Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Meridian Audio transfers software apps business to Roon Labs

I'm still struggling to understand how a Sooloos NAS, with folder structure formatted in random manner only known to Sooloos, possibly with no metadata embedded in the audio files will be of any use to a third party music library such as Roon without a whole lot of angst having to go through all the metadata verifications that one had hoped had been a one off with Sooloos.

The export method on the otherhand does seem to give a better chance, at the expense of duplicating up on discs and losing the ability to reuse the Sooloos NAS as a music store. So in the case of an MC200, short of loading a new OS image on the disc, the only usable bit is the audio endpoint, in case of MD600, there is no reuse as the OS is stored off disc so no easy option for average user to change OS in same way as a simple disc swap.

The OS is on a DOM which is updatable, why do you say it could not be?

Regards,
Carl

Cos I was talking about simple user OS disc swaps rather than being reimaged by say someone like Meridian who we don't know at this stage will facilitate an MD600 being turned from Sooloos specific to a general purpose NAS.

It may be as simple as installing Control:PC on your Roon server, exporting natively to the local storage on the Roon machine then installing Roon and pointing to the local exported files, at which point the Sooloos core / stores become irrelevant.

This way you leave your existing system intact and untouched to go back to if you are unhappy.

Once you are happy and want to decommission the Sooloos system, you can then reuse the Sooloos storage drives as backups for Roon. (meaning you only need an extra 1x current storage to get started for a 100% test - or with a partial export, the amount of space for the test subset)

MC200's are probably not worth keeping with Roon - resell and use the cash for an MS200 - and an off the shelf NAS will be a better bet for storage, than repurposing an MC200.

An MC200 (or MD600) will work as generic NAS storage - unfortunately the lack of configuration/security means it's resale value as a Sooloos component might be more use. The only real use I can see going forwards would be Sooloos endpoint firmware updates.

Not too sure what's going to happen with resale value though - either during the uncertainty period, or when we finally know how things are going to play out.

I think many of Meridians customers will be looking for a turnkey solution if they are to reuse their Cxx/MSxxx/MCxxx/xxxxx in Roon environment rather than a DIYers solution.

Yes, they could buy a NUC, a Qnap, an Android or iPad, but they may not want or even be able to DIY a solution and more importantly, are possibly looking for a Meridian designed and 'lifestyle' product, the latter of which I am sure enticed many into the Meridian fold.

I'm from the generation that believes that in 1969, man successfully landed on the moon using very modest computing power. Playing audio should be childs play by comparison, yet for some reason, the computing power from 40 years evolution is being discounted by many as old, incapable and not for reuse.

I hope I am wrong in thinking that and that the products from 5 years ago (and sold as current models to this day) remain on the development (rather than care and maintenance) path of S2.x and that someone (official Meridian update that unlocks dedicated Sooloos hardware perhaps) does come up with a solution to fully utilize them in a product that, until 3 months ago, was going to be S3, even if that requires a memory or hard drive update.

Roon will only be a fall back for me. Meridian software works well for the way I listen to music. I'm not interested in curating my collection, just getting the best sound quality possible out of it.

I think there will be a lot of people in that category too. They Just want to listen to the music and are not computer minded.

This is something Sooloos has always delivered and continues to do so. IMHO

Chris

H'o Chris

I agree, "Roon" could be a step to far for me, never did understand "Rune" (LOTR) but translation is not a feature I am looking for . Can just about cope with Sooloos 2.2.

Polarisation is to be expected.

There are risks associated with whichever decision a customer makes. Today I am happy to stay with the supplier I know, rather than move to one (albeit, ostensibly the co-developer of latest Sooloos iteration) irrespective of future roadmaps or the lack of them.

Hector

Charlie hit is right on the head. I have found no need to search for my music in any manner other than by Artist or Title. Sooloos provides great SQ and it is the only product I have seen that doesn't choke when presented with playlists consisting of a mixture of CD quality, different Hi-Rz values and even the occasional MP3. It just works.

It appears, in the absence of a roadmap there will be a choice going forward:

1: A 'turnkey' solution from Meridian akin to what we currently have, I can see the appeal of this to many current users.

2: Roon, a solution that will require more owner intervention to setup, well initially anyway? But will offer the ability to explore and interact with our libraries in ways we had not even considered.

I for one look forward to seeing how it pans out.

Russ

The thought of a snappy i7 NUC with LPSU (could probably use my present Teddy Pardo 12V/4.5A medical grade SMPS) with a fast M.2 SSD and Windows 10 and Roon doesn't sound that bad.

Of course could Meridian surprise us all with a dealer upgraded MC200 RAM DIMM and a software image with Linux/Roon then case closed, but I'm not holding my breath forever.

Intel NUC i7 PDF

Now if that was offered by Roon as a preconfigured turnkey solution? but I speculate....

Patience...

Russ