Originally Posted by Bobfett
The time has come for me to join the Roon clan.
If I want to spend around £ 3.000 to get the best possible Roon sound, what would you do:
...
1. Buy a used 861v4/ID40/LPSU with balanced analogue outputs (to my G55) to replace my 568.2MM
2. Wait (maybe a pretty long time) for the rumoured ‘Something new is coming’: integrated 218/210?, G65 update with built-in endpoint?, something else?
Hi Bob, the problem here is that there is no straight right / wrong answer only a list of options each with its own set of compromises. That said, I feel there is an important question that's not been explored ... Do you want the best Roon sound or the best multi-channel Roon sound? Put another way ... what does "best" mean for you?


Best* multi-channel Roon sound (from a 2 channel source)
The analogue outputs of the 861v4/ID40/LPSU combination will yield better AQ than the 568.2MM.
Also consider 861v6/ID40, 861v6/ID4I, 861v6/ID41/LPSU, 861v8/ID41 (if you can stretch the budget).
Considerations: Until Roon can decode MQA (not announced but is widely anticipated) this setup is limited undecoded MQA.

Best* multi-channel Roon sound (from a multi-channel source)
Oppo UDP-203 / UDP-205.
Considerations: Whilst Roon Ready, this Oppo does not presently support multi-channel or MQA decoding connecting to Roon via its LAN port, however via USB it does. Which is a crying shame.

Best* 2-channel Roon sound
Select a Roon Ready DAC of your choice (one that decodes MQA, if that's important to you).
The Meridian 218 is one choice and it has pass though mode so you could also feed it from your 568.2mm when watching movies.
When used this way the 568 would typically be used just for movies.
Considerations: Would you be happy with music in its 2-channel pure form or is Trifield important to you (at the expense of MQA)?

* Assuming a certain budget.

My advice fwiw I'd focus on getting Roon setup first, if you want MQA decoding now add a 218 between the 568 and the G55 power-amp's Left/Right channels.
- Pass-though when using the 568.2mm for multi-channel.
- LAN input when using Roon for 2 channel.

Regards,
Carl

861v6+ID40, HD621, 8000.2, 7200HC, 7200.2, SKYQ Silver, PS3, PDP-LX6090, QNAP TS870-Pro (8*6TB), Roon, iPadAir2.
[In Reserve] C15, MD600 (2*3TB), TwinStore RM (2*2TB)