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AbeCollins's Main Basement Audio System
IP Address: 73.229.163.4 Last Update: January 01, 2024 at 10:32:02
Amplifier: January 1 2024

Roon Software is my platform center piece for music library management and navigation including control of Tidal and Qobuz streaming services.
I additionally stream my personal library which resides on Synology NAS to my mobile phone while on the go via the new Roon ARC App.

In the audio rack:
- Mac Mini M1 Server / Streamer
- SMSL D400EX USB DAC
- PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC
- Raspberry Pi 4 network Streamer
- Schiit Audio Kara balanced preamp
- NAD C298 Purifi Eigentakt Class D Amp
- Tannoy Definition D500 Speakers
- SVS SB-1000 Pro Subs not always ON
- Black Salamander S20 audio rack
- Synology NAS in the basement utility room



I sit smack in the center of the sofa while listening to music. Wife's spot is her favorite chair off to the side for movie night.



Roon Albums displayed on the Samsung 75-inch Q90T QLED TV. Synology DS718+ NAS in basement running Roon Core. Roon manages local music files on the NAS. Roon additionally manages Qobuz & Tidal Streaming. CAT-6 hardwired Ethernet throughout the house. The TV is also used for CableTV, Over the Air HDTV, YouTube videos, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV+. The Blu-ray player and discs are in storage.





Roon Remote control on the iPad below. Music does not reside on the iPad. It is just a portable Remote Control for Roon.



What is Roon ARC?
Roon ARC is a smartphone App introduced by Roon Labs in September 2022. It allows me to stream from my own digital music library that resides at home to my iPhone over the cellular network while on the go in my car, on a bike ride, or on a walk. As an aside, my library at home additionally includes selections from the Tidal and Qobuz streaming services which are also sync'd and available in Roon ARC.

Get the Roon ARC App for your SmartPhone:


Roon ARC on my iPhone with Apple CarPlay in my Honda:

Some details. The iPhone is connected to the car's USB port via the Apple Lightning cable. Similar to connecting the iPhone to a portable DAC like the AudioQuest DragonFly, music from the iPhone is sent at full (lossless) resolution in the digital domain to the car's DAC. No AUX cable, no Bluetooth, no USB sticks with music files on them. And it sounds excellent! Playlists that I created at home consisting of my own music files and selections from Qobuz & Tidal streaming services also appear consolidated in one very handy App - the Roon ARC App on the iPhone. Album art and basic controls additionally appear on the car's infotainment navigation screen via Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto if you're not an Apple fan). Basic controls are also on the car's steering wheel.

Just a couple Roon ARC screen shots from my iPhone:


Music & Roon Core reside on the smaller Synology DS718+ NAS far right. Automated household computer backups go to the larger DS918+ NAS.


Both NAS are tucked away out of view in the basement utility / storage room powered thru a UPS.

Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): - Schiit Audio Kara balanced solid-state preamp
Speakers: Tannoy Definition D500: Mfg recommended 30 to 175w RMS. 6 Ohm nom, 4 Ohm min, 91db/m/w sensitivity, 8" dual concentric mid driver (brass tweeter in center), 8" bass driver. Crossover type: 1st order LF, 1st order HF. These speakers sound better with more than the recommended minimum of 30-Watts.

Thiel CS2.4: Three-way, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units (all anodized aluminum): 1" (25mm) dome tweeter coincident with 3.5" (114mm) cone midrange; 8" (204mm) cone woofer; 8.5" by 11" (230mm) passive radiator. Crossover frequencies: 800Hz, 2.5kHz. Crossover slopes: acoustic first-order, 6dB/octave. Frequency response: 36Hz-25kHz, +/- 2dB. Phase response: minimum phase, +/-5 deg. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m. Recommended power: 100-400W. In storage at the moment. The Thiels sound better with much more than the recommended minimum of 100-Watts. [Not in use at the moment]

I believe that most speaker manufacturers want their product to appeal to the widest possible audience so their minimum power recommendation is probably a stretch. Sure they'll play fine with power at the lower end of the recommended scale but in both cases my Tannoys and Thiels really "come alive" with more power.

SVS SB-1000 Pro: Gloss black subwoofers x2 in the room. Not always in use.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC: - Sold my Accuphase CD Player in 2020.
- Ripped all my CD's then sold them too.
Turntable/Phono Stage: In Storage:
- Rogue Cronus Magnum tube Integrated Amp
- Schiit Aegir solid-state Class AB Amp
- Technics SL-1200mkII KAB modified TT.
- PS Audio GCPH phono. Bob's Devices CineMag SUT.
- Dynavector DV-20XH, Denon DL-103R, and a few others.
- Thiel CS2.4 speakers.
Other Source(s): - Several DIY Rasberry Pi streamers
Other Accessories/Room/Misc.:
Speaker Cables/Interconnects: - DH Labs Silver Sonic Air Matrix & Mogami Interconnects.
- USB: AudioQuest Carbon. Intona Professional. Inexpensive Pangea USB Cable.
- Analysis Plus Oval 9 Speaker cables.
Other (Power Conditioner, Racks etc.): - Dedicated AC circuit for the audio gear.
- Acoustic Zen Tsunami, PS Audio, and other power cords.
- Hardwired Ethernet throughout.
Room Comments/Treatments: - A few quilts here and there made by my lovely wife.
- Extra insulation in basement ceilings, extra insulation and double drywall around utility room and heavy duty fire door.
- Carpeting over concrete slab on grade floor. The basement is very quiet and climate stable, never too cold or too warm.
Music Preferences and Comments:
Music Used (Genre/Selections): - Rock, classic rock, punk, funk, alternative, blues, pop
- Jazz, some country & cross-over, Americana, folk
System Goals/Comments: .
System Strengths: - Powerful, transparent, robust and dynamic yet delicate when called for by the music. Excellent imaging and good soundstage. Using Roon as the platform center piece brings it all together in the listening room (and away via the Roon ARC App on the phone).
System Weaknesses: -
Video/HT System: None
Other HT Gear: - Sonos ARC soundbar. Sonos satellite rear surrounds, Sonos subwoofer for TV use only. The "Easy Button" of TV surround sound. The HT items are completely separate from the main audio setup.
Other Interests/Hobbies/Occupation: Systems Engineer RETIRED 2022. Efratom, Rockwell Collins, Seiko Robotics, Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, Oracle.

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