Same. I’m only four years into unlimited, but amortizing away, probably north of 30 hours a week.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.
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What do you like in Roon?
- Thread starter TheBatsEar
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I unfortunately did and then ended up buying the lifetime license when the 12 month was up for renewal. At least it was before the price hike.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.
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Roon seems to me to be an option to get almost Apple like integration for a very limited selection of sources. If you want all the integration for all the sources, Mac/AppleTV/iDevice is a better (and likely both cheaper and less frustrating) option. But some people want to spend more time futzing with computers than listening to music, so…
Yes, EQ. I find EQ that only works over a very limited subset of content to be more frustrating than useful. EQ properly resides in a controller/management type device, be it an AVR/P or other hardware DSP box. Only then can it be applied to all the sources.
Yes, EQ. I find EQ that only works over a very limited subset of content to be more frustrating than useful. EQ properly resides in a controller/management type device, be it an AVR/P or other hardware DSP box. Only then can it be applied to all the sources.
Aynsley
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What I like about Roon is the elegant way it suggests different versions of the same track. It makes it easy to compare interpretations of classical pieces.
Unfortunately it doesn't always find all the versions that I know are in my collection. (All my audio files are local.)
I've been using Roon for a couple of years and won't be renewing my subscription. One reason is the rising cost; the main one is that the data it pulls from online sources is often inaccurate, and the album reviews ill-informed. Not Roon's fault, I know, but I'd prefer to live without it.
When my subscription expires, I might revert to Audirvana, or stick with an old but still functional Mac app called Swinsian. The latter has the feel of a spreadsheet, but searches (incl. regex) are fast, and tag changes a breeze. There's also a built-in equalizer that I haven't tried.
Unfortunately it doesn't always find all the versions that I know are in my collection. (All my audio files are local.)
I've been using Roon for a couple of years and won't be renewing my subscription. One reason is the rising cost; the main one is that the data it pulls from online sources is often inaccurate, and the album reviews ill-informed. Not Roon's fault, I know, but I'd prefer to live without it.
When my subscription expires, I might revert to Audirvana, or stick with an old but still functional Mac app called Swinsian. The latter has the feel of a spreadsheet, but searches (incl. regex) are fast, and tag changes a breeze. There's also a built-in equalizer that I haven't tried.
I am running a Roon core on a dedicated Mac mini M2 (fast, low power consumption).
I like Roon because it:
- is extremely stable
- can be controlled by my MacBook (fully) and iPhone.
- works great with Raspberry Pies
- works great via AirPlay
- makes it easy to find music in Quobuz and on my NAS (Artist, composer, label, etc.)
- provides traceability and cross links (composer, artist, engineer, etc.)
- displays associated PDF
I do not like:
- how lyrics are displayed
- the download to iPhone feature
- that it is not possible to browse folders on NAS
I like Roon because it:
- is extremely stable
- can be controlled by my MacBook (fully) and iPhone.
- works great with Raspberry Pies
- works great via AirPlay
- makes it easy to find music in Quobuz and on my NAS (Artist, composer, label, etc.)
- provides traceability and cross links (composer, artist, engineer, etc.)
- displays associated PDF
I do not like:
- how lyrics are displayed
- the download to iPhone feature
- that it is not possible to browse folders on NAS
khensu
Active Member
What makes you say that about spending more time futzing with computers? The only time I ever had to “futz with the computer”, I was running a web server with a postgres database back-end on the same NUC as Roon, and my phone or laptop would often lose the connection to Roon. They make it pretty clear Roon should be the only thing running, but I thought I could make it work... lol. I haven’t had any problem with it since moving the web server/database off that NUC. That clearly fell into the “stupid user tricks” section of troubleshooting.
I don’t get what you mean by EQ “that works over a very limited subset of content”. Roon’s EQ, of course, can be applied to any of its content.
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Integrating local and streaming files for me was the killer feature. Suppose I was a no frills user - just wanted to integrate my existing ripped cd library with Tidal/ Qobuz and use EQ for headphones via USB to DAC It did this very well (until my Qobuz library "went awol" from Roon for a few days).
However, it doesnt support the most VFM HD streaming offer (Amazon family annual for my money) and Amazon PC app allows integrated playback of local and online libraries- albeit with some pretty weak matching/ duplicate management- combined with Equalizer APO handling the EQ. If I wanted multiroom or to cut the USB cable between PC and DAC then I might go back- but the existence of Wiim devices, especially if they implement PEQ well, could change that.
Ultimately, you pays your money, you takes your choice. I just found it hard to be tied to Qobuz/ Tidal AND have to pay roughly the same monthly £ for the playback software as the streaming servicewhen Amazon was cheaper than Qobuz/ Tidal in the first place!
However, it doesnt support the most VFM HD streaming offer (Amazon family annual for my money) and Amazon PC app allows integrated playback of local and online libraries- albeit with some pretty weak matching/ duplicate management- combined with Equalizer APO handling the EQ. If I wanted multiroom or to cut the USB cable between PC and DAC then I might go back- but the existence of Wiim devices, especially if they implement PEQ well, could change that.
Ultimately, you pays your money, you takes your choice. I just found it hard to be tied to Qobuz/ Tidal AND have to pay roughly the same monthly £ for the playback software as the streaming servicewhen Amazon was cheaper than Qobuz/ Tidal in the first place!
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Because windows is terrible and the contraptions that run it are even worse. Just like at our host’s recent thread about his latest non-Mac computer purchase!
What if you want to watch a YouTube video. Oops, no EQ.
Apple Music? Roon can’t help you there.
A CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray? Nope.
Vinyl? Ha ha!
Putting the EQ in the proper place within the signal chain (I.e. not in a source component with very limited content options) will preserve system fidelity for all sources.
khensu
Active Member
Gotcha. No argument there. That’s why my Roon core runs Linux.
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Linux is inherently a choice for computer tinkerers, so “futzing with computers” is still an apt characterization. I did not intent that to read pejoratively, but as a statement of fact.
In RME threads, you have always people saying EQ is better done in software. In Roon threads, you read a variation of this. Both have their advantages and I use both. On my desk, my RME has multiple inputs and outputs I don’t really change and EQ, once set up, just works. For other rooms, I only use Roon as input and software EQ is totally fine. I sometimes miss easy bass and treble adjustments via remote, but that’s about it.
In addition what was said already, most important integration of streaming and local files, I like the server/streamer architecture that makes connecting devices instantaneous. I turn on the DAC and it’s available in all Roon remotes. No manual Airplay connecting of your device to streamer. Not a unique feature by any stretch, but I liked Roon better than alternatives here.
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Roon Rock is a point and click install from my experience. Running on a fanless pc for about 3 years now. I haven't given it a second thought since then. For those wanting Tidal/Local library, multiroom, with EQ it works amazingly well. However, your point about other sources is a good one. To get EQ on all sources like you mention (Streaming of TV/Movies, disk playback of movies, vinyl etc) you must have hardware based EQ such as a receiver.
The biggest benefit is the UI... Since I purchased it, I have listened to more music in the past 3 years (and found more new music) than all the years before combined I would guess. Enjoying playing and finding new music were worth the price for me several years ago via lifetime. I can certainly see how options/needs would differ though.
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People are allowed to be wrong, and to have low standards. Software based EQ will never work on non computer sources, so it’s inherently inferior to a real audio controller unless you’re willing to severely limit your music sources.
RME ADI-2 in particular is a very smart device when it comes to EQ in use, even if setting up the EQ is tedious. (Maybe the new computer UI will fix the tediousness.) The headphone out, analog line out, and digital out (Pro only) all have different presets. So you don’t have to do anything beyond changing inputs to keep, say, your HD800 preset from infecting your KH 80 + KH 750 desktop monitors. Use Roon as EQ through RME and you lose that key functionality.
One can argue for more bands, but in real life that’s often just more rope with which to hang oneself. RME have a prescient video on headphone EQ here:
Again, basically just an alternative to Apple Music for people who don’t want to use Apple for whatever reason. I’m not sure why. Apple’s hardware just works, and their streaming service currently the best option IMO - more program than Tidal, Amazon, or Qobuz - including immersive/spatial -and none of your money goes to odious barbarians such as Spotify’s “marquee talent” Joe Rogan.
I agree it’s sub optimal if you have multiple sources to EQ, but for those of us who only want to stream music it’s an elegant and powerful piece of software. I don’t need to play CDs as they are all ripped to a network drive accessed by Roon. I sold my turntable because it became obsolete. I play Blu-Rays and movie content through an AVR which has its own EQ software.
This
I’m aware of the RME advantages, that’s why I’m a very happy owner. And I am in Apple’s walled garden for over 25 years and used Apple Music exclusively for 5 years, but I’m not seeing myself going back anytime soon. Dolby Atmos is certainly interesting, but not really a thing yet in genres I’m following. I think I read in the Roon forum that they have big fans in Cupertino and had productive talks, but nothing concrete yet. Will see… it’s been a long time I didn’t find something on Qobuz anyways. And they pay artists more, at least that’s what somebody on the internet said.
theREALdotnet
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Roon seems to have a lot of features that are of no interest to me (multi-room, “Roon-ready” devices, EQ, radio, etc.), so that greatly diminishes its value for me, vis-à-vis its cost. I do like certain aspects of it, like the metadata curation and focus mode, but I also hate its bugginess and the hot mess that the iPad remote app is (esp when used with the Magic Keyboard). A few annoyances have been fixed in recent months but others have popped up instead. Support is essentially absent, outside of self-help groups in the forums.
I’m glad I went for the monthly subscription instead of lifetime, and my subscription has been in cancelled state for the last four months. I will keep an eye on how Roon develops in the future and might come back to it. For the time being, it’s not my first choice.
I’m glad I went for the monthly subscription instead of lifetime, and my subscription has been in cancelled state for the last four months. I will keep an eye on how Roon develops in the future and might come back to it. For the time being, it’s not my first choice.
As I think about, the main thing I like about Roon is that I can control what is being streamed with my phone, iPad, and/or macbook, but not have to stream from any of them. If I could do that in as convenient and elegant way with Apple Music, I’d be using that. But Apple Music Remote is a pitiful interface, and can only play my iTunes library, not access Apple Music streaming. Sonos kind of does what I value in Roon WRT controlling without streaming from a phone or pad, but it’s not close to the quality of the Roon interface.
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