Is Qubuz Direct really better

@dwette 

Lots if streamers do DSP too, everything from room correction to volume control, but of course the DSP is local in the streamer after the data comes in from the cloud server. The processing isn't done to the data packets coming from the cloud server, it's being done to the audio data after it's received.

@chervokas Yes, I understand that. I'm just telling you how Roon works. Once the data stream hits the streamer it's too late for the Roon DSP processing, so that's why Qobuz via Roon has to have the path: Qobuz server -> Roon server -> streamer.

I use Roon, but none of it's DSP features. My Roon endpoint is a Weiss DAC501-MK2. It has a bunch of DSP features, but I don't use any of them. I don't even understand most of them. The manual is written for pros. LOL

@dwette   Got it.  So does Roon even support any "Connect" service?  

I gotta say, for the way I listen to music, I don't have any use case for Roon and I don't like the idea of a paying a SaaS sub fee just to be able to play local music in my own home, so I have no personal experience with Roon and have never had occasion to look into its protocols. 

I recently migrated from Qobuz streamed on a Roon Nucleus Plus server (which sounded awesome), replacing the server with a PS Audio AirLens streamer using Qobuz Connect and I'd say the level of detail, the soundstage and the "distinctness" of the individual voices and instruments were improved.  I wouldn't characterize it as a "life changing" improvement, but a bit better none the less and for me, worth the change.

@chervokas Correct. Roon supports Qobuz/TIDAL integration, but not their Connect endpoints. Basically, the Roon server is the Qobuz/TIDAL service endpoint, and the streamer is the Roon endpoint.

I like the way Roon lets me organize my library, do searches, discover new things, and review metadata, so I don’t mind paying the annual $150 for it. 

It would be nice if Roon added Qobuz Connect for those of us who don’t care about Roon’s DSP features, but still want to use Roon for library management. My Weiss DAC doesn’t support Qobuz Connect but I’ve been told they are working on it for a firmware upgrade.