RPi v RooExtend box

Streaming Audio
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I had a minor panic yesterday following a power cut. My Roon network went down; I could play music via the Naim app but not thru’ Roon. It took some time to find the old manual the good doctor and after some messing around with USB sticks I got the Roon server to recognise my endpoint.

whilst scratching my head I noticed the good doctor has adapted a RPi for Roon to work with UPnP music players. My RPi is getting on , has anyone tried the RooExtend box?

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Yes, I migrated from a Sonore ultraRendu, running the Sonore UPnP Bridge, to a self-built RPi with rooExtend plus rooUPnP. Alternatively, a turn-key rooExtend box is available.

To my ears, the sound quality is equivalent between these UPnP bridge solutions for the NDS. However, I really like that rooExtend is an official Roon extension, so you can do most of the settings and management within Roon Remote.

If you go the self-built route, rooExtend doesn’t yet support the RPi 5. An RPi 4 with 2GB or 4GB of memory is the current requirement.

If you build or buy one, it’s good to monitor the rooExtend category, within Audio Gear Talk, on the Roon community forum. There are occasional, important notices posted there from DrCWO.

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Using RooExtend (rooUPnP) on a RPi (3b) for 2yrs with no problem.

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I still have a RPi 2 running Asset UPnP server, as a backup to Roon.

It is running DietPi, Debian 11 Bookworm Linux and the 6.12 kernel, so up-to-date for hardware bought over 10 years ago. It is in a metal case, runs cool and runs just Asset.

However as an embedded, headless applicance server your RPi running the RooExtend should be fine. Just keep it up-to-date, and backup the SD card.

I have looked at RooUPnP as an alternative to SonoreUPnP bridge, they are based on the same LMS2UPNP library, with just different management approaches.

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Thank you all for your input; I’m using a RPi 4 and it’s the second one I’ve used to rum LMS2upnp. It was just my forgetfulness about the order of rebooting my UQs, plugging in the usb and turning the RPi on and off.

I’m tempted by the RooExtend box, but for now RPi 4 is more than enough and at least it automatically updates the firmware and the LMS stuff, which takes away the original tinkering with LMS updates of days gone by. Perhaps it will be a birthday present to myself, and I can repurpose the RPi 4 with Asset UPnP as an adjunct to the Sonore Bridge in my Roon server.

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FWIW, here’s some pros and cons to help anyone contemplating any of these UPnP Bridge solutions to Roon-ify their legacy Naim streamer (I included the Sonore UPnP bridge as that’s a popular option)

Sonore UPnP Bridge on Sonore Rendu

Pros

  • Turn-key solution including Sonore ultraRendu Plus and beyond
  • Bespoke hardware optimized for audio

Cons

  • Each unit supports only one endpoint at a time (can manually switch among multiple devices, but plays only to selected device)
  • Administration is separate from Roon
  • Can be sensitive to bootup order
  • Some internet radio stations don’t work including BBC Radio and some high-bitrate stations
  • Major software updates require new SD card, ordered and mailed from Sonore, at a cost of $20 per unit
  • Sonore doesn’t publish content of software updates (other than new features in major releases)
  • Lackluster Sonore UPnP Bridge support post-Sonic Orbiter OS 2.8 (UPnP Bridge was initially dropped in SOS 2.9. Added back after user feedback, but requires minor workaround)
  • Long-term viability? One or two man operation?
  • Most expensive of the 3 solutions (though there is a robust preowned market)

Comments

  • The Sonore ultraRendu has recently been rebranded as the ultraRendu Plus
  • Sonore ultraRendu Plus costs $1188 USD, though currently on sale for $899 (power supply not included).
  • Various other apps are available within the Sonic Orbiter OS, which may or may not be of use. i.e. HQPlayer, BubbleUPnP Server and also a Roon Ready app, which allows the Rendu to operate as Roon RAAT endpoint via it’s USB audio output connector

rooUPnP on RPi or rooExtend box

Pros

  • Turn-key solution available (rooExtend box). Alternatively, can use your own RPi hardware
  • Excellent sound quality despite generic hardware
  • Single unit supports multiple, concurrent endpoints
  • Official Roon Extension. Administration is mostly within Roon Remote settings
  • Insensitive to bootup order
  • Automatic OTA updates (Unless a manual hotfix required. One occurence since I started using it in April 2024)
  • Inexpensive if use own hardware. Lifetime licenses

Cons

  • Last album track stoppage issue work-around requires sending UPnP streams as FLAC format, not the preferred Naim WAV format
  • No further rooUPnP extension development planned
  • Long-term viability? (One man operation)

Comments

  • rooUPnP utilizes the LMS-UPNP plugin (though using an old version - v1.45.3).
  • rooExtend doesn’t yet support latest RPi hardware (RPi 4 supported, but not RPi 5)
  • rooExtend box: $400 USD, €398 (power supply not included). rooUPnP lifetime license: $57 USD
  • Various other licensable rooExtend addons are available, including several that enable alternate ways to remotely control Roon. i.e. rooWatch for the Apple Watch and several desktop knob-style controllers.

LMS-UPNP on Linux, MacOS, Windows *

Pros

  • Open source. No cost beyond hardware
  • Multiplatform. Including some NAS devices
  • Actively maintained
  • Single instance supports multiple, concurrent endpoints
  • ?

Cons

  • No turn-key solution available
  • Poor usability. Must be technically savvy
  • Can be sensitive to bootup order
  • ?

Comments

  • ?

* I don’t have experience with this solution beyond a brief trial run, so please jump in with pro/con suggestions.

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Thanks for this - echos my experience.

one thing to add to the good doctor’s solution with RooExtend is his range of addons, such as Roon control for Apple Watch - but at a price.

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Thanks for the feedback. I added that to the rooExend Comments section, as the comparison is meant to focus on UPnP Bridges. To be fair, I added a similar comment for ultraRendus, regarding the other apps that are available within the Rendu system.

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Thanks @Tamarin for that.

As an existing owner of a UltraRendu running SonoreUPnP bridge, this operates without issue. I can work around the BBC radio stations issue (I had forgotten this was an issue).

There is also the ability to use the USB output with an external convertor to get a S/PDIF feed into the digital input of the NDS. This is independent of any LMS2UPNP based solution and is RoonReady app running on the SonicOrbiterOS platform.

I have tried this with a UMOX X8 based convertor and found it just under the performance of the Ethernet & UPnP based input.

This is similar to the Limetree Network bridge, Primare NP5 or even the Holo Audio Red solutions.

But you don’t have this fallback option with either the RooUPnP or native LMS2UPNP solution.

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Thanks Simon. Updated in situ.

Just to clarify for others, the workaround that Simon refers to is to shut down or repoint the Rendu away from the Naim streamer, and instead play BBC Radio internet stations via the Naim app.

Good point. I expanded the existing “other apps” comment for Rendus, as this is a bonus outside of the UPnP Bridge comparison that I focused on.

BTW, I use a Waversa WStreamer Roon Ready endpoint in my workshop chrome bumper system. It has both USB audio and (coax) S/PDIF outputs, so no extra DDC device is required when paired with a DAC lacking a USB audio input.

I believe that all of the RR endpoints you mentioned also provide both USB audio and S/PDIF outputs.