A Bridge too far?

[proftournesol]

Up until now, my digital setup has been pretty simple and based around my still excellent, if now venerable, Weiss Minerva. It's amazing how good that DAC can still sound.

1. CEC CD transport (recently serviced) with a S/PDIF connection to the WEISS

2. Mac mini (2013 i3) updated with MacOS 11.6.8) nearing 'end of life', connected to the Minerva via Firewire. The Mac operates as a Roon server/core, with music stored on a 4-bay Synology DS420j NAS with 4x 9TB HDDs..

 

The problem is that the Weiss would be prohibitively expensive to replace with. a equivalent quality DAC that an equivalent that has USB or I2S inputs, so I'm limited to S/PFIF, AES/EBU, and Firewire inputs. The software vendor that wrote Weiss' Firewire driver has gone out of business and they can't find anyone else with those skills, so I can't run a modern Mac mini as there's no driver for the ARM processor Macs; I have to find something to replace the Mac mini using the available connectors.

 

The options are:

purchase a Weiss INT204 interface, that will translate USB to FW for the DAC. That's $2500, then I can also buy a new Mac mini and continue with my present arrangement

 

A Sonnet Hermes can be a Roon bridge and offers an AES/EBU connection directly to my Weiss. The Sonnet is a bridge, and it requires a separate Roon server; I have an unused Wyse PC running Linux that I can use as a Roon server; an extra device and more complexity. There is a third-party RoonOnNAS program that runs on Intel-powered Synology NAS but not ARM-chipped models so this elegant option isn't available. As I already have the PC, this would be a cheaper option.

 

Does anyone have any other options, particularly something that might be a one-box solution that allows me to run Roon, directly connected to the Weiss?

 

 

[Neo]

What about something like this? Although I’m not 100% clear on what you really after even reading twice, sorry. My understanding usb signal to AES/EBU, BNC or optical. 

https://www.berkeleyaudiodesign.com/alpha-usb2
or musical fidelity vlink mk2 or 192. 
or Audiophilleo USB to SPDIF converter they come in two versions. 
Neo

Edited August 14, 2024 by Neo

[proftournesol]

What I'm after is a relatively inexpensive way to replace my Mac mini as a Roon server/bridge and retain my Weiss DAC, given the connection limitations (the CEC used S/PDIF, so FW or AES/EBU), and something that doesn't degrade sound quality. The Berkeley Audio device is another alternative to the Weiss INT204 that I didn't know about, thanks. It does look to be more expensive.

 

The perfect option would be something like the Sonnet Hermes that was a Roon server, not just a bridge, but I can't seem to find a one-box solution

[Snoopy8]

49 minutes ago, proftournesol said:

What I'm after is a relatively inexpensive way to replace my Mac mini as a Roon server/bridge and retain my Weiss DAC, given the connection limitations (the CEC used S/PDIF, so FW or AES/EBU), and something that doesn't degrade sound quality. 

What is your budget?  

 

51 minutes ago, proftournesol said:

 and something that doesn't degrade sound quality.

 

....but I can't seem to find a one-box solution

A one box solution for Roon is always a compromise.  A Roon server with a separate Roon end point delivers better SQ.

[proftournesol]

Budget

The budget is usually about 25% of what I end up spending!

I mainly listen to vinyl, it's more about priorities, I'd rather spend it on music, but if I can spend around $2-3,000, I'd be happy

[Snoopy8]

How about adding a PCIe card with S/PDIF output to a  computer?  Probably the cheapest one box Roon solution and with emphasis on 1 box with enough  grunt to run Roon server.

 

SQ depends on the computer, its power supply and operating system. And it will be DIY.

[proftournesol]

Can you get PCI cards with S/PDIF? (I'm a Mac guy) I'll check to see if there are any firewire cards then

[Snoopy8]

20 minutes ago, proftournesol said:

Can you get PCI cards with S/PDIF? (I'm a Mac guy) I'll check to see if there are any firewire cards then

Sorry, I am not an Apple person!   

Just thought of it. Maybe you can look for a used Antipodes S30 server/streamer, which may be near your budget?

 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Snoopy8
Typo

[proftournesol]

27 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said:

a used Antipodes S30 server/streamer, which may be near your budget?

It would have been a compelling first choice if it weren't USB

Edited August 14, 2024 by proftournesol

[Neo]

25 minutes ago, proftournesol said:

It would have been a compelling first choice if it weren't USB

A musical fidelity vlink would solve the usb issue

Neo

[Satanica]

A Mac Mini plus this which is a USB to AES\EBU Bridge/Converter?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404947846277?chn=ps&_ul=AU&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=404947846277&targetid=1278430613456&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1000422&poi=&campaignid=19649531412&mkgroupid=146789074798&rlsatarget=pla-1278430613456&abcId=9305371&merchantid=7364522&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwq_G1BhCSARIsACc7NxoYuTrprVA2vjk-GV08ZAHmIpjmocD59rO-OKH6SbuyuhymtYIIzNAaAlSUEALw_wcB

Edited August 14, 2024 by Satanica

[Neo]

What about this?

https://lindemann-audio.de/products/limetree-series/bridge/?lang=en

 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Neo

[agisthos]

That's my ad so of course I am biased in this.

But I was in the same situation as the OP, a legacy DAC I didn't want to change, but wanting to stream off NAS as well as potentially be ROON Tidal/Qobuz compatible.

 

I tried the usual RPi4 setup, then got an older Bluesound Node. Fairly average IMO. None of them were even close to my highly modified Oppo digital source (it had clocks mods, LPS for mainboard, lps for clock, audio board ripped out).

It was only when I went to the Limetree Bridge II I finally got decent sound. And then adding a 5v Linear power supply to that increased it even further.

 

But I just got a Naim 272 all in one Streamer/DAC/Pre, so am trying something new after using the great TeddyDAC for many years. The Lindemann Limetree Bridge II + Farad power supply is a better sounding streamer than the Naim's internal streamer, but its 2 more boxes.

 

You see all these very expensive high end streamers and wonder how much more you can get. But the Rpi/Bluesound to Limetree upgrade shows even at the low end things sound different.

[Addicted to music]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/176440566730?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D271443%26meid%3Dcdadb13cbfd545649d0b0f255d4ca825%26pid%3D101429%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D404947846277%26itm%3D176440566730%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimPLMWebV1EmbeddedAuctionsCPCAutoManualWithCIIXAIRecallsUpdatedRanker0424NoIMA&_trksid=p2332490.c101429.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A176440566730cdadb13cbfd545649d0b0f255d4ca825|enc%3AAQAJAAABIEjZlC%2Fw6lxP728usnvbmmF6IQh6tnfnzntGabzCeJpCCr4SNJdAkEHRyl7vTkyBf4dAus4HjwExpJyz5uqCLXRmucXHasXHatyiO4Oso3snwczdglVb5P%2FWgz1NupifWdwCOidTWY4%2FqEUSjlj26pDc%2BR8mCFCxl16owV%2BDj5qyna%2FMaWrcYqgnPjgPKZICcHp52yQxYcsUWfNjbQGgdXwgvysL380pSP3KTaSGVT2fDepn8YQkR2C4HPrSkq4q195rQ9pOz6aspZXnLa%2BnRHuX%2FlI%2FpWxiRM8iR1IYDKGvXRVOlKBHCePCU14%2BKmG9wV4Ml7cZYKfcxPJ42n7jHyygLEa7iFoo2vdZGTFReidcsqu%2B2BhdhxZ5Pt4j7ZfSUQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01J586Q1AZ1XS0RYE8FADAW306

[proftournesol]

1 hour ago, Addicted to music said:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/176440566730?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D271443%26meid%3Dcdadb13cbfd545649d0b0f255d4ca825%26pid%3D101429%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D404947846277%26itm%3D176440566730%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimPLMWebV1EmbeddedAuctionsCPCAutoManualWithCIIXAIRecallsUpdatedRanker0424NoIMA&_trksid=p2332490.c101429.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A176440566730cdadb13cbfd545649d0b0f255d4ca825|enc%3AAQAJAAABIEjZlC%2Fw6lxP728usnvbmmF6IQh6tnfnzntGabzCeJpCCr4SNJdAkEHRyl7vTkyBf4dAus4HjwExpJyz5uqCLXRmucXHasXHatyiO4Oso3snwczdglVb5P%2FWgz1NupifWdwCOidTWY4%2FqEUSjlj26pDc%2BR8mCFCxl16owV%2BDj5qyna%2FMaWrcYqgnPjgPKZICcHp52yQxYcsUWfNjbQGgdXwgvysL380pSP3KTaSGVT2fDepn8YQkR2C4HPrSkq4q195rQ9pOz6aspZXnLa%2BnRHuX%2FlI%2FpWxiRM8iR1IYDKGvXRVOlKBHCePCU14%2BKmG9wV4Ml7cZYKfcxPJ42n7jHyygLEa7iFoo2vdZGTFReidcsqu%2B2BhdhxZ5Pt4j7ZfSUQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01J586Q1AZ1XS0RYE8FADAW306

It's reasonably inexpensive, I just worry about the sound quality of these devices; only one way to find out...

[Neo]

4 minutes ago, proftournesol said:

It's reasonably inexpensive, I just worry about the sound quality of these devices; only one way to find out...

Waste of money plain and simple. 
Neo

[proftournesol]

1 minute ago, Neo said:

Waste of money plain and simple. 
Neo

That is what I suspect that I'd find

[Addicted to music]

try this, nothing to lose for $24

 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cubilux-TOSLINK-Converter-Compatible-Computer/dp/B0B2DBGKL3/ref=asc_df_B0B2DBGKL3/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463569671926&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=728899163000887252&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071462&hvtargid=pla-1864600288957&mcid=291b97029b893b5796fa4d349b6b5e77&th=1

Edited August 14, 2024 by Addicted to music

[Neo]

3 minutes ago, Addicted to music said:

try this, nothing to lose for $24

Really?
Neo

[sir sanders zingmore]

1 hour ago, Addicted to music said:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/176440566730?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D271443%26meid%3Dcdadb13cbfd545649d0b0f255d4ca825%26pid%3D101429%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D404947846277%26itm%3D176440566730%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimPLMWebV1EmbeddedAuctionsCPCAutoManualWithCIIXAIRecallsUpdatedRanker0424NoIMA&_trksid=p2332490.c101429.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A176440566730cdadb13cbfd545649d0b0f255d4ca825|enc%3AAQAJAAABIEjZlC%2Fw6lxP728usnvbmmF6IQh6tnfnzntGabzCeJpCCr4SNJdAkEHRyl7vTkyBf4dAus4HjwExpJyz5uqCLXRmucXHasXHatyiO4Oso3snwczdglVb5P%2FWgz1NupifWdwCOidTWY4%2FqEUSjlj26pDc%2BR8mCFCxl16owV%2BDj5qyna%2FMaWrcYqgnPjgPKZICcHp52yQxYcsUWfNjbQGgdXwgvysL380pSP3KTaSGVT2fDepn8YQkR2C4HPrSkq4q195rQ9pOz6aspZXnLa%2BnRHuX%2FlI%2FpWxiRM8iR1IYDKGvXRVOlKBHCePCU14%2BKmG9wV4Ml7cZYKfcxPJ42n7jHyygLEa7iFoo2vdZGTFReidcsqu%2B2BhdhxZ5Pt4j7ZfSUQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01J586Q1AZ1XS0RYE8FADAW306

I prefer this version

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/176440566730?

[Neo]

At least with this, there was some R/D and it’s a second generation. But that’s not what the op is after it seems. 

Neo

 

[proftournesol]

I'd prefer to avoid USB if I can. The simplest would be something that had an AES/ABU input straight into my Weiss DAC as I'm presently using the S/PDIF input for my CD player

Edited August 15, 2024 by proftournesol

[Godot]

Sound quality - Antipodes K22. 
Roon server/core - Antipodes K22

AES/EBU - Antipodes K22

One box Roon server/core player - Antipodes K22

Manufacturer support and upgrade programs - Antipodes K22

Budget. Don’t retire yet. The quality remains long after the price is forgotten. 

I had to use my MacBook Pro as a Roon core while waiting for my Antipodes EX to be upgraded, it helped me get reacquainted with my record collection. 
The upgraded EX was so good that I ended up trading it back to Antipodes for the current generation Kala 22, superb. 
You are more than welcome to come and have a look and listen to it if you would like, bring your DAC to if that would help. 
 

[proftournesol]

8 minutes ago, Godot said:

Sound quality - Antipodes K22. 
Roon server/core - Antipodes K22

AES/EBU - Antipodes K22

One box Roon server/core player - Antipodes K22

Manufacturer support and upgrade programs - Antipodes K22

Budget. Don’t retire yet. The quality remains long after the price is forgotten. 

I had to use my MacBook Pro as a Roon core while waiting for my Antipodes EX to be upgraded, it helped me get reacquainted with my record collection. 
The upgraded EX was so good that I ended up trading it back to Antipodes for the current generation Kala 22, superb. 
You are more than welcome to come and have a look and listen to it if you would like, bring your DAC to if that would help. 
 

That would be my first choice, but for the outputs: no S/PDIF FW or AES/EBU. I don't want to change the whole digital side of my system

[evil c]

8 minutes ago, Godot said:

Sound quality - Antipodes K22. 
Roon server/core - Antipodes K22

AES/EBU - Antipodes K22

One box Roon server/core player - Antipodes K22

Manufacturer support and upgrade programs - Antipodes K22

Budget. Don’t retire yet. The quality remains long after the price is forgotten. 

I had to use my MacBook Pro as a Roon core while waiting for my Antipodes EX to be upgraded, it helped me get reacquainted with my record collection. 
The upgraded EX was so good that I ended up trading it back to Antipodes for the current generation Kala 22, superb. 
You are more than welcome to come and have a look and listen to it if you would like, bring your DAC to if that would help. 
 

Couldn't agree more,  customer service is 2nd to none too with Antipodes!

I am still marvelling over how wonderful my K50 KALA is,  since receiving it back after the upgrades a few weeks ago.

If you want the best, then brief period of pain but much joy throughout!