Replacing Roon - What Should I get?

I've been using Jriver for many years and it works wonderfully through my dedicated Samsung laptop, Benchmark DAC, Krell pre and amp.  I never have had to do anything but update every few years for a mere pittance.  I've been following the streamer posts here for years and all the streamer banter seems way too much work for a guy that is kissing 70 and only listens through one system at home.  I'm into listening to music, not computer programing.  I feel I took the right route, at least for me. -John

I realize this doesn’t help the OP, but wanted to chime in here. Streaming is ALL NEW to me. A long time CD guy who sort of fell out of the hobby for more than 10 years.  I read and read and read, and my head spun like mad

Eventually I scored a a Bricast M1s2 DAC with built in network card. I started out feeding the Bric via USB cable from my Qobuz-enabled older model macbook air. I mean it was ok, not amazing. I was worried I spent all that cash on the Bric to get decent sound.

THEN, i learned about JPlay and loaded it onto my ipad (which fortunately was newer generation with one of the better processors etc). Then QBuz integrated seamlessly into Jplay app, and the Jplay app immediately saw the Bric and just played from there. Gapless playback was on without issue too. There are a few minor hiccups here and there (usually a slight pause when changing tracks), but not having to go buy a separate renderer/server and have another communication is a major relief.  As I dont have downloaded/stored music to play, using the ipad to run jpay is a wonderful compformise.

Sure, i have wondered "would it sound better with a roon nucleus or some other fancy new box solution (vs JUST the Bric with network card)?" This is part of our addition, we um hobby - the WHAT IF....

but then I stop wondering when it plays. Also, I’m just not technically savvy enough to manage yet another box right now!  This thread  -a gain sorry to not add a thing to the OP, helps reinforce my current situation.

OP, good luck finding a durable less complex solution!

I started using Roon 10 years ago when I bought a SonicTransporter i5 as my music server that would also run the Roon core.  The SonicTransporter/Roon worked flawlessly until it died a few weeks back. I suppose 10 years isn't too bad for a computer.  Anyway, I replaced the i5 with another i5 -  the current Gen 3.  Much faster at the same price as it was in 2016. Small Green Computer is great to deal with and they offered to have a look at the old i5 to see if there was a simple fix.  I did send it back for repair or to be recycled and I'm waiting on the verdict.

I’m newer in the hobby as well and never have had Roon. Not sure why I need it. Not saying you guys don’t need it and understand many highly value it. and I accept that. But I simply use Tidal Connect or Qobuz Connect straight to my streamer. For my CD collection I ripped, I either access it off of a Mac Book hard drive or recently with a new Eversolo T8 just dropped those files to that via its hard drive and pop in SSD storage (up to 16 terabytes). If your collection is smaller it would hold up to 64gig on the native hard drive. So with apps that are easily controlled by my phone or tablet (Qobuz, Tidal etc or the Eversolo app) and full access to my entire CD library via the Eversolo app, I don’t know why I, or any really, needs Roon. I realize different streamers have different capabilities but with most newer streamers it seems like one gets all that. Now that I’ve put that out there I’m happy to learn. But to the OP, lots of ways to not need Roon at all I think. 

Hello. Currently extremely frustrated with Roon lately- pausing, hanging, sluggish. When compared to JPlay or MConnect it’s an obvious downgrade in sonics. Whatever they are doing at Roon Labs has not been great at least on my relatively new Nucleus One core. I’m sure there are scores of users who have no issues, as once was the case with me. The past months have been very odd. Wish it would work better. Very frustrating to have the best UI but sub par actual audio experience. Btw, my home network kicks maximum a$$, there has been no stone unturned; It’s definitely NOT the LAN or WAN. Something super buggy has been happening with Roon performance. I am wondering about next steps as I think it’s high time I abandon ship. 🛳️