/DLNA. LMS also will stream via Chromecast, SlimProto, AIrplay, etc.

Give it a try. Like I said, it's free. So, if it doesn't work out for you, no money lost.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip. I used LMS years ago when we had two Logitech audio devices. But after we didn't use them anymore I ditched LMS (it was also not anymore directly supported on a Synology NAS if I remember it correctly). But can LMS directly connect to a Denon AVC-X4800h AVR to play multi-channel FLAC-files?
 
Roger_ said:
But can LMS directly connect to a Denon AVC-X4800h AVR to play multi-channel FLAC-files?
Click to expand...

Looks like you can push to the Denon with the LMS uPnP plugin...
https://www.reddit.com/r/heos/comments/skjrlp

I don't know about multi-channel, I'll try with my X1700h if I get some time.

*edit* I think you need to use the UPNP Bridge plugin which will essentially turn your X4700h into a Squeezebox player. More details here:

Announce: UPnPBridge = integrate UPnP/DLNA players with LMS (squeeze2upnp) - Squeezebox : Community : Forums

This plugin/app integrates UPnP/DLNA players found on your network and let LMS use them as if they were regular Squeezeboxes (they appear as a modified squeezelite instance). The stable version is now part of the 3rd party plugin built-in list, so you should find it in the plugins page. If you...
forums.slimdevices.com

I run LMS in a docker container and I won't be able to get this working without a lot of reconfiguration, so I don't think i'll get around to trying it anytime soon.
 
Last edited:
Berwhale said:
Looks like you can push to the Denon with the LMS uPnP plugin...
https://www.reddit.com/r/heos/comments/skjrlp

I don't know about multi-channel, I'll try with my X1700h if I get some time.
Click to expand...
If you could give it try that would be great. However after reading the post I suspect that the LMS plugin will actually use the HEOS hardware in the AVR. Which is limited to stereo only.... But maybe we are lucky.
 
Roger_ said:
If you could give it try that would be great. However after reading the post I suspect that the LMS plugin will actually use the HEOS hardware in the AVR. Which is limited to stereo only.... But maybe we are lucky.
Click to expand...

Well the thread is still active after almost 9 years, so you could ask :) Or maybe go down the PiCore Player route I mentioned above...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Brief description (with pictures) of my Touchscreen Pi based PicorePlayer streamer...

@tonycollinet - I have a RPi 4 sitting around doing nothing, you have inspired me to do something with it :)...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com
 
Roger_ said:
Thanks for the tip. I used LMS years ago when we had two Logitech audio devices. But after we didn't use them anymore I ditched LMS (it was also not anymore directly supported on a Synology NAS if I remember it correctly). But can LMS directly connect to a Denon AVC-X4800h AVR to play multi-channel FLAC-files?
Click to expand...
I installed Docker on my Synology NAS, and installed LMS in Docker. It works great and streams my FLAC files, which are stored on my NAS.

I don't know anything about the Denon, but would be surprised, even shocked, if it exclusively only supports streaming from Roon, and doesn't support any other streaming protocols. My Yamaha AVR supports UPnP/DLNA, Chromecast and Airplay, all of which LMS can use to stream. LMS also supports the protocol my MiniDSP SHD uses, but I don't recall which protocol that is. SlimProto maybe? In addition, LMS streams flawlessly to my KEF LS60 Wireless speakers.
 
Last edited:
Roger_ said:
Thanks for the tip. I used LMS years ago when we had two Logitech audio devices. But after we didn't use them anymore I ditched LMS (it was also not anymore directly supported on a Synology NAS if I remember it correctly). But can LMS directly connect to a Denon AVC-X4800h AVR to play multi-channel FLAC-files?
Click to expand...
Review p. 103 of the owners manual. It supports DLNA. You may not even need Roon or LMS, though. It looks like it has its own streaming software.
 
terryforsythe said:
Review p. 103 of the owners manual. It supports DLNA. You may not even need Roon or LMS, though. It looks like it has its own streaming software.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Let's wait and see if it supports multichannel audio.
 
I still cannot find the player or server controller that would suit me. I don't think my needs are that unique so I am quite annoyed.

  • Roon - to expensive for my semi-audiophile needs
  • Audirvana - works buggy with music on NAS
  • Plex - werks well but I can not send it directly do DAC as it doesn't show in the player list (Maranz). The whole thing needs to go over AirPlay and it stutters etc.
  • HEOS - OK, but I cannot run in on comupter (Mac)

Any of you in the know have a suggestion? I need nice interface I can control the library on the NAS and send it to play on the DAC ...

Thank you
 
hansha said:
I still cannot find the player or server controller that would suit me. I don't think my needs are that unique so I am quite annoyed.

  • Roon - to expensive for my semi-audiophile needs
  • Audirvana - works buggy with music on NAS
  • Plex - werks well but I can not send it directly do DAC as it doesn't show in the player list (Maranz). The whole thing needs to go over AirPlay and it stutters etc.
  • HEOS - OK, but I cannot run in on comupter (Mac)

Any of you in the know have a suggestion? I need nice interface I can control the library on the NAS and send it to play on the DAC ...

Thank you
Click to expand...
Logitech Media Server is what I am using.
 
hansha said:
I still cannot find the player or server controller that would suit me. I don't think my needs are that unique so I am quite annoyed.

  • Roon - to expensive for my semi-audiophile needs
  • Audirvana - works buggy with music on NAS
  • Plex - werks well but I can not send it directly do DAC as it doesn't show in the player list (Maranz). The whole thing needs to go over AirPlay and it stutters etc.
  • HEOS - OK, but I cannot run in on comupter (Mac)

Any of you in the know have a suggestion? I need nice interface I can control the library on the NAS and send it to play on the DAC ...

Thank you
Click to expand...

Jriver ?
 
hansha said:
Thank you for your suggestion. While I believe it does it's job the web interface seems kinda from the last decade or sooner hehe
Click to expand...
I agree (even with the Material Skin plugin).

The menu structure could use some design changes. Tabs for quick access to the different menus would be nice.

The Tidal plugin needs a lot work, in my humble opinion. Ideally, it would look and feel at least as good as Tidal Connect. Better yet, if they could integrate Tidal Connect as a plugin, that would be even better (don't know if it is possible).

On the other hand, it's free. It's hard to develop good apps with no money to do so.
 
For classical music, IDAGIO beats the pants off of any of the other streaming services.

(I’m a dedicated Roon user, but if you want a variety of classical recordings with robust search and genre categorization and good ‘radio’ consistency, IDAGIO just works better)
 
hansha said:
I still cannot find the player or server controller that would suit me. I don't think my needs are that unique so I am quite annoyed.

  • Roon - to expensive for my semi-audiophile needs
  • Audirvana - works buggy with music on NAS
  • Plex - werks well but I can not send it directly do DAC as it doesn't show in the player list (Maranz). The whole thing needs to go over AirPlay and it stutters etc
Click to expand...
Do you have DLNA server enabled in your Plex MS settings? It is disabled by default.

Alternatively, you can use Plexamp as headless renderer if you can install it on you player. This uses native Plex protocol which supports gapless playback with crossfades and other goodies.
 
Krist said:
Musicbee is windows only, so that is a non starter. But I also feel that my question has been misunderstood.
I am aware of Plex, Emby and Volumio. I have used both Plex and Emby.
What I am looking for is not just an alternative music server.

What I am looking for is a better way to find music in the big amorphous blob that is Spotify and Tidal. Especially when it comes to Classical music.

There Roon has a killer feature. It allows you to do the following:

- Select a composer, eg "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
- Be presented with a list of pieces by that composer. In that list you can select eg. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik".
- You are then presented with a list of recordings of that piece, by various orchestras and conductors. This allows me to explore different recordings of the same piece. You select what you want to hear, and then stream it from Tidal.

Classical music is different from modern music, in the traditional way of Tidal and Spotify to present music is not really suitable. The way that Roon presents Classical music, even though not perfect, is for me its main killer feature.

And I would be interested in knowing if anyone else is also offering this however.
Click to expand...
perhaps try presto or idagio? they are streaming services, however, not roon alternatives.
 
Apesbrain said:
Roon excels at handling classical music; nothing is its equal. Though not open source, LMS is free and can be configured to offer a "Roon-lite" experience. Install LMS on your server and let it index your local library. Then add the TIDAL, "Material Skin" and "Music and Artist Information" plugins. It might be all you need.

EDIT: You'll also need the "UPnP/DLNA bridge", "Chromecast bridge", and/or "AirPlay bridge" plugins if you use non-Squeezebox streamers.
Click to expand...
Just FYI, Idagio is the best for classical now adays. It's entirely tailored for classical. A lot better than Roon's implementation. Apple music classical is pretty good, but is missing some cool features. My favorite new feature on idagio lets you select a work (from a currently rather small list), and let's you listen to it, instantly switching from one interpretation to another, while maintaining your place. It's incredible. You can find a section you particularly love, and very quickly and easily audition several interpretations of just that section.
 
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