8ch dac for AL and Roon?

jtwrace

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What dac s everyone using that is using Roon and Audiolense? The options are limited I know, just curious if anyone has gotten something else to work reliably. Okto is obviously a no go.
 

Omid

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I use a Motu 8A. It works well but has 3 drawbacks: no volume control (you can use Roon's DSP volume control but it's not ideal), it loses the signal if you change the sample rate- you have to press play twice (I convert everything in Roon to 96kHz to avoid that), in my system it makes a pop sound when I turn the motu on (so I just leave it on 24/7).
 

jtwrace

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BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
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Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
I use a Motu 8A. It works well but has 3 drawbacks: no volume control (you can use Roon's DSP volume control but it's not ideal), it loses the signal if you change the sample rate- you have to press play twice (I convert everything in Roon to 96kHz to avoid that), in my system it makes a pop sound when I turn the motu on (so I just leave it on 24/7).
Do you use Roon with a wired connection or RPi4?
 

Omid

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my roon runs on a nuc pc (fanless), connected via usb to the motu.
 

jtwrace

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(4) Hypex NC502MP
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Topping D90
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JBL M2
Subwoofers
(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
my roon runs on a nuc pc (fanless), connected via usb to the motu.
Interesting. I tried the 8A years ago and it wouldn't work with any type of streamer so I'd imagine that it's the same now.
 

jtwrace

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(4) Hypex NC502MP
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Topping D90
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JBL M2
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(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
I’m thinking of getting the Motu Ultralite Mk5.
Yeah it's great if you don't use an RPi or any type of bridge. If your computer is direct to it then you're in luck.
 

jtwrace

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(4) Hypex NC502MP
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Topping D90
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JBL M2
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(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A

jtwrace

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(4) Hypex NC502MP
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Topping D90
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JBL M2
Subwoofers
(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
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How are you trying to connect to the DAC? I would recommend the RME Fireface UCX II. I have two RME multi-channel DAC's and three MOTU multi-channel DAC's. I prefer RME.
 

jtwrace

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(4) Hypex NC502MP
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Topping D90
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JBL M2
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(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
How are you trying to connect to the DAC? I would recommend the RME Fireface UCX II. I have two RME multi-channel DAC's and three MOTU multi-channel DAC's. I prefer RME.
USB via RoonBridge such as the RPi4 running RoPieee
 
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Digital Amp Company Cherry MEGASchino MONO's
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Digital Amp Company Cherry Maraschino's
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
HTPC
Front Speakers
JTR Speakers Noesis 215RM
Center Channel Speaker
JTR Speakers Noesis 215RM
Surround Speakers
JTR Speakers Slant 8
Surround Back Speakers
JTR Speakers Slant 8
Front Height Speakers
JTR Speakers Slant 8
Rear Height Speakers
JTR Speakers Slant 8
Subwoofers
4 ea JTR Speakers Captivator S2's
Other Speakers or Equipment
Infinite Baffle - 8 Acoustic Elegance IB15 drivers
Video Display Device
JVC DLA-NX7
Screen
Seymour AV Retractable CenterStage XD
The RME should work in Class Compliant mode (CC). I'm checking to see when the UCX II will be available.

RME CC Mode.png
 

jtwrace

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(4) Hypex NC502MP
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Topping D90
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JBL M2
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(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A

Iansr

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How are you trying to connect to the DAC? I would recommend the RME Fireface UCX II. I have two RME multi-channel DAC's and three MOTU multi-channel DAC's. I prefer RME.
Why do you prefer the RME, sound quality or functionality? And is there much difference between the UCX and the UCX 11?
 
Last edited:

Badbruno

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I’m using Exasound S88 now before streaming used exasound e38
 

Cyberkul

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Fireface UFX, AL XO, Audirvana + AL-Convolver, AL-Convolver standalone for vinyl playback.
 

jjazdk

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What dac s everyone using that is using Roon and Audiolense? The options are limited I know, just curious if anyone has gotten something else to work reliably. Okto is obviously a no go.

Limited options..? There are tons of multichannel DAC's for the pro market.

I started with a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (and daisy chained an extra 2-channel converter to it). It is very affordable and sounds decent.
Now I use a much more expensive unit, the Prism Sound Atlas, which is a really really nice 10 channel DAC (it also has 8 ADC channels).
 

jtwrace

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Main Amp
(4) Hypex NC502MP
DAC
Topping D90
Front Speakers
JBL M2
Subwoofers
(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
Limited options..? There are tons of multichannel DAC's for the pro market.
Yes, and as I've noted above they usually do not work with a USB streamer as I've experienced. Have you found one that actually does seamlessly?
 

jjazdk

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Yes, and as I've noted above they usually do not work with a USB streamer as I've experienced. Have you found one that actually does seamlessly?

USB streamer?!? In your first post you mention Roon and Audiolense, what does that have to do with a USB streamer?
 

jtwrace

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Mar 12, 2019
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Location
Orlando, FL
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Main Amp
(4) Hypex NC502MP
DAC
Topping D90
Front Speakers
JBL M2
Subwoofers
(2) Rythmik FM8, (1) UM18, (1) Custom DIY Ciare 18
Other Speakers or Equipment
BSS BLU 50
Streaming Equipment
RPi4 using RopieeeXL
Streaming Subscriptions
Tidal
Other Equipment
All Belden 1800F and 1313A
USB streamer?!? In your first post you mention Roon and Audiolense, what does that have to do with a USB streamer?
I use a USB Streamer for Roon. RPi4 with RoPieee to be exact.
 
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