Does Roon play nice with the UnitiCore?
NUC 7i5 2.6GHz running ROCK and internal SSD for music storage. As a test, I’ve run 4 end-points simultaneously with large amounts of DSP for each, e.g. convolution filters, and there’s no way I seem to be able to bottom out the processing capacity. As I only ever run one end-point at a time this is more than adequate. The NUC has been transplanted into a fanless case and the the laptop-style power supply replaced with a linear power supply.
2 Likes
I’ll have a look. It was definitely getting spoken about and sure it was on there that I heard about it but I maybe wrong so don’t quote me on it. 
That’s my understanding; because the Roon database includes metadata for all your library music whether local or internet.
Innuos Zenith, with the latest update even better just trialling Roon again as I find the recommended Innuos USB using iPeng is superior SQ.
The Zenith does struggle with some of the more extreme DSP, but then your have a server, ripper also.
That’s what I use.
The Nucleus was not cup of tea 
– NUC7i7DBN (i7-8650U) running Roon Rock
– TeddyPardo (power supply)
– Akasa Plato X7D (fanless case)
– 32Go Ram Corsaire Vengeance
– 512 Go SSD Samsung 960 Pro (Roon Database)
– 4 To SSD Samsung 860 EVO (Audio Files)
3 Likes
Gregg I just sent you an email about another solution – the Sonic Transporter from Small Green Computer.
1 Like
Nucleus +
Also using small green computer. It’s excellent, works flawlessly.
I am a using a fanless rugged i7, which has a custom milled case and I installed Roons OS on it, got it ll all assembled from Tranquil PC in Manchester UK. Runs splendidly for the 10 zones I have and a lot less than the Nucleus or a NUC.
1 Like
Nucleus+
Works flawlessly with UnitiCore
Hi Bart
Email not received.
I am familiar with Small Green as I used their Sonicore Orbiter cube to serve Roon to my Linn before Roon and Linn made peace with each other 
The price of the Sonic Transporter at $895 is already close to the price of a base Nucleus.
Since I am in an all Mac environment building a NUC is a bit more complicated as I do not have access to a monitor to facilitate the installation of ROCK. I would also like something fanless and I am not comfortable with taking apart a NUC, removing the fan, using thermal paste etc.
At this point a base Nucleus makes economic sense as its price is not that far from DIY and other alternatives. It is only when one contemplates using a Nucleus+ that the price becomes exagerrated imho.
The other niggling concern is that the software on a Nucleus is different from ROCK on a NUC. Roon have tweaked the Nucleus software to provide excellent thermal management for their fanless case, as well as things which perhaps provide other advantages as well.
The only potential change to my plans is if they are already working on changing out the current NUC7 from the Nucleus. Both it and the NUC8 (the only other officially approved NUC) are on Intel’s EOF list. It would make sense that they must be investigating how to use one of the current generation NUC’s.
I built a NUC8i7 running ROCK, and added a 1 TB SSD for my file library, all for a fraction the cost of a Nucleus or Nucleus +. That took less than a hour of my time to put together and stand it up running ROCK. That works great for me. I have not felt a need to use a fanless case or special LPS. It is sited in a different room from my system (well, actually it’s next to my office system Uniti Atom).
Odd – maybe I’m in your spam folder 
It was an offer to sell you my not-being-used Sonic Transporter 5i w/ 2tb SSD in it, if you want it. I don’t hear any difference between it and my Roon brand Nucleus. Compared to 500 systems, these devices are pretty cheap, but I do have one not being used.
Nucleus +. With SSD installed. Works very well.
Innuos Zen Mini here and it suits my Uniti Atom.
Works great and is simple to use and get running, it’s effectively plug and play.
Peter
Just curious as to why you guys running Roon on Nucleus/Nucleus+? Is it because Roon say it improves the SQ?
A lot of Roon users just run the Roon Server on PC, iMac, Mac Mini, NAS, etc. and they are dong OK?
I myself run the Roon Server on a MM (2012), and it works fine with very low CPU/Energy usages.
Mostly convenience.
A Nucleus is no more no less than an Intel NUC in a fanless case with a customized BIOS and a slightly different Roon Rock (thermal management).
It’s a nice plug and play device targeting non DIY customers.
3 Likes
OK, I got it.
Roon are cautious to make no claims about sound quality but a home demo satisfied me that it sounded better (to my ears in my system) than a high-specced QNAP fanless NAS.
I put this down to everything HW and SW being pared down to the minimum, so no superfluous components or processes are running.
It’s also got a very good case and Roon are careful to opt for low noise solutions in their choice of components, including processors.
2 Likes