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ROON…a four-letter word that you rarely hear in common speak. Yet, if you’re reading this now, then you’re not likely just one of the common people. I’m guessing you may think of yourself as a music enthusiast or even a music lover, perhaps you might consider yourself an audio enthusiast or even an audiophile. Whatever the case – you’re here now and if you do spend a fair bit of time listening to music then you may likely benefit from getting a little more familiar with the four-letter word…ROON. Personally, I’ve been aware of ROON for about a half dozen years, yet its only recently that I finally took the leap and decided to ROON my own listening experience. The question though is…should you ROON your music listening experience?  Well, I’m going to try to help you learn a little more about ROON so that perhaps you might be able to decide if now is the right time for you to try it yourself.

What is ROON?
ROON is a software platform that has been purpose designed to allow the User to manage their access and music playback thoughtfully and easily, accompanied with in-depth music information, through a user’s local area network (LAN). The ROON software architecture consists of three main parts:

  • ROON Server (Core): the central nervous system of the ROON platform, it must be installed on a network connected computing device e.g. Mac, Windows, Linux computer, Intel-NUC or ROON optimized hardware device e.g. Nucleus. The ROON Server with the computing device its installed on is known as the ROON Core.
  • ROON Control (Remote) Apps: applications (Apps) that ROON offers in both Android and Apple varieties, which allow remote control the ROON Server, using their phone, tablet and/or computer.
  • ROON Endpoints (Audio Devices): the various audio playback devices that ROON can connect to via your LAN to play music, which come three categories:
  • ROON Ready: devices that run ROON Advanced Audio Transport (RAAT) software and have been tested and certified by ROON for their full compatibility and wider feature control. These devices require no configuration, highest sound quality (high resolution and clock control) among other benefits.
  • ROON Tested: devices that ROON has done some testing on to ensure basic compatibility, but which do not run ROON’s optimized RAAT software. E.g. Apple TV & HomePod, SONOS.
  • Other Audio Devices: nearly any audio playback device that is connected to your LAN, including WiFi speakers, AirPlay, Chromecast, Sonos, and other devices.

All three parts of the ROON software architecture are required in any implementation. Though all three could be achieved with a single device e.g. a laptop, that would not provide an optimal expression of ROON. To optimize a ROON implementation, you want your ROON Core on a single dedicated computing device; the ROON Control App on a cell phone/tablet and at least one separate Endpoint (audio device). ROON offers its own optimized computing device for ROON Core, which is called Nucleus. Nucleus products are purpose designed to run ROON Server and maximize performance; however, they may not be the most cost-effective solution. For the highest performance at the lowest cost, ROON provides a DIY solution with the steps are parts list for building a ROON Optimized Core Kit (ROCK). Though a computer may do to run the ROON server, a Nucleus or ROCK will likely provide the best overall solution.

ROON is a fee-based subscription software platform with a few payment options, including: a monthly paid subscription of U.S. $14.99/month; an annual payment of U.S. $149.88 or; a one-time lifetime payment of U.S. $829.99. A subscription allows for a single ROON Server installation on your computing device to serve as your ROON Core; however, the ROON Core will allow you to connect as many compatible audio devices as you like via your LAN (Ethernet or WiFi), dependent on your ROON Core performance capability. Just to be clear, a ROON subscription provides no music or music access in and of itself, but is a platform to organize and access your music through.

The ROON Control (Remote) App can also be installed on an unlimited number of devices (e.g. your mobile phone or tablet, available free via App store) and used to remotely control your ROON Server. The ROON Control (Remote) App serves as your user interface and provides you with access to all settings and delivers the full ROON experience that is rich in both music image and information.

What Type of User Should Consider ROON?
Now you know what ROON and its primary components i.e. ROON Core; ROON Control Remote App and; ROON Audio Device Endpoints, I’d like to talk about what type of user its suited for but before I don’t, let’s start with who ROON really isn’t for. If you don’t use any music streaming services nor have any of your music ripped to a computer / hard drive then ROON will be of limited benefit. Second, if your music listening is heavily based on physical media: CD, vinyl or tape, then once again, you will find limited value with ROON. Third, if your household music listening is centred around a single music streaming service, perhaps with a single provider’s devices e.g. Apple (Apple Music, Apple iOS, Mac) and you don’t have any large and diverse computer based high resolution music libraries, once again, ROON won’t be much value. Thought these three situation don’t exclude you from giving ROON a trial; however, know that ROON targets a different type of user.

So who might ROON suit?  ROON offers a deeper and more engaging music listening experience for those that leverage medium to large digital music media libraries combined with high resolution music streaming services. If you have one of more high-resolution music streaming services e.g. Tidal HiFi or Qobuz, combined with a digital music library sitting on one or more computer devices (PC, Mac, NAS, USB drive) then ROON might be of benefit to you. In addition, if you use multiple playback devices with different operating systems iOS and Android etc. ROON can simplify your user experience. Such benefits would increase, if you have multiple rooms in which you listen to music or multiple users in your household with various music devices connected to your network. In such cases, ROON can offer you a means to simplify your access to music, enhance the playback and generally enrich your whole music listening experience.

A Simple ROON Implementation:

At its simplest, a ROON setup would start with a computing device, such as a PC, Mac, desktop/laptop or media computer. Step one – go to the ROON website, and Start Your FREE Trial by opening a ROON Account and downloading the ROON Server (ROON for Desktop) that makes your computer a ROON Core. ROON will automatically locate all compatible Audio Devices on your Network / LAN, along with any music files sitting on connected devices. You can sign into your Tidal or Qobuz streaming services within ROON, which will integrate them into the ROON platform. Finally, the ROON Control (Remote) App can be downloaded to all your phone/tablets allowing you easy remote control of your music via ROON. With your various audio devices on your LAN connected, you will have formed a complete ROON ecosystem through which to immerse yourself in your music.

Features and Benefits – ROON Value Proposition:
Single Elevated Music Streaming Interface:
Today there are all kinds of music streamers available from cheap and simple to expensive and sophisticated. The basic function of a music streamer / digital playback device (MS/DPD) is to allow you to access your music, choose what to play and control the playback – pause, skip, fast forward etc. Additional features of MS/DPD devices include providing you with information on the music you are playing such as track name, album name, artist name and album art, which is largely dependent on what is referred to as metadata that is packaged with the digital music files. A MS/DPD will typically also offer you access to you own music if saved on a connected computer, Network Accessed Storage (NAS), hard drive or event a USB thumb drive. And of course, an MS/DPD will generally allow you to control music through various streaming services: Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify etc.

Many MS/DPD’s do a good job with control and playback; however, what is usually seen as the biggest difference between them is their user interface. Most are proprietary and all are different – from BlueOS, Focal & Naim App, LUMIN App, MOON MiND, Squeezebox and Manic Moose, they all interface differently. And, not all interfaces are created equal – some can be downright terrible…e.g. Manic Moose. As well, if you have different devices and different interfaces, it can hard to get proficient at any much less share devices in the household. ROON solves this dilemma – once its setup, ROON becomes your single music playback interface. A single window through which you and your households can play all your audio devices. This single experience lends to your proficiency in using ROON and builds on engagement; this benefit is only magnified when there are multiple users in the household, as you can share your common experience. More importantly, ROON is not just a run-of-the-mill interface; rather, it is an elevated music playback interface that raises the bar in terms of its aesthetic and functionality vs. almost ever other available proprietary MS/DPD interface. The ROON interface is beautifully laid out, user friendly and extremely functional, which is expected when you have a dedicated software environment that is developed by a company focused on that and only that.

Music Integration:
The ROON ecosystem integrates your music streaming services, with any saved digital music accessible on your LAN as well as Live (Internet) Radio. Presently, ROON only directly offers integrated support for Qobuz, Tidal and KKBox streaming services. By signing into your streaming account within ROON, your favorites, personal libraries as well as any playlists that are hosted on those streaming services will be pulled into ROON and available at your fingertip.

This is where ROON really provides simplicity and ease to music navigation. Once your digital music libraries and your streaming services are within the ROON ecosystem, navigation is a breeze. A search by Genre, Artist, Album, Track, Composer, Composition will result in ROON culling from everything it sees, all your connected sources – from your own saved music files to your streaming services and any Live Radio stations. In addition, ROON will tell you where that music is accessed from. You can add personalized Tags to the music within your ROON library and if you add a selection to your ROON Library or a favourite within ROON, the same will be added to the related steaming service that the music is sourced from. In essence, you get all the benefits of your individual music sources wrapped up in a consistent, sophisticated, and intuitive ROON package. This is something that sets ROON apart from any other music management software that I’ve yet seen.

Music Zones:
I’ve already mentioned that ROON is widely compatible with music playback devices. The greatest level of compatibility and control is with network player devices that are ROON Ready; followed by those which are ROON Tested, as previously mentioned. However, various other music devices that can connect to your network whether WiFi / Ethernet can also be integrated into a ROON environment.

Once ROON locates the various audio devices that are connected to your Network, you are able to group them in zones – Zone Grouping. Hence, you can group various devices (from different brands) into a playback system in a room or listening space and have them simultaneously play the same music, with separated control of volume by device. Though grouping devices is brand / model indifferent, those devices must be the same type. The same type meaning that ROON Ready (RAAT) devices can be grouped, and AirPlay, Sonos or Chromecast can also be grouped but not mix & match, only ROON Ready together or AirPlay together etc.

Music Enrichment:
ROON provides a music enrichment experience like no other music platform available. Not only is ROON able to quickly and accurately provide album information (track, artist etc.) as well as album artwork by leveraging the included metadata – it takes it to a new level. Using ROON’s connection to the internet enriches this metadata and provides song lyrics, album reviews, composer bios, detailed credits as well as additional related images. Not only do you find the bios of the music artist but also the track performers and composers. And this is all delivered through a fluid magazine-like layout which includes integrated hyperlinks that allow you to easily explore and immerse yourself in the music experience. The richness of this content will no doubt be appealing to those with limited music knowledge and undoubtedly enchanting to those like me who love to dig deep into the music they listen to. Words can’t really explain the experience, this is a feature of ROON that really must be tried.

ROON through its smart Internet fed feature set can also be a tremendous help in completing or enhancing the metadate of stored music libraries. ROON will locate the correct metadata on the Internet and add the missing data, including song lyrics and other available information about the music, all without changing your music files themselves.

When ROON is integrated with streaming services, Tidal and Qobuz, ROON it can provide new releases as well as recommend music. My experience is that this can be inciteful and introduce you to new artists you may have never discovered on your own. ROON also includes its own smart ROON Radio feature that will automatically curate on the fly a music playlist tailored to what you’ve been listening to. For instance, at the end of an album or playlist that you’ve been listening to ROON Radio, if enabled, will take on the playlist and automatically play synergistic tracks drawn from your ROON library and your streaming services. As well, daily, ROON provides six personalized playlists automatically generated based on your past listening. ROON even goes so far to provide you with artists upcoming concerts and events, together with location, date, and event ticketing information.

ROON DSP with MUSE Precision Audio Control
ROON MUSE is a feature set within ROON that enables you to tailor, customize and even optimize the sound and performance of your music. ROON has been designed to ensure the music signal is unadulterated and transmitted bit-perfect. To accomplish this, ROON will monitor your hardware’s performance and adjust accordingly, which includes adjusting sample rate/bit depth under the correct protocols. Yet, a step farther is what ROON calls their MUSE Precision Audio Control (MUSE) which provides sound shaping options with equalization, volume leveling, up-sampling, correction, convolution, headroom adjustment and crossfeed (for headphones). With all this sound shaping functionality, ROON also conveniently provides a means to easily see the signal path of the music and any ROON DSP applied; simply tap the light icon (that sits within the lower navigation bar just left of centre). Clicking it will open a window that shows the full signal path from source to output. In addition, even without clicking the light icon, its colour alone will provide some indication: purple means lossless with no DSP; bright blue means enhanced with DSP and green means high quality (not guaranteed lossless). ROON MUSE therefore, provides you with a means to apply very high precision, high performance DSP to better match your system to your room, to correct for music file weaknesses as well as meet your own personal preferences.

On-the-go…ROON ARC:
With the release of ROON 2.0 ROON ARC on September 20, 2022, ROON released their ARC App, allowing subscribers to use ROON while on-the-go. The ROON ARC App, once downloaded and configured, allows access to your ROON library through a cell phone or tablet, even when away/outside your direct network connection. ROON ARC provides access to your full ROON library – both locally saved and streaming service content. Via ARC, changes to your ROON library can be made – from changing albums, playlists, favorites, and even tags among other elements. ARC even works with Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto, for access to your ROON library, as well as tailor your vehicle’s sound with MUSE.

Final Thoughts:
There is a wealth of features within the ROON offering along with many ways to fine tune your ROON setup to meet your personal preferences. I’m just starting with fine tuning the sound, using MUSE, yet I’ve found that ROON with a Nucleus ROON Core has provided the most stable and consistent sonic performance I’ve been able to achieve with my system so far. Streaming now has a greater sense of ease and naturalness with improved spatiality…not to speak of the amazing interface. Should you ROON your music listening experience?  I given you the low down but there is no better way then to take a free trial for yourself. Be warned…ROON easily leads to music addiction.

For more information:  https://roon.app/fr/