John
We’ve heard a good deal about Roon Ready endpoints this past year – devices made by third-party manufacturers that play catch on a Roon (RAAT) stream. Roon Ready hardware partners number around 65.
Now it’s time to turn our attention to the device that dispatches the ones and zeroes: the server box that runs Roon Core. Whilst any PC, Mac or NAS device will get the job done, Roon is soon to introduce their own hardware: a NUC-based server created in collaboration with Intel.
The Roon Nucleus will come in standard (i3, 4Gb RAM, 64Gb OS SSD, ~US$1200) and Nucleus+ (i7, 8Gb RAM, 128Gb OS SDD, ~US$2000) variants, will be housed in a nice case and will run Roon’s bespoke operating system. The Nucleus/+’s job will be to run Roon and Roon only. Point it at a NAS, hook in a USB hard drive or install an SSD/HDD to its internals.
A 19V linear power supply will also be made available for those who wish to optimise the Nucleus’ sound quality; that’s more crucial when direct-connecting it over USB to one’s DAC. The Nucleus is fanless so no need to worry about dropping it into the hifi rack.
In other words, an off-the-shelf Roon server for off-the-shelf-minded customers, especially those dropping into their local hifi dealer. (No, a Roon license is not included).
For those who care not for their local dealer, don’t need the fancy case or the linear power supply and wish to build their own NUC-based Roon server for quite a bit less cash, Roon will release their custom OS free of charge and detail the hardware purchases required do so.
Roon Labs’ Danny Dulai has more from the floor of Munich High-End 2017:
Further information: Roon Labs
