ROON users - Nucleus or Nucleus+ what are you using?

[Michaelb]

@glevethan

I have since done a bit of reading on this topic. The general consensus which I have been able to deduce is that when using USB as the mode of connection between the Nucleus and a DAC a LPS makes sense. If the mode of connection to the DAC is via Ethernet (which is also the preferred method) than a LPS is not necessary and the included Wallwart is fine. A LPS will only improve things if the Wallwart was near the stereo and connected to the same mains ring. Makes sense to me logically.

Several people on the Roon forum state this but from experience I can tell you it’s absolute nonsense. That’s not to say the included power supply is not fine, but that adding a quality LPS with a substantial transformer and effective, possibly double regulation does result in a significant improvement even with the Nucleus away from the hi-fi and on a different circuit.

[anon77199223]

Why do you think it sounds better?

Is it all about reduction of EM noise entering the hifi system (mainly or solely via the ethernet cables)?

[Michaelb]

Frankly, I have no idea, Jim. I suspect some of it has to do with how things generally seem to benefit from a stable power supply with big current reserves, but then I believe in Father Christmas… well, almost.

It’s like the story of how I suspected the Belden CatSnake jacket helped lift the performance compared with the non-CatSnake BJC Belden Cat5e (with some of this also due to braided versus solid cables), and likewise suspected that the shielding played a role in my preferring the BJC Belden (non CatSnake) Cat6a to its Cat6 counterpart, so I had this hunch that maybe combining the two (CatSnake sheath and shielding) would have further benefits. The CatSnake Cat6a that DesignaCable made up for me as a result was better than any of the former, but that may not mean my hunch was correct… it could have been for entirely different reasons.

All I know is that I’m very glad I tried (both with LPS on the Nucleus and with the CaSnake Cat6a) .

[anon77199223]

Funnily enough I’ve ordered a metre of Catsnake 6a to give it a try at the end of the ethernet chain.

As regards Roon, this thread is very interesting regarding how many different ways there are of setting it up, and the perennial question of whether or not it does much for SQ.

I’m still planning to sit firmly on the fence for a while longer yet.

[NoNaim]

Just ordered Sonore UPnP bridge for my 272, for Roon operation. Next step, order a Roon Nucleus, but that is for another day. Do not want all goodies coming on the same day

[Michaelb]

@anon77199223

As regards Roon, this thread is very interesting regarding how many different ways there are of setting it up, and the perennial question of whether or not it does much for SQ.

I don’t think it does anything in particular for sound quality, to be honest. As SiS Simon has explained, RAAT is really just a controlled implementation of UPNP. But how you set up Roon can influence sound quality and the Nucleus is a very effective no-thought way of getting RAAT and Roon to sound very good - on a par with the best of the rest.

Hope you like the CatSnake Cat6a…