Roon Labs - Blog

The Listeners Compass: Reference Tracks by Jamie Madden

Every device audition or potential purchase begins with a question: “How do I know what it will sound like and what should I listen for to figure that out?” Today, we’re continuing our series that explores the critical tools of audio evaluation – reference tracks. These aren’t just songs we love; they’re precision instruments for understanding and assessing audio reproduction.

Vinyl victories: Victrola’s Stream Sapphire makes vinyl Roon Ready

The resurgence of vinyl is a testament to the power of music in its most enduring form. While streaming offers limitless choice and easy consumption, vinyl invites a more mindful, intentional connection—one that invites listeners to slow down, be present, and experience music as both sound and art.

Roon Partner Update: March 2025

We’re excited to announce an impressive lineup of new Roon-compatible devices from respected audio manufacturers. This month, we’re especially excited to highlight Victrola’s innovative streaming turntable series, which bring vinyl into the digital age with our new Roon Ready Relay technology. Matrix Audio joins the Roon Ready family with their precision-engineered digital audio transports, while Technics expands their offerings with versatile network CD receivers. We’re also pleased to welcome Rotel’s premium headphone amplifier to our Roon Tested program, ensuring perfect compatibility with your Roon ecosystem. From vinyl enthusiasts to digital audiophiles, March’s update brings something special for music lovers of all preferences.

How to Roon: Add Your Music Collection

Roon is a wonderland for music lovers best known for its immersive music experience and audiophile sound quality. While customers’ reasons for using Roon are as varied and unique as music itself, many who now can’t live without it initially discovered our software while searching for the ultimate all-in-one music management and player solution.

The Listener’s Compass: A Reference Track Series

Every listener’s journey begins with a question: “How do I know what I’m really hearing?” Today, we’re launching a new series that explores the critical tools of audio evaluation – reference tracks. These aren’t just songs we love; they’re precision instruments for understanding and assessing audio equipment.

Our inaugural piece comes from Konstantin Davy, an acoustic engineer whose unique perspective bridges multiple worlds of audio. With experience as a touring musician, recording engineer, and transducer designer, Konstantin brings a rare combination of practical and technical expertise to the discussion. His career spans from the stage to the laboratory, giving him an intimate understanding of how music should sound – both in theory and in practice.

How to Roon: Optimizing Headphone Audio with OPRA

Have you ever wished there was something you could do to make your favorite music sound a bit better — something that didn’t require purchasing new gear? Or maybe you’ve read that advanced EQ tuning could transform your headphones but felt out of your depth and overwhelmed by the technical complexity? If so, we’re got just what you need! In this installment of How to Roon, we’re exploring OPRA (Open Profiles for Revealing Audio) — a feature that makes professional-grade headphone optimization accessible to everyone.

Roon Partner Update: February 2025

February brings an exciting array of new Roon Ready devices from some of the most innovative names in high-end audio. From McIntosh’s sophisticated DS200 Streaming DAC to HiFi Rose’s feature-rich RS151 network streamer, this month’s additions showcase the diverse ways our partners are pushing the boundaries of digital audio excellence. We’re particularly excited to welcome Axxess to the Roon family with their complete Forté series, while HiBy’s flagship RS8 player and Nagra’s precision-engineered Streamer round out a month of exceptional new offerings. Each of these devices represents a unique approach to delivering the superior listening experience that Roon users have come to expect.

Roon Partner Update: January 2025

We’re kicking off 2025 with an exceptional lineup of new Roon Ready devices! This month, we’re proud to welcome prestigious manufacturers Cabasse, FiiO, Marantz, McIntosh, Primare, Roksan, Vitus Audio, and Volumio to our growing ecosystem. From McIntosh’s powerful MSA5500 streaming integrated amplifier to Roksan’s innovative Caspian with its advanced Euphoria architecture, these new additions represent the cutting edge of audio technology and demonstrate our commitment to providing audiophiles with the finest listening experiences possible.

Listen Later, your travel itinerary for exploring exotic sounds

Being a music sponge is immense fun, but it also comes with challenges. Everywhere we read, look, listen, or talk music becomes a source of new sounds. And there’s only so much we can soak up before we’re saturated and some spills back out.

How to Roon: Metadata Magic

Some of you may have encountered the word metadata and thought, ‘I see this term every time Roon is mentioned… but, what exactly is metadata’? Chances are you’ve enjoyed its benefits and know what it is, even if you haven’t bothered with an etymological investigation. In this installment of How to Roon we’ll explore the metadata matrix, because this is where things get exciting.