![]() The rear panel features 2 USB 3.0 ports (for both external storage and USB DACs), 2 HDMI outputs, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, and a power button. The Nucleus is not a very large music server (3″H x 6″D x 8.4″W) and its industrial design features integral heatsinks to keep it cool during operation. Most people don’t have 6 stereo systems at home but I suspect that audiophiles have more than one and that they want the easiest method of listening to their digital music library through one interface and through multiple Roon endpoints if they are using compatible network players like the Bluesound Node 2i/NODE, or Cambridge Audio CXN V2. I know that sounds rather rude but the folks at Roon clearly understand that people want their cake and the ability to eat it too. I also hate the hassle of having to upload multiple apps and interfaces to my iPhone, MacBook Pro, iMac, iPad, and some of the other Windows-based devices we have at home. I’m also not the forgiving type and I would probably go back to CDs (which I still own) or just listen to my records if that ever happened. I’ve been a paying Tidal and Qobuz customer for years and I’m cognizant of the fact that should either streaming platform disappear, I would lose thousands of saved albums and over 200 saved playlists.īuilding that library took a lot of work and a lot of listening. If you own a rather large CD collection that has yet to be ripped, I would consider it mandatory with the Roon Nucleus.ĭigital music streaming is not without its issues the primary one being that you don’t own any of the music you’re paying for each month. One recent new product from Small Green Computer rectifies that issue for the Roon Nucleus and while it’s not inexpensive at $220, it offers a reliable CD ripper that requires no additional software. You can read my more detailed journey with Roon 1.8 here.įor those who require a CD ripper, there is a solution. The ZenMini MKIII is one of my favorite music servers below $3,000 and the one I would suggest if you’re not using Roon 1.8 as a platform.īut it’s the software that makes the real difference and at the end of the day - there is no more compelling music management platform and interface than Roon. I would recommend Roon over the native Innous music management software 99% of the time and I’ve used them both enough to make that call. Innuos and Small Green Computer offer network servers/players with internal CD rippers that work very well.ĭoes Roon’s world-class software and music-management system work as well on those other two options? Not quite. The $1,459.00 Roon Nucleus does not include a CD ripper. Needless to say, I still own 3 CD players. The ripping process was not smooth sailing issues with ripping software that did not add the correct meta data, album art, or even permit certain discs to be copied. 200 CDs over 8 years probably sounds like a pitiful number but the reality is that I started buying downloads and then made the jump to digital music streaming. Over the years since I made that huge effort to create a portable CD library, I’ve only added 200 additional CDs to that collection. I was an early adopter of computer-based music servers and spent more than 18 months ripping 1,900 CDs in FLAC to a pair of LaCie external HDDs something that I’ve been forced to backup more than once. The Roon Nucleus is the entry-level music server from Roon Labs and after a few months with it, I definitely understand how it fits in the context of Future-Fi and digital music streaming.ĭepending on the nature of your specific streaming needs and the size of your CD collection, the Roon Nucleus might only be a partial solution. ![]() ![]() “No YouTube but I can access millions of songs on TIDAL and Qobuz and all of my CDs.” When I explained to her what it was, she yawned and asked “No Youtooob?” She also went 33-33 at the plate this season winning her local baseball championship so I tend to keep her Easton bat hidden away when I’m unboxing new review products. She’s missing 4 teeth and from the Jersey Shore so everything sounds like a cross between Bugs Bunny and Tony Soprano. She’s the curious type who likes to see if her iPad can take control of the myriad of equipment in our home and she immediately started trying to pair up her “wemote contwol” with the Roon Nucleus. on a Saturday when we’re usually getting breakfast ready before our long walk to synagogue. ![]() While removing the Roon Nucleus from its packaging, I was approached from behind by my 8 year-old daughter who wanted to know what her Daddy was doing at 7 a.m. ![]()
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