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View Full Version : Roon update: lots including Qobuz support



Edward
22-01-2019, 19:19
Over the last day or so Roon has released a new version (1.6). The big headline is full Qobuz support (in addition to Tidal) which, in my mind, future proofs Roon as I was concerned about the financial stability of Tidal. I may give Qobuz a whirl (they have a 1 month free trial).

Also in this latest version there have been quite a lot of useful other changes mainly revolving around how things are presented. Certainly things are even easier to navigate.

See:

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-6-is-now-live/58657

Markiii
22-01-2019, 22:57
any improvements to internet radio handling?

Edward
22-01-2019, 23:00
Not that I can see, but their implementation was pretty good anyway - obviously depends on the quality of the stream which is outside Roon's control.

Or do you mean the 'Roon Radio' feature? This is essentially new and so far it is coming up with very impressive/interesting suggestions.

Gazjam
23-01-2019, 06:18
Was surprised to see the update when I got home last night, updated and sat back to see what's what.

Love it, even if for no other reason that I can now use my Ipad Pro in portrait mode running Roon, makes a big difference.
Now it feels like an interactive magazine for choosing your music, very cool.

Major overhaul of the Now Playing screen, much clearer, more informative, intuitive with large hires artist picture and better metadate.

Now: if only they concentrate on upping the sound quality...

mikeyb
23-01-2019, 07:40
Was surprised to see the update when I got home last night, updated and sat back to see what's what.

Love it, even if for no other reason that I can now use my Ipad Pro in portrait mode running Roon, makes a big difference.
Now it feels like an interactive magazine for choosing your music, very cool.

Major overhaul of the Now Playing screen, much clearer, more informative, intuitive with large hires artist picture and better metadate.

Now: if only they concentrate on upping the sound quality...Can you do vertical scrolling, my biggest hate when I trialled Roon several times was the horizontal scrolling of albums etc.

Gazjam
23-01-2019, 09:22
Can you do vertical scrolling, my biggest hate when I trialled Roon several times was the horizontal scrolling of albums etc.

Vertical scrolling only ever worked with the Ipad Pro's, not the standard ones Mike.
The new update enables portrait mode in the latest 2018 models Pro's, so able to use vertical scrolling for the first time in Roon.

And very cool it is too, makes far more sense especially with a bigger ipad.

mikeyb
23-01-2019, 09:30
I use an iPad pro, my other issue with Roon is the need for the ( almost) latest iPad and I hate enforced hardware upgrades, wish companies would STOP the churn in gadgets and devices.

I'll give Roon another go once they add Spotify [emoji6]

We use a family sub for Spotify so it doesn't make sense to start another service as my kids and grandkids all use Spotify daily.

Roon looks to have put out a decent update though [emoji4]

Edward
23-01-2019, 09:34
Was surprised to see the update when I got home last night, updated and sat back to see what's what.

Love it, even if for no other reason that I can now use my Ipad Pro in portrait mode running Roon, makes a big difference.
Now it feels like an interactive magazine for choosing your music, very cool.

Major overhaul of the Now Playing screen, much clearer, more informative, intuitive with large hires artist picture and better metadate.

Now: if only they concentrate on upping the sound quality...

In what way can they improve the sound quality? What are you comparing it with? Genuinely interested.

Edward
23-01-2019, 09:40
I use an iPad pro, my other issue with Roon is the need for the ( almost) latest iPad and I hate enforced hardware upgrades, wish companies would STOP the churn in gadgets and devices.

I'll give Roon another go once they add Spotify [emoji6]

We use a family sub for Spotify so it doesn't make sense to start another service as my kids and grandkids all use Spotify daily.

Roon looks to have put out a decent update though [emoji4]

Agreed about the iPad version. I was annoyed about needing at least IOS 11 on my Ipad to use Roon remote. I don't use the iPad enough to justify getting one that accept IOS 11.

I asked Roon about Spotify and they would love to have it as a service within Roon but Spotify has refused. Takes two to tango.

struth
23-01-2019, 09:42
my ipad 4 is 32 bit as well, so put Roon out for me really as i like a remote being incapacitated lol. The Audirvana remote is only 32 bit so works fine....for now anyway. Many say AV is better sounding than Roon, so this may be where the upgrade is wanted.

mikeyb
23-01-2019, 09:44
I asked Roon about Spotify and they would love to have it as a service within Roon but Spotify has refused. Takes two to tango.

Yeah it's strange considering how many other manufacturers/providers that have Spotify integration, I think there's more to the story than Spotify just refusing them [emoji6]

struth
23-01-2019, 09:53
to integrate spotty these software operators need the codes, and spotty wont do that with anyone afaik. ..so far but if they start losing their market you never know. Spotty is aimed at casual listeners, mostly on phones etc. Not to Audiophile types.

Edward
23-01-2019, 10:14
When Roon was in their early stage they worked with Spotify for a couple of years to implement Spotify in Roon but then Spotify pulled the plug at the last moment. Difficult to ascertain what the reasons were but I suspect it was due to to different ways the companies respected their user data (judging by hints in the roon forums).

Gazjam
23-01-2019, 16:40
In what way can they improve the sound quality? What are you comparing it with? Genuinely interested.

A good question, as on paper all bit perfect “bits are bits” digital,players should sound the same.
As usual, not quite the case in reality.

Prefer the sound of JRiver here, slightly more open than Roon I feel but Roon sounds way more that ‘good enough’ and the interface is untouchable imo.
To improve sound quality (if I had a different dac) I’d look at adding HQ Player to Roon...maybe!

Good to see Qobuz integration in addition to Tidal, no Spotify though.
Getting interested in Qobuz and how it relates to Tidal, might take up the free trial.

Edward
23-01-2019, 16:58
A good question, as on paper all bit perfect “bits are bits” digital,players should sound the same.
As usual, not quite the case in reality.

Prefer the sound of JRiver here, slightly more open than Roon I feel but Roon sounds way more that ‘good enough’ and the interface is untouchable imo.
To improve sound quality (if I had a different dac) I’d look at adding HQ Player to Roon...maybe!

Good to see Qobuz integration in addition to Tidal, no Spotify though.
Getting interested in Qobuz and how it relates to Tidal, might take up the free trial.Oh I long ago gave up on the idea that bits are bits. It does come down to what the hardware and software does to the same bits. Things can definitely be different.

Interestingly I also am a JRiver fan and love the way they do things (not their management though) but overall Roon pipped it for me. But I had to take care I was comparing apples with apples. Small things like which driver (eg Asio vs Wasapi) is used can/will make a difference.

Wish that JRiver incorporates Tidal as I may have just stuck with JRiver (I started on ver 11 or something). Sadly JRiver decided not to invest time on Tidal having been burnt by Neil Young's Pano thing. Maybe now that Qobuz has been rolled out in USA JRiver will look at that.

Yes I may also try Qobuz to see what is what.

Did you try out the new Roon Radio? Very interesting. A bit like JRiver's Play Doctor.

E

§

struth
23-01-2019, 17:02
jriver has a radio station, or did. it was free to begin with. i never used it. forgot what they called it. ive bought every issue since way back. just awaiting the release of 25; paid for the upgrade a few weeks ago.

Gazjam
23-01-2019, 17:05
Not had a chance to play with the new Roon Radio Edward, but some time tonight to chill so will see where it takes me!
Jriver was awesome, really miss Theatre View and wish the Roon screensaver was like that and I’d use the Chromecast display feature to have it up on the big screen.

Ultimately found JRiver’s instability to get in the way of my wish for a “music appliance” that just works, and the Roon ecosystem fills that gap brilliantly.
Ran JRiver for years and tweaked it out...but it was just too unstable in my setup and didn’t want to have to “talk computer” anymore just to enjoy my music.

Wegamus
23-01-2019, 17:09
Briefly tried the new Roon update last night. Didn’t like the new layout in my initial try out, seems complex and fiddly. Need to spend some time getting to understand it again.

Roon Radio was still serving up weird combinations of music as usual. Not sure what the link between Bach Solo Canatas and a Sarah Vaughan Latin pop album are? As long as it stops mixing Tudor choral music with Peter Skellern’s ...Sings Astaire album I’ll call it an improvement! Lol