Roon Labs - Blog

Roon Partner Update: May 2023

It’s been an eventful month for us here at Roon! We’ve certified a very exciting anniversary products, highly capable network bridges, powerful DAPs, and some impressive AVRs. Whether you’re enjoying some serious HiFi at home or jamming on an international flight, chances are this update is for you. Let’s get this show on the road!

For a full list of our partner brands – and every device that works with Roon – visit our Partners page on the Roon website.

Sony – STR-AN1000, STR-AZ1000ES, STR-AZ3000ES, STR-AZ5000ES, STR-AZ7000ES – Roon Tested

There’s a lot to be excited about in the latest AVRs that Sony has arriving this Spring. From efficient 7.2 channel home theater solutions all the way to impressive 13.2 channel powerhouses, there’s no doubt that there’s a perfect resolution ready to bring 8K video and High-Res listening to your system. Thanks to certified Roon Tested streaming via AirPlay, convenient controls for a myriad of inputs and outputs, including HDMI 2.1, an FM tuner, even support for Sony’s wireless rear satellite speakers, all in place to make bringing the theater into your home that much more convenient.

Platin – Stereo Hub- Roon Ready

The Stereo Hub is a capable and discreet network bridge that’s designed to seamlessly integrate into your existing Platin network listening system. With inputs ranging from HDMI ARC, USB and Optical, all the way to traditional analog inputs, this is the best and easiest way to adapt your whole home setup for streamlined and modern streaming. With support for resolutions up to PCM 24/192kHz, and streaming support for Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and of course, Roon Ready. Don’t miss this capable streaming solution for your Platin system!

Astell & Kern – SR35- Roon Ready

The SR35 is a robust digital audio player encased in a beautifully designed chassis, perfectly situated to be the ideal solution for your mobile listening needs. With battery life that reaches 20 hours of continuous playback, two-way Bluetooth, a high-gain for harder to drive headphones and a powerful Cirrus Logic quad-DAC chip to back it all up, Astell&Kern have established a real winner for streaming on the go. Native Roon Ready streaming makes accessing your entire music library a snap, and cementing this DAP as one to consider next time you need music on the go.

Bluesound – NODE X – Roon Ready

To celebrate ten years of HiFi streaming excellence, Bluesound has announced the limited edition NODE X, a network DAC and bridge based on the award winning NODE. With a highly capable headphone amplifier, an eye-catching new color scheme, and all of the familiar features that make the NODE already great, this is a victory lap from the team at Bluesound that we’re proud to include in the Roon Ready family. Thanks to streaming integrations with just about every music platform you can imagine and a massive selection of outputs on deck, this is the perfect all-in-one home for your music streaming needs.

AVM – EVOLUTION MP 5.3/ 3.3, EVOLUTION PAS 5.3/3.3 – Roon Ready

AVM has brought some truly impressive HiFi players to the table this spring in their EVOLUTION lineup, each proudly showcasing Roon Ready streaming with high resolution format support that will be a compliment to any home stereo system. Featuring the ability to play ultra-HiRes files all the way up to PCM 32/384kHz and DSD256, you and your system likely won’t be needing anything more. Choose from the EVOLUTION MP 3.3 or 5.3 and you’ll be treated to an impressively crafted CD player alongside all of that streaming prowess, while the EVOLUTION PAS 3.3 and 5.3 focus on immaculately delivering your streaming experience with specially designed multichannel playback support as icing on the cake.

AVM – CS 30.3 – Roon Ready

AVM - AVM30 AS 30.3, CS 30.3, MP 30.3 & PAS 30.3 - Roon Ready

AVM is also introducing an exciting new streaming amplifier this month, the CS 30.3 which arrives featuring Roon Ready streaming. This all-in-one integrated amplifier will easily cement itself as the central piece of any stereo system you connect it to. Crafted with attention to detail, this amplifier offers more than just exceptional audio quality. The AVM RoomConneXion® multiroom function allows you to enjoy synchronized music in multiple rooms, while its capable internal DAC offers support for PCM files up to 24/192kHz and DSD256, with inputs that include HDMI ARC, USB, Toslink, and Coax. Thanks to various streaming integrations, such as Spotify Connect, Qobuz, Tidal Connect, and streaming radio, you can enjoy seamless connectivity and access to a vast library of songs right at your fingertips. No matter your specific listening need, chances are AVM has the right solution for you.

FiiO M15S – Roon Ready

When FiiO was designing the M15S digital audio player, they absolutely didn’t hold anything back. Starting with the flagship ESS9038PRO DAC chip, you can see an intense desire to ensure this DAP will impress, especially as you note the powerful Qualcomm 660 chipset and the impressive high-performance built-in headphone amplifier. Integrated Roon Ready streaming and access to Android apps make choosing your preferred streaming solution easy, and when it comes to streaming on-the-go, there’s nothing better than ease and simplicity.

Introducing Fluency

Roon has always provided an immersive listening experience thanks to its vast library of music knowledge and exceptional sound quality. Throughout Roon’s development, we’ve tried to make that experience as inclusive as possible by letting you explore the software and enjoy content in your preferred language.

Today we’re excited to announce the release of Fluency – a revolutionary new discovery and language feature, available only in Roon. Fluency lets you translate even more Roon content in your preferred language. Now, artist names, album titles, credits, performer roles, and genre names are available in 21 languages!

These enhancements give you the freedom to access your collection and identify your favorite music in the language or languages of your choice – providing a Roon experience uniquely optimized to your individual needs.

This overview will explore Fluency in detail, describe its benefits, demonstrate set-up, and provide additional tips for interacting with your music in your preferred language.

Fluency offers several benefits:

It makes Roon more accessible and inclusive, regardless of one’s language background.
It extends translation support to album and artist names, roles, and genres.
It provides a more personalized browsing experience for all Roon users.
It unlocks a world of new music and cultures, making discovering music from different regions effortless.

Fluency set-up

Setting up Fluency is easy. To access the new feature preferences look for Languages for artist and album names in the General tab of the Settings menu.

Fluency does more than provide additional translations – it’s multilingual. You can select one or multiple translation languages of your choice and sort them to your liking.

For example, if you prefer to see names in Korean but can also read Japanese and English, organize your preferences in the order below. If a translation isn’t available in your top choice, names automatically appear in one of your alternate choices.

Roon Fluency, choosing multiple languages is easy

Choosing a single language preference

Let’s begin our demonstration with Japanese to demonstrate one of Fluency’s key benefits.

Before Fluency’s release, the album page for John Coltrane’s landmark album My Favorite Things looked like this. In this scenario, the customer has chosen Japanese for the user interface and editorial sources, but the artist and album name remains in English.

After changing the Languages for artist and album names preferences to Japanese, with English turned off, the presentation transforms as seen below. Now Coltrane’s name, the album title, and the album’s genre tabs are shown in the desired characters – performer credits, credit roles, and related artists’ names are also translated.

Fluency also lets you search using your preferred language. Now you can type either 山中千尋 or Chihiro Yamanaka and get the same results. This worked in some cases previously; with Fluency it works universally!

Selecting and prioritizing multiple language preferences

Fluency’s remarkable strengths and flexibility are best demonstrated when choosing multiple languages. Let’s take a closer look.

The customer selected German as the preferred language in the example below, with Dansk and Netherlands as the second and third choices. Fluency displays are informed by each artist’s or ensemble’s native language name. The Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra) is based in Munich, so Roon uses the native ensemble name in German.

Fluency’s language features are further highlighted on artist details pages; now the artist’s native language name appears alongside your preferred language translation. As seen below, the ensemble’s native name appears just below the customer’s preferred English display.

In our next example, Korean is the preferred language, with Japanese as the second choice. The album artist, Jimi Hendrix, is shown in Korean. The title, Electric Ladyland, isn’t available in that language. So, Japanese is used instead.

Fluency displays Jimi’s artist page in Korean and augments it with his name in native English. Once again, Roon provides a more personal connection with our favorite artists that no other software even attempts.

Fluency provides unlimited customization possibilities

Fluency does more than provide and supplement translations. It lets you customize content to your specific needs and tastes. Here’s what we mean…

Fluency settings can be customized per device or remote. Adjusting preferences by device further elevates the user experience, especially in households with multiple Roon profiles where family members have individual language needs.

Now, your laptop can display Vietnamese while your husband’s tablet is set to French. Your children can select any language of their choice for their mobile devices. Fluency serves each profile and device exactly what it desires.

What if you don’t want name translations at all? A multilingual Argentinian customer in our Fluency test group emphasized his love for Guns & Roses and preferred to see their name and album titles in native English.

No problem, Fluency does that! He prioritized Fluency settings with English above Spanish, and that easily… Guns & Roses’ Appetite for Destruction remains in English – satisfying the customer’s tastes.

More translations throughout Roon

Everywhere you look, Fluency provides unlimited opportunities for connecting with your music in the language of your choice! Beyond enhanced album and artist pages, Fluency also translates names on the Genre page, making navigating music styles easier than ever.

In the photo below, Pop/Rock, Blues, R&B, Jazz, Folk, and Country have been transliterated into Thai.

Respect for native language name displays

Fluency name displays prefer artists’ native names if those languages are toggled on in Fluency settings.

Here’s how it works… if you tell Roon that you’d like to see names in the following order, Korean, Japanese, and English, then search for Ryuichi Sakamoto, you’ll see his name in native Japanese, 坂本龍一. If you search for Thelonious Monk, you’ll see his name in English.

At first, this may seem like a mistake since Korean is your first preference. Roon still considers your Fluency preferences, but it defers to displaying the names in the artists’ native language. That’s because your Fluency settings indicate that you’re comfortable with Japanese and English. If you’d rather only see names in Korean, turn off Japanese and English.

Additional info

Fluency is only available in Roon 2.0. If you’re still using Roon Legacy, upgrade now to enjoy this new feature.
Changing your UI language preference will automatically modify editorial sources and Fluency settings to match. You can fine-tune those settings further if desired.
Roon’s multilingual metadata will continue to grow as our translation database expands. You’ll see even more translations in your preferred languages as time passes.
Language choices for the Roon UI are located at the bottom of the settings menu.
Language choices for artist bios and album reviews are in Editorial Sources in the General tab of the settings menu.
Editorial Sources language settings can be prioritized, like Fluency settings.

Conclusion

In Roon, music speaks the language of your choice with Fluency. This revolutionary discovery and translation feature sets Roon apart from all other music library management and playback software with features never before seen in music streaming platforms.

It unlocks a new world of listening possibilities, providing unlimited exploration of music from different regions and cultures – expanding your tastes and preferences to a global stage. And it’s only available in Roon!

To see Fluency in action, head to our website and start your free trial!

Roon Partner Update: April 2023

We’ve been busy this month here at Roon! Tons of new and exciting products to highlight, from DIY DAC solutions to music servers, speakers, and amps.

Our partners have something for just about everyone, no matter what type of audiophile or hobbyist you may be. Time to check these components out!
For a full list of our partner brands – and every device that works with Roon – visit our Partners page on the Roon website.

Rotel – P5 Series 2, X3 Series 2 & X5 Series 2 – Roon Tested

A big update has just been released from our friends at Rotel, who are bringing the latest in their developments to their Michi series lineup. This includes the P5 Series 2 preamp, and the X3 Series 2 and X5 Series 2 integrated amplifiers. These are some seriously capable devices, packaged in beautiful hardware that would be at home in any system.

The P5 Series 2 is a specially crafted preamplifier built specifically to compliment other components in the Michi lineup, or high-end power amplifiers already in your system. The X3 Series 2 is a capable 350 watt integrated amplifier with connectivity and prowess to spare, while the X5 Series 2 is the flagship integrated amp, boasting an incredible 600 watts per channel of output. Each of these devices in Rotel’s Michi series offer fantastic Hi-Res capabilities, with support for resolutions up to 32bit/768kHz PCM, and inputs that cover just about any need, from Phono to USB to optical and fully-balanced XLR. Any of these impressive components from Rotel could be an excellent compliment to your favorite listening setup.

Orchard Audio PecanPi – Roon Tested

The perfect finishing touch for any Raspberry Pi DIY streamer, Orchard Audio has nailed the basics when it comes to delivering an affordable, high quality digital audio experience for audiophiles everywhere. Integrated dual flagship Burr-Brown (TI) PCM1794A DAC chips give reliable and exciting acoustic performance, and support for Hi-Res files up to 24/192kHz. For anyone looking to complete their own all-in-one streaming project, this is the perfect DAC for you.

Orchard Audio PecanPi+ – Roon Tested

Orchard Audio’s flagship Raspberry Pi oriented DAC, the PecanPi+ builds on the fundamentals found in its sibling, packing an even bigger punch. Using the AKM AK4499EXEQ chip and AK4191EQ ΔΣ Modulator, this DAC offers spectacular performance, easily managing Hi-Res files all the way up to 24/192kHz. This is among the best of DIY streaming solutions available, and we’re certain you’ll enjoy it as a capable compliment to your next handmade HiFi project.

McIntosh MDA200 – Roon Tested

We’re excited to announce that the McIntosh MDA200 is now Roon Tested! This cutting-edge device delivers high-performance digital-to-analog conversion and amplification, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music in stunning clarity and detail.

The MDA200 features McIntosh’s proprietary Digital Engine, which uses a powerful quad-core digital signal processing engine to support high-resolution PCM and DSD files, as well as MQA decoding. It also includes McIntosh’s iconic amplifier technology, delivering 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms or 320 watts per channel into 4 ohms, with a total harmonic distortion of 0.005%.

The MDA200 offers a variety of input options, including USB, coaxial, and optical, and can be controlled using the front-panel touch screen or via the McIntosh iOS app. With its superb sound quality and a versatile featureset, the McIntosh MDA200 is a must-have for any serious music lover.

Sound Machine SMC-5800 and SMC-5820 – Roon Ready

Introducing the newest addition to the Roon Ready family of speakers, Sound Machine. Both the SMC-5800 and SMC-5820 offer Roon Ready streaming for perfect integration with your existing listening system, and in the case of the SMC-5800, inputs like HDMI e-ARC, S/PDIF coaxial, analog and USB bring a wide spread of easy ways to hear your music and movies. The SMC-5820 brings powerful and super compact performance, with additional inputs that include Bluetooth, Aux-in, and USB. Each of these speakers are a great new piece to bring to your favorite Roon Ready home set up, and can make whole home listening that much more convenient.

Melco N50 and Melco N1- Roon Ready

With a strong reputation for building capable and high-performance network servers for music, it should be no surprise that Melco’s N50 and flagship N1 models are spectacular examples of what a server can be. The N50 features a full-size chassis and a 3.84TB SSD for music storage, with 4 USB ports for connectivity, you’ll be able to bring Roon Ready streaming to any of your favorite USB DACs and easily store your whole library at the same time.

The N1 is Melco’s top of the line model, with a specially crafted aluminum enclosure and isolated IEC power supply, nothing is left untouched – ensuring this server is always performing at its absolute best. With a carefully selected 3.84TB SSD, 4 USB ports, and ethernet connections specially set on exclusive circuitry, this is a top-notch addition to your very best listening system.

Dela N50 – Roon Ready

This high-performance network server from Dela is designed to give you a storage solution that’s custom tailored to your needs. With 4 USB ports, connecting your favorite DAC or music storage hardware to the N50 is a cinch. As you evaluate your music library needs, you can choose whether your N50 has a 2TB SSD or up to a whopping 6TB of HDD storage built in, all while supporting additional storage as needed. This is a spectacular network server that’s a great fit for any audiophile looking to upgrade their storage game.

Lumin U2 – Roon Ready

The brand-new LUMIN U2 brings a huge spread of upgrades from its predecessor, including chassis construction methods, linear power supply design and dual-network from its bigger sibling, the award-winning LUMIN P1. With careful consideration put into each and every component found throughout the U2, this very well could be the ultimate Roon Ready network streamer for your next system. This transport supports resolutions up to DSD512 and PCM 32/768kHz, and can stream from services such as TIDAL, TuneIn, and Qobuz. The U2 also includes a large suite of outputs, such as USB, TOSLINK optical, coaxial S/PDIF, and AES/EBU. When completing a high-end listening system, this very well could be your final stop for network streaming.

For a full list of our partner brands – and every device that works with Roon – visit our Partners page on the Roon website.

Roon Community Reviews: Zuma Lumisonic, the Ultimate Wireless Multi-room System

Roon Community contributor Steven44 graciously contributed the following review. Roon Editorial staff added layout and minor editing to convert the forum posts to a review format.

Overview

Zuma Lumisonic is a state-of-the-art Roon Ready lighting and sound system. Each light/sound unit is an all-in-one audio system. It’s very sophisticated and supports multiple audio services onboard, plus Alexa voice control.

This system may be the first to use Roon in a full home automation product. Zuma Lumisonic won the prestigious 2021 CEDIA New Hardware award (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association).

Use Scenario

I was originally looking for a new intelligent lighting system and a sensible way of putting surround sound in an open plan space. Big screens have rubbish sound quality, and I did not want a soundbar.

What were the options? In-wall speakers? Sonos? Lightwave? Lutron? Everything I looked at was a compromise on installation costs, wiring, sound quality, and duplication of systems.

Then Zuma opened a pop-up shop for the Lumisonic launch where I could see the whole system in operation. (They now sell through independent retailers.) Ultimately the system does not compare to anything else, as there is nothing comparable. The design and technical team have worked together since they did the B&W Nautilus, 30+ years ago.

I installed the product throughout much of my house last year; in seven months we largely rebuilt the entire space. One of the main features is that it is incredibly cost-effective, much cheaper than putting in something like Lightewave + Sonos, and infinitely better. Each unit only draws about 8w, so on one circuit I have 22 units on a ring connected to a single rocker switch.

It is designed to be self-installed because all you have to do is attach a 24v transformer to the existing lighting circuit. I was going to put the units in myself, but ultimately Zuma came round and offered to assist, as it was a large installation. My electrician installed all 50 transformers in half a day. That’s how easy it is.

Zuma Lumisonic is a Roon Ready wireless multi-room system

Compatibility and supported services

Zuma Lumisonic supports multiple audio services; Roon Ready, Amazon HD, TIDAL, Apple Music, Airplay, Spotify, Radio, and Alexa voice control.

Spending a few months using Alexa and Amazon HD for voice-controlled music was ultimately rather frustrating. It’s OK until you start to get specific; then, it throws up unexpected music quite often. Plus, I have a lot of downloads that are not on Amazon. The Amazon HD app is also rather horrible. It’s fine if you just want Mozart, Steely Dan, or very popular tracks. I’m much happier using Roon and have since canceled the Amazon HD subscription.

Lighting

My primary interest was in the lighting side of this product; it’s as advanced as the sound. You can buy one unit, expand an existing LED hole to 95mm, connect the supplied 24v transformer to the existing lighting circuit, and install the unit. That can be done in a few minutes.

Zuma has “well-being” settings that combine sound and light. It also has a Circadian setting that automatically changes the light intensity and warmth throughout the day. It’s made me want a Roon Circadian sound setting, changing the mood dependent on the time of day.

Another key feature is that you can connect them to Shelly relays. With a Zuma-programmed Shelley relay behind the wall switch, you can turn off the lights without cutting power – meaning they can still be used for sound. In effect, they are never powered down. If you want to power them down for a software update, the Shelly relays can be switched off using the Shelly app or Alexa.

Roon + sound quality

The Zuma Lumisonic audio system is wireless/Roon Ready and can be easily fitted into an existing lighting circuit. Zuma zones can be grouped in Roon or Alexa. Lumisonic was engineered by Lawrence Dickie (B&W, Vivid) and Trevor Wilson (Naim), who I assume was involved in the Roon implementation.

As mentioned, the main sound requirement for this project was home cinema. For that, I use seven Lumisonic speakers in two zones using Airplay via an Apple TV+. The Apple TV+ can also group zones as easily as Roon. I have 50 Zuma units in total; 24 are for sound configured in about seven Roon zones. No problems at all. I can stream 24/192 all day long and have four bars on almost every unit.

These units can receive audio via Roon or with AirPlay, which is not as good for a couple of reasons, not least because these units operate at 24/192 PCM, and AirPlay is limited to only 16/44. Roon plays 24/192 native format (Roon calls it Lossless), and DSD files get converted to 176.4/32 PCM (Roon calls it High Quality). It certainly sounds better than AirPlay!

roon ready zuma lumisonic wireless multi-room system

Roon provides phenomenal sound from a 95mm external diameter unit. I’ve always assumed a small speaker is a compromise. These units are very small, but listening to Shostakovich’s first violin concerto, they sound very good.

For anyone who knows it, the main dramatic staccato theme in the second movement borrowed from Act 3 of Lady Macbeth (in the opera, it’s used when Zinovy’s body is discovered) comes across very well. There’s a kettle drum at the start of the 4th movement that actually sounds like a kettle drum when played through the Lummisonic. There is a lot to be said about filling a room with sound using this kind of system rather than using point sources for stereo. In some respects, it’s as realistic as real live music.

One of the big features of this system is the DSP and excellent sound dispersion! The patented spring mounting system is also fundamental, as it gives an extremely strong fix. There is no chance of the units rattling and distorting at high volumes. You get no sensation of a point source, so you get a very even, immersive sound. We bought a Devialet Phantom Reactor for the same reason, which is Roon Ready. My wife uses it in her work environment all the time.

I also have a Roon Ready 2-channel system in a music room (Wilson/Devialet/Innuos), plus a six-speaker Lumisonic array in that room. In addition to those, there are 6 other Zuma zones, a Devialet Phantom in a garden room, and a Naim Mu-so QB2 zone for a total of 11 Roon zones. I have four more Zuma Lumisonic zones planned – Roon does everything, everywhere.

Conclusion

Roon certification is intended, first and foremost, to ensure ease of use and that Roon-enabled products work as they are meant to, simply and fault-free. That has always been my experience. I’ve used a Devialet Expert Pro for 6 years, and Roon Ready was the best thing that happened to it.

If Roon were to design a multi-room audio system, Zuma Lumisonic would be it. For sound, the products are made for each other.

-Steven44

Learn more

Full Specs for Zuma Lumisonic can be found on their product page. For more Roon Ready products, visit our Partners page.
Discover why serious music lovers call Roon a “must-have” by taking our free trial!

Roon Partner Update: March 2023

It’s been an eventful month for us here at Roon! We’ve certified some exciting anniversary products, brand-new music servers, and highly capable integrated amplifiers. No matter what kind of system piques your interest, chances are good this update has something for you. Let’s get started!

You can read all about them in our latest partner update below. For a full list of our partner brands – and every device that works with Roon – visit our Partners page on the Roon website.

audiolab 9000A

Building on 40 years of expertise and performance heralded by its flagship predecessor, the audiolab 9000A brings power and capability to the heart of your stereo listening system. Enjoy its high-resolution, full-color display with myriad of views available, from resolution data to dynamic VU meter designs. This integrated amplifier’s plethora of inputs, from USB to Toslink S/PDIF, make establishing a complete system easy, and its powerful internal DAC can handle PCM (including MQA) tracks up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD tracks up to DSD512 with aplomb. An impressive 100-watt per channel Class AB amplifier makes sure that your speakers are never wanting more power.

audiolab 7000A

The audiolab 7000A brings much of the capability and prowess of its siblings into a sleek, compact chassis and more affordable price point. With an impressive Class AB power output of 70 watts per channel, this amplifier can handily manage your favorite speakers without any trouble. You’ll find connectivity is a breeze, thanks to HDMI ARC, optical Toslink, coaxial S/PDIF, and USB ports all conveniently packaged inside of this amplifier. Those digital inputs are paired with a powerful ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, which tackles ultra Hi-Res streaming and MQA files with aplomb. Whether big or small, this is a spectacular integrated amplifier for just about every need.

Dela N1

The N1 is the latest development in a growing history of powerful and capable digital music servers from Dela Audio, with simple integration for importing and managing your music library. Ethernet connectivity makes streaming your music simple and easy, while a broad selection of USB and AES ports gives you plenty of options for accessing your favorite music. Featuring Roon Ready streaming, you can also use your N1 as a potent Hi-Res network streamer in addition to storing all of your music, making for a spectacular and robust listening setup for those looking to store their large digital music libraries.

LEAK Stereo 230

After creating the class-leading topology housed inside of the Stereo 130, LEAK Audio has upped the ante with their Stereo 230. With more power and upgraded functionality, this is the perfect integrated amplifier for the audiophile who just needs more from their listening system. WIth a chassis that exudes timeless vintage style married to a broad collection of digital inputs, including HDMI ARC, optical Toslink, coaxial S/PDIF, and USB, you’ll have the looks you love with the connectivity you need on command. An impressive 115 watts per channel of power will drive your favorite speakers with ease, and analog inputs that include Moving Magnet Phono will make integrating your best components a cinch.

PIEGA connect plus

The PIEGA connect plus introduces Roon Ready streaming and wired connectivity to your PIEGA wireless speaker system. Featuring built WiFi networking, this network streamer has a broad selection of wired inputs, from Toslink optical, HDMI ARC, coaxial S/PDIF, to USB – all for added convenience in your wireless PIEGA speaker setup. Enjoy easy control via the PIEGA control app, which includes native Spotify Connect, Chromecast, AirPlay, and Roon Ready streaming all in one simple hub.

NAD 3050 LE

This is NAD’s way of celebrating 50 years of innovation and refinement as a stereo amplifier manufacturer. Featuring specially integrated HybridDigital UcD amplifier technology inside, fully functional analog VU meters, and all of the convenience you could possibly need in the form of network connectivity powered by BluOS. You’ll love the easy, HiRes streaming capability the C 3050 LE has on offer, with support for resolutions up to 32-bit/384kHz and MQA. This stereo amplifier is clearly built to be the centerpiece of just about any HiFi system, and its classic good looks cement it as the perfect upgrade piece that nearly every audiophile is looking for.

Offline Listening in Roon ARC

In the short time since its release, Roon ARC has completely transformed our connection to the music we love by providing a wonderfully familiar, on-the-go version of Roon. The ARC app, like Roon, restores the excitement of interacting with physical media when listening to streaming and file-based music. ARC’s offline listening feature keeps the music flowing wherever your adventures take you – even if you’re off the grid entirely.

In this how-to, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to listen offline in ARC. First, you’ll need to make sure you’ve installed Roon ARC on your mobile device. Visit the App Store or Play Store to download the app. Once ARC is installed and configured, all that’s left to do is browse, select, and download the music favorites you can’t live without.

Offline listening essentials

Before we dive in, let’s touch upon one of your frequently asked questions, “Why can’t I download music from TIDAL and Qobuz in Roon ARC?” The answer takes us into the complexities of music licensing – but thankfully, only momentarily.

Offline listening in Roon ARC requires the use of files from your local music library because music from TIDAL and Qobuz cannot be downloaded to other apps. Unless otherwise stated in the contractual agreements with the rights holders, streaming services can only allow customers to download music when using the streaming service’s native app. It’s an industry-wide music licensing restriction that applies to all streaming services with third-party partners.

Fortunately for Roon subscribers, syncing local music to your Roon library is easy. Once added, ARC seamlessly transforms your Roon library into an unmatched, uniquely personalized streaming experience featuring all your music favorites.

Downloading your music in ARC

Immediately upon opening the app, ARC makes finding music for offline listening effortless.

To get started, tap the downloads icon at the top of the ARC home screen. (You can also use the library icon in the footer and then press Downloads on the next page.)
Your current downloads are displayed on the Downloads page.
Press the Find something to download banner on the Downloads page to browse albums from your local library.
Tap the download icon to download an album on the Available to Download page.
The album will begin downloading. Selecting multiple albums will create a download queue.
BONUS: You can still listen to music while your selections are downloading!

Finding downloads from your library pages

Finding your downloads in ARC is equally intuitive. For this example, we’ll use the Albums page.

Press the library icon in the footer to navigate to your Albums page.
Tap the download icon on the Albums page to see your current downloads.
You can also press the favorites icon while the download icon is selected to see favorited albums in your downloads.
The download icon will appear on album or playlist pages that display music from your local library.
Simply tap the download button to save a copy on your device for offline listening.
Pro tip: ARC will automatically display your downloads when in Offline mode!

Removing downloads from your device

ARC makes removing downloaded music as effortless as browsing for your local files.

To remove downloaded music from your device, press the download icon or ellipsis button when viewing music from your local library.
The download icon provides two options: Remove from downloads, or View all downloads.
Tap Remove from downloads to remove the selection from your device storage.
The ellipsis button provides a greater range of functions, as shown.
Press Remove from downloads to remove the selection from your device storage.
Pro tip: You can batch-remove all downloaded music from your device storage by pressing Delete all downloads from the ARC settings page.
Caution: The Remove from library (highlighted in red) option permanently deletes the selection from your Roon music library. If you only want to remove the item from your mobile device storage – use Remove from downloads instead.

More helpful hints

To switch to offline listening in ARC, tap the gear icon on the ARC home page, then toggle on Offline mode – found just below profiles. ARC automatically filters to your downloaded music when viewing library pages in Offline mode.

By default, ARC is set to download music in its original quality and preserve your mobile data by only downloading while on Wi-Fi. To turn off that setting,

Press the gear icon on the ARC Home Page.
Go to Downloads and turn off “Download on Wi-Fi Only.”
Alternatively, you can start downloading a selection while on mobile data. ARC will prompt you to change your settings preferences.

Download speeds in ARC will vary depending on your in-app download settings, the internet traffic and speed of your home network, and the strength of your data connection while downloading to ARC on your mobile device.

Do you still need to add your local music files in Roon? The Roon Knowledge Base has comprehensive help articles on various Roon features, including how-tos for adding your personal music files to Roon. You can also visit Roon Community to chat with other Roon subscribers.

Not a Roon subscriber but interested in a trial?

Roon reignites the excitement that sparked our love of music. By transplanting Roon’s immense archive of music knowledge to our mobile devices, ARC allows you to enjoy your favorite music and Roon features wherever you are and no matter where you’re headed.

The best way to discover why serious music lovers call Roon a “must-have” is by taking our free trial, which includes Roon ARC!

Roon Partner Update: February 2023

It’s been another busy month as we welcomed an array of new network players into the Roon Ready family from Cambridge Audio, FiiO, NAD, Primare and Volumio.

You can read all about them in our latest partner update below. For a full list of our partner brands – and every device that works with Roon – visit our Partners page on the Roon website.

Cambridge Audio

MXN10

The Cambridge Audio MXN10 Network Player brings the world of Hi-Res music to much-loved hi-fi set-ups and other audio systems with total ease. Thanks to its compact, half-width footprint, placing this network player in your system is a cinch. The MXN10 can stream Hi-Res music natively, via Roon Ready streaming, and even play your music that’s stored on USB and NAS drives too. You can conveniently control this network player with Cambridge Audio’s StreamMagic app, or from the native app of your preferred service.

AXN10

The Cambridge Audio AXN10 Network Player is the perfect piece for bringing a spectacular streaming music experience to your Hi-Fi system, taking you far beyond your prized collection of discs. In addition to integration with all of the best-known premium subscription services, AXN10 has stacks of free options, such as internet radio and even Bluetooth. Thanks to Cambridge Audio’s streaming know-how, you’ll soon be enjoying high-quality music easily from a variety of sources via their StreamMagic app, Roon Ready streaming, or through your preferred service’s own native app – the choice is yours.

FiiO R7

FiiO is arguably one of the most exciting audio brands in the world right now. The Fiio R7 – their first ever desktop grade digital audio player – is only set to raise that reputation even further.

The R7 is built on impressive foundations – under its sleek black exterior there’s a wealth of top-level hardware, including a premium Sabre DAC chipset, an 8 core Snapdragon SoC, and an exhaustive set of input and output options. Amplification comes from dual THX AAA 788+ desktop-grade chips, meaning there’s enough punch to handle even the most power-hungry headphones. Combine this superb quality build with great useability and Roon Ready capability built-in, and the Fiio R7 represents a truly complete all-in-one setup for premium desktop listening.

NAD – CS1

The NAD CS1 is a super flexible, super compact network streamer that delivers classic NAD looks along with their trademark high-performance sound quality. Analogue and digital audio outputs make the CS1 an easy solution for integrating streaming into any home HiFi setup. You get Roon Ready playback built in up to 24 bit / 192khz, and plenty of other playback options besides – with both Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 support provided as standard.

Primare I25 Prisma, I35 Prisma, I15 Prisma Mk 2

For three decades, Swedish HiFi manufacturers Primare have been instilling Scandinavian principles of design quality and aesthetic into every one of their beautifully produced audio products. We’re delighted to welcome three new Primare devices into the Roon Ready family.

Primare I25 Prisma

The I25 Prisma is a modular integrated amplifier and network player that offers serious power alongside truly versatile control. For the I25 Prisma, Primare have combined their DM35 DAC and SM35 Prisma network player with their award-winning I25 integrated amplifier platform. That potent combination delivers an impressive 100 watts of power per channel, whilst providing a naturally fast, clean and agile sound that really brings your music to life. There’s plenty of playback options available to you – you can stream Roon Ready direct from the I25, alongside hundreds of other popular music services. It really looks the part, too, with a simple but attractive design that will comfortably pair alongside pieces in your current audio setup.

Primare I35 Prisma

The Primare I35 Prisma offers many of the excellent performance, sound quality, and design characteristics of the I25 – but with a big extra kick. The Primare I35 once again pairs the DM35 DAC with Prisma’s SM35 network player – but this time they’ve combined those elements with the more muscular I35 integrated amplifier for a seriously punchy 150 watts of power per channel. Once again you get Roon Ready connectivity alongside hundreds of other music applications, and all of it comes presented in a beautifully slick-looking chassis.

Primare I15 Prisma Mk2

This compact network streaming integrated amplifier packs 60 watts of power per channel and serious versatility into a super slim, cool running chassis. The Primare I15 Prisma Mk2’s three-quarter size cabinet opens up a world of set-up integration opportunities, without ever compromising on build or sound quality. Powerful amplification and sophisticated DAC sections deliver every detail and nuance with power and precise control. Roon Ready playback comes built in alongside plenty of other music service options for superb usability.

Volumio Primo

The Volumio Primo is a network streaming DAC that brings the essentials of Roon Ready streaming seamlessly to your HiFi listening system. With integrated balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, and digital outputs that include USB, coaxial S/PDIF, and HDMI. The Primo is ready to be your complete media streaming hub, with support for USB storage, video output, and full access to the Volumio app platform – you’ll be able to stream your favorite music and movies no matter where they reside.

Black Trailblazers

At Roon, our passion for music is illustrated by a growing selection of eclectic playlists featuring a diverse mix of genres, instrumentation, and voices from around the globe. As music lovers, we’re fortunate to live in a time when music is so plentiful and easily accessible. When you sync a Qobuz or TIDAL membership with your Roon subscription, your listening choices are practically limitless. An all-encompassing palette of sound is at your fingertips, accompanied by the freedom to listen to, and enjoy, anything you desire.

It’s easy, sometimes, to forget that this wasn’t always the case. But we’re not talking about the relatively new emergence of streaming music and its transformation of the music industry; we’re talking about a time in history when there were strict racial boundaries in music. When black music was heard only in black churches, black clubs and theaters, black radio stations, and when black musicians were relegated to Race Records Charts and Race Label catalogs.

American Music was just as segregated as American society and culture. But Jazz, Blues, Folk, R&B, and Gospel music forms were relentlessly working their magic, building enclaves in white record collections, fighting rhythmically for acceptance. Like a rose growing through concrete to find the sunshine, beauty demanded appreciation.

The list below is a roster of the trailblazing Black musicians who broke through the race barrier with music that was too beautiful to be ignored or denied. It makes sense that music would be a force that helped tear down racial discrimination in The United States.

Music is a universal language, but one that speaks to us in ways that exceed our full understanding. Tonal color, pitch, tempo, texture, timbre, harmony, melody, rhythm – they communicate something deeper than language. They convey emotional expression that recognizes and reminds us of our commonalities – it’s a nonverbal language of brotherhood.

Racial division doesn’t have a chance when one group of people can recognize themselves in the art of another group of people. We’ve all had our lives enriched through that musical kinship. Our Roon libraries are evidence of that.

We hope you’ll find something that resonates with you in our Black Trailblazers playlist in Roon, Qobuz, and TIDAL; offered in honor of the musical visionaries who first opened our ears and our hearts.

Ethel Waters was the first black performer on us television — *Ethel Waters*

Firsts in Black Music

First African-American Ensemble to play at The White House (1882) –
- The Fisk Jubilee Singers, a choir from the Fisk School in Nashville, Tennessee, became the first African American choir to perform at the White House for President Chester Arthur.
First Commercially Recorded African-American Singer (1890) –
- George W. Johnson – The Whistling Coon
First Black Musicians in a Motion Picture (1923) –
- Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle in Noble Sissle & Eubie Blake performing Affectionate Dan.
First Black Performer on US Television (June 14, 1939) –
- Ethel Waters on The Ethel Waters Show

The Fisk Jubilee Singers, the First African-American Ensemble to play at The White House — *Fisk Jubilee Singers*

First Black Emmy Award Winner
- Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series (1959) – Harry Belafonte for Tonight with Belafonte

First Black Grammy Recipients
- Best Jazz Performance, Soloist (1958) – Ella Fitzgerald for Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook
- Best Female, Pop Vocal Performance (1958) – Ella Fitzgerald for Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook
- Best Jazz Performance, Jazz Group (1958) – Count Basie for Basie (The Atomic Mr. Basie)
- Best Performance by a Dance Band (1958) – Count Basie for Basie (The Atomic Mr. Basie)
- Album of the Year (1974) – Stevie Wonder for Innervisions

First Black Oscar Winners
- Best Music, Original Song (1972) – Isaac Hayes for Theme From Shaft – First African-American winner for Best Original Song. First African-American to win a non-acting award.
- Best Original Song Score (1984) – Prince for Purple Rain.

Prince, the first black Oscar winner for best original score, Purple Rain — *Prince*

First Black Tony Award Winner
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (1954) – Harry Belafonte for John Murray Anderson’s Almanac
First Black Musician to achieve an E.G.O.T (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) (2018) –
- John Legend
First Black Female Recording Artist to achieve an E.G.O.T. (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) (2022) –
- Jennifer Hudson

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, First Black Inductees (1986)
- Chuck Berry
- James Brown
- Ray Charles
- Sam Cooke
- Fats Domino
- Little Richard

Country Music Hame of Fame, First Black Inductee (2000)
- Charley Pride

MTV
- First All Black Band to Appear on MTV (1982) – Musical Youth with Pass the Dutchie

Musical Youth, First all black band to appear on MTV — *Musical Youth*

First Black Billboard Record Chart Toppers
- Best Selling Popular Record Albums Chart Number 1 (Billboard’s First Album Chart) (March 24, 1945) – The Nat King Cole Trio
- Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 (September 29, 1958) – Tommy Edwards with It’s All In The Game

Due to the scarcity of some of these recordings, a few of the historic firsts in our list had to be substituted for representative pieces from the same time period.

If you’d like to know more about Roon, simply get in touch with us. We’d love to help you get set up.

Alternatively, you can try the free 14-day trial here.

Roon Ready Road Trips: Introducing Android Auto for Roon ARC

Recently we announced the release of full CarPlay support for Roon ARC, with the promise of Android Auto coming in hot on its tail. Today, we’re happy to make good on that pledge; Android Auto for Roon ARC has crossed the finish line!

Last September, Roon ARC paved the way to enjoying Roon and all your favorite music outside the home. Now, with Roon ARC for Android Auto within easy reach of the wheel, every road you take is a journey in sound.

Take the ultimate Hi-Fi joyride

Nothing makes a road trip or daily commute more satisfying than our favorite music. Android Auto for Roon ARC fully integrates Roon’s browsing and discovery features into your car’s controls for safe and convenient playback.

Now you can tour your daily mixes, give recently played favs another spin, test drive Roon’s featured playlists, explore new musical avenues, cruise your Roon library, and much more – just by tapping a few buttons from your car’s controls. With Roon ARC, music on the go shifts into high gear.

How to use Roon ARC in Android Auto

We’ve made using Roon ARC in Android Auto as familiar as pressing the accelerator, so you can focus on the road while Roon ARC delivers your favorite music. Get up and running with these easy steps:

To begin, make sure you have Roon ARC. Visit the Play Store to download the app.
If this is your first time using Android Auto, you’ll need to get that set up. Use these step-by-step instructions to get started.
Once Android Auto is ready to go, and you’ve synced your phone, you’ll see the Roon ARC app on your car’s display.
Just tap the Roon ARC icon, select some music, and you’re on your way.

Every road leads to music discovery with Roon ARC

Android Auto and CarPlay support has held the top spot for most requested features since we first unveiled Roon ARC. We’re thrilled to deliver on those requests, and numerous other feature additions, just months into ARC’s existence. With Android Auto and CarPlay for Roon ARC, the road ahead sounds better than ever!

To enjoy Android Auto and CarPlay for Roon ARC, visit the Play Store or App Store and download the app.

Roon Partner Update: January 2023

This month’s round up features new releases of classics from an iconic brand, a range of top-level DAPs, and more.

A new year, a new round of exciting products to welcome into the Roon Ready family. This month we’ve got classic designs relaunched for the modern music lover, revolutionary audio solutions that integrate seamlessly with your home’s interior design, and a range of DAPs from ‘entry level’ to ‘top of the line’. Let’s get started!

Naim NSC 222

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Naim Audio – a huge marker for one of Britain’s most iconic high-end audio brands. In celebration of a half-century of sonic excellence, Naim are relaunching their classic 200 series, harking back to some of their greatest hardware achievements whilst offering plenty of product enhancements for the 2023 music lover to really get their teeth into.

Right at the forefront of this relaunch is the Naim NSC 222 – a user-focused streaming pre-amplifier with dizzying functionality and uncompromising sound quality. Housed in a beautifully designed chassis, the NSC 222 utilizes Naim’s time-honored commitment to engineering excellence to get the very best from your music, comfortably handling bit-rates of up to 32bit/284kHz. The NSC 222 comes Roon Ready for easy and instant access to your Roon library, along with a host of other top-name streaming services and radio stations. True to their roots, Naim hasn’t forgotten about your analogue music collection, either. Amidst a full range of connectivity options there’s an MM phono input for integrating vinyl into your digital listening system.

Zuma Lumisonic

Here at Roon, we occasionally see a new product that looks like it’s a genuine game-changer. The Zuma Lumisonic feels truly revolutionary, offering music lovers a whole new and novel way to integrate high end audio into their home.

The Zuma Lumisonic is a ceiling light and a speaker, combining mood-sensory lighting and immersive sound to generate the ultimate ambience within your home. Zuma’s truly brilliant integrated sound and lighting solution potentially removes the need for cabling or big, bulky tech products within your home entirely.

The Zuma Lumisonic units may be small enough to fit into a standard recessed light fitting, but this doesn’t come at the cost of sound or build quality. An HD-audio Class D monolithic amplifier is controlled by a top of the line quad-core processor for high-end sound quality. Each channel is actively filtered by advanced DSP algorithms for a totally immersive audio experience. From Lumisonic’s custom-built app, you can control both sound and lighting harmoniously, and link the two for a fully sensory experience. All your favorite streaming services are supported via the app, including Roon Ready compatibility built-in for a seamless Roon experience.

PSB Speakers – Alpha IQ

If you’re a home HiFi enthusiast, cable clutter is probably one of your biggest everyday irritations. So when you find speakers that combine reduced cabling with great sound quality, it’s definitely a product worthy of your attention. The Alpha iQ Streaming Powered Speakers from PSB Speakers strike that balance perfectly – making it easy to enjoy PSB’s trademark ‘True to Nature’ sound from streaming services and legacy sources, with significantly less cable clutter.

The two powered speakers carry 180W of built-in amplification, backed up by superb build quality and real attention to sonic detail – resulting in a clean, consistent sound whether you’re sitting or standing. And to top it all off, the Alpha iQ’s now come Roon Ready for simple and straightforward connection to your entire Roon library.

Fiio M11S, M11 Plus, M17

Chinese portable audio specialists Fiio have become synonymous with on-the-go high performance listening in recent years, becoming a firm favorite for music lovers and audiophiles across the globe. We’re delighted to announce the introduction of four of their flagship portable music players to the Roon Ready family. Let’s take a look at each new addition in turn.

FiiO M11S

The FiiO M11S offers up Fiio’s trademark power and sound quality at a relatively budget-friendly price point, making it a great option for audiophiles exploring the world of DAPs for the first time. Under the sleek casing, the M11S is powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor, and great audio quality is guaranteed from two fully balanced Dual ES9038Q2M DAC chips. It all adds up to give the M11S a slick, immersive user and listening experience at an affordable price.

FiiO M11 Plus

The FiiO M11 Plus takes everything that’s great about the M11S and elevates it. An octacore Snapdragon 660 processor makes for lightning-fast useability from a 5.5inch touch screen display. Two balanced ES9068AS DAC chips take your portable listening to a whole new level, bringing a complete, rich sound to the music you love. It looks the part, too – it’s sleek black casing is further complemented by a unique, intelligent touch-panel volume system.

FiiO M17

The desktop-class FiiO M17 represents an entirely new chapter in digital audio players – quite possibly one of the most advanced DAPs available on the market today. It comes powered by two ESS ES9038PRO desktop-level dac chips, a seriously punchy THX 788+ headphone amp, and unrivaled gain and connectivity. It all adds up to give the M17 the output power and sound quality to rival and perhaps even surpass highly-rated desktop systems, but in a pint-sized, portable package.

SOULNOTE Z3

The SOULNOTE Z-3 is a Roon Ready bridge that provides network connectivity to audio devices using ZERO LINK, a new connection protocol developed in collaboration between Sforzato and SOULNOTE – two hugely popular brands among A-PAC audiophiles.

Utilizing their unique ZERO LINK technology, the SOULNOTE Z-3 maximizes audio quality by removing all asynchronous circuitry to create a significantly streamlined signal path. It can be used as either ZERO LINK or standard LAN to USB network transports. The Z-3 offers USB, SFP (RJ45 and optical input connectivity via SFP adapter) to USB or ZERO LINK output with support for up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD 512 formats. Besides as a Roon Ready device, the Z-3 functions also as a UPnP media renderer, an OpenHome renderer, and a Diretta Target (a proprietary audio protocol developed by Diretta). Control functions are facilitated via Linn’s Kazoo app for OpenHome.