What do you like in Roon?

[CapMan]

I don't want a PC/Mac except on my work desk so JRiver may not suit.

BubbleUPNP has the best UX of any of the mobile/touch apps that I have tried.

Just to provide some context -
I used to run Minim Server on a synology NAS along with BubbleUPNP, streaming to a BelCanto ref stream.

It was fine software for what it did, but a pain to keep up to date and frankly has nothing like the richness of the experience I get using Roon.

Each to their own, a few hundred pounds amortised over the many years I’ve used Roon is nothing compared to the money I’ve wasted on unnecessary upgrades and HiFi foo foo over the years

 

[Multicore]

I’m also ‘really into music’, but I guess ‘the people you know’ know much better than me? I must look up a course on that stuff and get better informed

I use Roon and you know nothing about how I chose to spend my cash, my priorities, requirements or anything else about my life.

Perhaps some less sweeping generalisations are in order, or if you’ve used Roon - even some objective comments.

Thanks.

I didn't talk about you. I talked about people I know, i.e. about my experience. I know a lot of music programming experts because music programming is my business. Just last week I was at a conference where hundreds were present, most of them my clients. We talk about software, algorithms and now so-called AI because these things are relevant to our work.

Perhaps you can confirm if I now know two people who unreservedly like a particular music discovery/recommendation algorithm.

As for sweeping generalizations about audiophiles, 1) these are hardly uncommon on ASR, and 2) I think we could support my specific sweeping generalization above with objective evidence, e.g. just look at Amir's recent reports from Pacific Audio Fest.

 

[Multicore]

Just to provide some context -
I used to run Minim Server on a synology NAS along with BubbleUPNP, streaming to a BelCanto ref stream.

It was fine software for what it did, but a pain to keep up to date and frankly has nothing like the richness of the experience I get using Roon.

Each time their own, a few hundred pounds amortised over the many years I’ve used Roon is nothing compared to the money I’ve wasted on unnecessary upgrades and HiFi foo foo over the years .

I actually don't think Roon's lifetimne support option is overpriced if you can get a few years use out of it and if you like it.

I despise the mess of software I use and have often wondered if Roon would suit me better. But if, as I learn here today, Roon ignores the specific metadata schema required by classical music, as indeed most software does, then for $15/mo I'm not interested. And if it can't play albums as I have organized them into directories then, wow, I'll despise that more than what I have now.

 

[CapMan]

I didn't talk about you. I talked about people I know, i.e. about my experience. I know a lot of music programming experts because music programming is my business. Just last week I was at a conference where hundreds were present, most of them my clients. We talk about software, algorithms and now so-called AI because these things are relevant to our work.

Perhaps you can confirm if I now know two people who unreservedly like a particular music discovery/recommendation algorithm.

As for sweeping generalizations about audiophiles, 1) these are hardly uncommon on ASR, and 2) I think we could support my specific sweeping generalization above with objective evidence, e.g. just look at Amir's recent reports from Pacific Audio Fest.

1. Roon Radio has been a fun way to find new artists and tracks. I have no objective means to assess how good it is since I cannot use another algorithm.

2. This is a thread about Roon and Roon users’ experiences. I am part of the target market you spoke a little disparagingly about - Amir’s visit to a HiFi show is a compete irrelevance !

Question - Is the correct term for a group of music programmming experts ‘A Playlist’ of experts?? ( just kidding)

 

[PHD]

I purchased a lifetime subscription 3 years ago, but gave up on it after a couple of years and never used it even once. I use Jriver because, unlike Roon, it can push playback stream into my Denon AVR and it can load an unlimited number of tracks into the queue. Roon only supports Airplay with Denon AVRs.

 

[CapMan]

I purchased a lifetime subscription 3 years ago, but gave up on it after a couple of years and never used it even once. I use Jriver because, unlike Roon, it can push playback stream into my Denon AVR and it can load an unlimited number of tracks into the queue. Roon only supports Airplay with Denon AVRs.

I’ve tried the HEOS app with my Marantz AVR for fun. It’s ok in so far as I can stream from my network drive and Amazon Prime, but no direct Qobuz support and it’s all bit piecemeal as an experience, no global search even. I haven’t tried J-River.

 

[CapMan]

If it’s interesting to anyone, I put on Midnight Blue (Kenny Burrell) and once it finished Roon Radio has served up :

Idle Moments - Grant Green
Midnight Special - Jimmy Smith
Autumn Leaves from Something Else - Cannonball Adderly
The Touch of Tour Lips from Webster meets Peterson
Round Midnight - Wes Montgomery Trio

A very pleasant Sunday evening playlist indeed. Is there a better algorithm .. no idea. This one is working fine for me tonight .

Hope this is useful,

 

[Phorize]

I ran roon for a year until last week. It’s very good, clearly more complete and generally better polished than any of the competition. In the end a few factors caused me to revert to using moodeaudio on few rpis:

-Linux desktop support matters to me. There will never be a Linux desktop client.

-the Linux server security is a problem if you are running arc-the is server running with root privileges through a forwarded port with undocumented firewall requirements and no obvious security model. It just feels like roon have developed the server for local lan use only and just bolted on remote access. I have no reason to be assured that this has been done competently. When I can fit my local collection on a phone anyway the added cost and security compromise for this feature is not worth while.

-it’s suboptimal that I have to configure endpoints to run airplay for podcasts and audiobooks when everything is supposed to run from a core.

-ultimately I felt that automation of recommendations doesn’t stack up well against finding music by more traditional means, such as reading good music journalism etc.

In the round I’d rather spend the roon subscription money on music.

 

[OCA]

The DSP engine, clipping and upsampling are state of the art both in terms of algortihms and ease of use.

 

[Timcognito]

Like CapMan said, Roon Radio is fun, especially if you like smaller labels, unknown artists and worldwide music and genres. Combined with Qobuz and 1000+ CDs it hard not to let it play. Also its EQ/DSP features are helpful. I do not like having a 24/7 computer and all the set up. Got mine for $500/lifetime and still use the BluOS as much.

 

[khensu]

I actually don't think Roon's lifetimne support option is overpriced if you can get a few years use out of it and if you like it.

That’s why I also opted for lifetime. Roon isn’t perfect, but I feel it’s well worth the cost if you plan to use it indefinitely, which I do. Based on others’ experiences, I hope I‘ll never require support, and I don’t read the forums, so I can’t say much about those aspects.

The one caveat I would add is that, while it is very easy to get up and running, I wouldn’t consider suggesting it to someone that isn’t at least somewhat tech-savvy. Having some knowledge there goes a long way to solving your own problems with it rather than having to rely on support or forums (as anything more than a knowledge base).

 

[MattHooper]

I haven't tried Roon yet but I'm getting there, mostly for one small but INCREDIBLY AGGRAVATING oversight in the Bluesound Node software interface:
A lack of "playing now" indicator beside the currently playing track. (This has been a feature of every streaming software I've ever seen except Bluesound). It's amazing how the lack of this one little thing continually impedes my enjoyment of using the Bluesound. I'm thinking of incorporating Roon to get that indicator back, and then
hoping some other nice things come for the ride, that people like about Roon.

 

[Timcognito]

A lack of "playing now"

Hey Matt all of my devices tablets PC etc. show whats playing in a "taskbar" at the bottom of the BluOS screen. So not sure what you are saying?

 

[Daverich4]

Lifetime licence? I think it is completely crazy to assume that you will use ROON for many years. I've seen so many operating systems, software platforms, data formats etc. come and go in my lifetime. LOL

I’m a little over 6 years in and at my age, 6 more years of my lifetime license might actually be lifetime.

 

[mglobe]

I like:

The meta data and the ability to look up who’s on a cut, what they have recorded, other version of songs,.. It is an awesome way to look for new music to add to my library.

The ability to manage playback to multiple rooms

Integration of my local library with Qobuz

I don’t care for the lack of Apple Music integration and the reliance on a web connection to play local music.

 

[MattHooper]

Hey Matt all of my devices tablets PC etc. show whats playing in a "taskbar" at the bottom of the BluOS screen. So not sure what you are saying?

I talked about this on the Bluesound thread.

I'm often listening to albums I don't know that well, or playlists, or exploring music from streaming.

So for instance I want to call up an album and sample songs.

I get a track list down the screen of all the songs. And they are all numbered as to their place on the album. Hm..let's try this one...press...track starts playing.

On every other music interface I've used, if I'm looking at a list of tracks and I've selected one to play, there is an indication that THAT track is playing:
it's highlighted, a dancing meter icon pops up beside it, whatever. This is useful because I'm using those track lists to choose which tracks I want to hear. Therefore
the most useful thing is an indication *within the track list* as to what is playing. So as I'm perusing the list I can always instantly know which is playing.
Not on the Bluesound interface. Nothing.

Yes a taskbar pops up at the bottom showing the scrolling name of the track now playing. But the problem is I may be looking at a long list of tracks, that go well
off the screen, and the tracks may have all sorts of unfamiliar names. So it's not like I'm going to instantly memorize all the track lists to know which track is where on the list. Therefore if I want to select the next track playing, or just not re-select the same track, the only way to indicate which of all those tracks is playing is to look down to the task bar. The task bar does not even show the number of the track, just the name. So I wait for the name to scroll by, then look back to the track list cross checking it: "Lets see, the now playing taskbar says: "J.S. Bach: Cello Sui....09 - 2 Allemande..." so now I have to find that track among all the similar named tracks on the album. Ah...THAT's playing, track 5. Ok, now I want to hear track 6. Press.

Instead of just f*cking showing me which track is playing in the list, on the actual list itself, with a now playing icon! In which I'd instantly know what was playing, rather than playing a game of hunting for it. (Excuse the french).

 

[amirm]

Nothing puts a smile on my face like Roon does as far as media players:

1. Every app on every device is a full blow Roon experience. Last night when testing a speaker in our living room, I just hooked up a DAC+Amp, to my laptop, fired up Roon and started to play my content from my Roon server. I could not only add the new DAC to the list of existing ones supported around the house, I was able to create an EQ for the speaker. And then go on my workstation upstairs and pull up the same EQ profile and publish it in the review.

2. Any app can prompt to update the software on all other platforms currently running. Just hit one button and everything is updated. No install script to run, no nothing. Fast and efficient.

3. I live by Roon radio. I discover half a dozen new albums per day! I just start some with some content I like and let Roon take over from there.

4. Integration with Tidal is completely seamless. I don't have to worry about whether the content is local or on Tidal.

5. Full suite of EQ means I can optimize my audio performance with ease and create unlimited number of profiles (I have one for every speaker and headphone I have reviewed!). Again, all of these EQs are available for every DAC in your system.

6. While the software has grown, it doesn't feel bloated like JRiver is.

7. The cost is not much in grand scheme of the cost of your entire system and what you/I pay for entertainment content. I have a paid up license from some 10 years ago so great in that regard.

Really, I can't live without its capabilities. You all see the results as I post EQ in my reviews and such.

 

[Timcognito]

I talked about this on the Bluesound thread.

I'm often listening to albums I don't know that well, or playlists, or exploring music from streaming.

So for instance I want to call up an album and sample songs.

I get a track list down the screen of all the songs. And they are all numbered as to their place on the album. Hm..let's try this one...press...track starts playing.

On every other music interface I've used, if I'm looking at a list of tracks and I've selected one to play, there is an indication that THAT track is playing:
it's highlighted, a dancing meter icon pops up beside it, whatever. This is useful because I'm using those track lists to choose which tracks I want to hear. Therefore
the most useful thing is an indication *within the track list* as to what is playing. So as I'm perusing the list I can always instantly know which is playing.
Not on the Bluesound interface. Nothing.

Yes a taskbar pops up at the bottom showing the scrolling name of the track now playing. But the problem is I may be looking at a long list of tracks, that go well
off the screen, and the tracks may have all sorts of unfamiliar names. So it's not like I'm going to instantly memorize all the track lists to know which track is where on the list. Therefore if I want to select the next track playing, or just not re-select the same track, the only way to indicate which of all those tracks is playing is to look down to the task bar. The task bar does not even show the number of the track, just the name. So I wait for the name to scroll by, then look back to the track list cross checking it: "Lets see, the now playing taskbar says: "J.S. Bach: Cello Sui....09 - 2 Allemande..." so now I have to find that track among all the similar named tracks on the album. Ah...THAT's playing, track 5. Ok, now I want to hear track 6. Press.

Instead of just f*cking showing me which track is playing in the list, on the actual list itself, with a now playing icon! In which I'd instantly know what was playing, rather than playing a game of hunting for it. (Excuse the french).

I have android and when my list of tracks is present depending on which screen I get a moving line under the playing track or if on the side of the play screen I get the underline and a dancing icon to left of track.

 

[MattHooper]

I have android and when my list of tracks is present depending on which screen I get a moving line under the playing track or if on the side of the play screen I get the underline and a dancing icon to left of track.

Ah, so maybe it's the particular software for apple products. Makes it an even weirder omission.

 

[BDWoody]

Lifetime licence? I think it is completely crazy to assume that you will use ROON for many years. I've seen so many operating systems, software platforms, data formats etc. come and go in my lifetime. LOL

I'm glad I didn't listen to that argument when I bought the license enough years ago that it's now paid for.

I have it on pretty much all the time.