8ch dac for AL and Roon?

[jtwrace]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[jtwrace]

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.

 

[Iansr]

I’m thinking of getting the Motu Ultralite Mk5.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

exaSound.

 

[jtwrace]

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]

exaSound.

If I got your pricing I'd have one tomorrow.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

If I got your pricing I'd have one tomorrow.

Try the used market for an e38.

 

[jtwrace]

Try the used market for an e38.

Yeah I'm quite aware of the used market.

 

[Michael Boeker]

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]

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

 

[Michael Boeker]

The RME should work in Class Compliant mode (CC). I'm checking to see when the UCX II will be available.

 

[jtwrace]

The RME should work in Class Compliant mode (CC). I'm checking to see when the UCX II will be available.

View attachment 44161

I'm very hesitant as Motu is class compliant too and it will not work for all channels.

 

[Iansr]

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?

 

[Badbruno]

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

 

[Iansr]

Just bought a Fireface UFX at a good price

 

[Cyberkul]

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

 

[Iansr]

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

Great; do you like the sound quality?

 

[jjazdk]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[jjazdk]

I use a USB Streamer for Roon. RPi4 with RoPieee to be exact.

Maybe it is just me, but I don't understand how you will get an RPi based audio source to work with Audiolense?