[sfraser]

I realize it might not be ideal for everyone, and perhaps I am not totally understanding the objective,  but I may have  a viable solution. I use Lyrion Music Server (LMS) which has a plugin for Qobuz. I use the "Material Skin" UI on my phone as the remote control. I believe the BDP's still support a LMS client, if not you can install both the LMS server/plugin and LMS client on a Raspberry Pi and interconnect it to your DAC via HDMI . The above solution may bridge the gap at a reasonable price and complexity.

[cmccaul]

I also use LMS which has a multitude of plugins (Tidal, Qobuz, radio stations, podcasts, etc) and the Material interface is very user friendly.  I have the LMS server running on a Raspberry Pi and enabled the squeezelite client on the BDP-3.  The only issue with MM is that the version of squeezelite is quite old, but it shouldn't make any audible difference.  After the latest BDP firmware update, the squeezelite service was dropped from the services menu.  Chris at Bryston sent me this:

Must have be a bug introduced at some point.  I’m going to assume your comfortable with command line, you can connect to the BDP-3 using ssh with the login (username: root, password: bryston).

Using the command

/bin/bservices/Squeezelite\ start

Should enable squeezelite again

I also added that command to the startup script in the MM menu.

[EvanMcC]

Appreciate the details and that alternative option, but that's too involved for me.

I think for the level that the BR-20, BDP's play at ($$) these Connect options should have been integrated by now.

It's quite frustrating that Bryston's software side is so far behind the industry. Even if they can't create what they need themselves in-house, the Connect options must be somewhat pre-packaged for deployment, plus there's gotta be some sort of licensing options from companies like BluOS, etc.

[cmccaul]

I agree 100% that the Bryston software is way behind the industry.  I keep hoping we’ll hear something someday regarding an update, but we get nothing.  Pretty disappointing.

[zeeman]

Appreciate the details and that alternative option, but that's too involved for me.

I think for the level that the BR-20, BDP's play at ($$) these Connect options should have been integrated by now.

It's quite frustrating that Bryston's software side is so far behind the industry. Even if they can't create what they need themselves in-house, the Connect options must be somewhat pre-packaged for deployment, plus there's gotta be some sort of licensing options from companies like BluOS, etc.

Any reason you're not doing what Bryston and every other high end audio company recommends?  Roon is better sounding than the Tidal/Quobuz connect options as part of its operating horsepower is dedicated to buffering the signal, while providing bit perfect high res playback.  It's also much easier to use and has an interface developed toward curation of music collections.  The database is unsurpassed.

Is it the price?  That's kind of like complaining about the price of good tires on a new Corvette.

[skunark]

Any reason you're not doing what Bryston and every other high end audio company recommends?  Roon is better sounding than the Tidal/Quobuz connect options as part of its operating horsepower is dedicated to buffering the signal, while providing bit perfect high res playback.  It's also much easier to use and has an interface developed toward curation of music collections.  The database is unsurpassed.

Is it the price?  That's kind of like complaining about the price of good tires on a new Corvette.

Roon isn't better sounding, you can git bit-perfect with Tidal/Qobuz connect with a more simplified and less costly setup.  If you have a large amount of Flac, dsf/dff or other music files and even two or more services then perhaps Roon is the way to go.  If you use any part of Roon's DSP optimization, you aren't getting bit-perfect... 

Maybe Bryston should work with Volumio to provide an alternate upgrade path for the products that include a Raspberry Pi.   Going forward, I think most of the market wants a phono input, HDMI eARC input and Qobuz/Spotify/Tidal Connect options and there are a lot of inexpensive options with very low distortion with just that setup.   It's scary how good some of the inexpensive streamers measure and doubles as a high-end preamp.    The best part is you can use the Qobuz/SpotifyTidal app, you know the same app you might use to create a playlist for a job, work or your car.  So it greatly simplifies the setup, and the app will the best quality audio for that given song on all devices.    The BR-20 would be just perfect for me if it did eARC and Qobuz Connect, bonus points if I could drop in a NVMe stick for the small amount of music files I have. 

[zeeman]

Roon isn't better sounding, you can git bit-perfect with Tidal/Qobuz connect with a more simplified and less costly setup.  If you have a large amount of Flac, dsf/dff or other music files and even two or more services then perhaps Roon is the way to go.  If you use any part of Roon's DSP optimization, you aren't getting bit-perfect... 

Maybe Bryston should work with Volumio to provide an alternate upgrade path for the products that include a Raspberry Pi.   Going forward, I think most of the market wants a phono input, HDMI eARC input and Qobuz/Spotify/Tidal Connect options and there are a lot of inexpensive options with very low distortion with just that setup.   It's scary how good some of the inexpensive streamers measure and doubles as a high-end preamp.    The best part is you can use the Qobuz/SpotifyTidal app, you know the same app you might use to create a playlist for a job, work or your car.  So it greatly simplifies the setup, and the app will the best quality audio for that given song on all devices.    The BR-20 would be just perfect for me if it did eARC and Qobuz Connect, bonus points if I could drop in a NVMe stick for the small amount of music files I have.

It is indeed better sounding, mostly due to the reason I cited.  Proper buffering (not possible in Tidal/Quobuz Connect options) offers an edge.  "bit perfect" doesn't give the same result in every solution.

"If you use any part of Roon's DSP optimization, you aren't getting bit-perfect..."   well, that goes for any EQ or DSP on any system, so not a knock against Roon.  I'm not saying Tidal/Quobuz connect aren't good, but on the product in question in this forum topic they're not a possibility.

[EvanMcC]

I love Roon's interface, but with Tidal & Qobuz connect available, I'd rather be able to just use that. Partially the unnecessary cost of Roon, partially the periodic fussing with it / rebooting, etc etc.

Essentially, I would like to have a choice - currently MM is nearly un-usable so that's not even a viable option, leaving Roon as the only choice that I am able to roll out (admitting that the previous suggestions are a little over my head).

I didn't even really realize the Connect formats weren't 'as bit-perfect' as Roon. I don't use DSP (I tune my room instead), but - I can't even TRY any of the Connect services with my $8k BR-20. When it first came out, it was OK that it didn't have these options, but it's been a few years - it's time Bryston sorts this out.

It's not like complaining about tire prices on a fast car (one can put cheap tires on a fast car - bad idea, but you can), it's more like complaining about insurance for the fast car - no other choices (cause you need insurance and it's all expensive! lol), and with everyone in the middle classes being squeezed extra hard these days, I'd like to be able to minimize costs.

Anywho - rant over.

[skunark]

It is indeed better sounding, mostly due to the reason I cited.  Proper buffering (not possible in Tidal/Quobuz Connect options) offers an edge.  "bit perfect" doesn't give the same result in every solution.

"If you use any part of Roon's DSP optimization, you aren't getting bit-perfect..."   well, that goes for any EQ or DSP on any system, so not a knock against Roon.  I'm not saying Tidal/Quobuz connect aren't good, but on the product in question in this forum topic they're not a possibility.

Btw, you can buffer Tidal/Qobuz Connect, in fact you can enable file caches so the streamer doesn't need to redownload the song every time, you still have to report it being played.  All players will buffer parts of a song, but most don't implement the cache as it's unlikely for users to repeat the same song.  A lot of the streamers like the BDP will use MPD under the hood, you can set the input_cache to bulk download.  With my computer or phone I can actually download songs as I need so I can play them offline.  There's a lot of unnecessary hype with Roon, it's great at managing large music collections, but the AirPlay like RAAT feature is overkill, there are better solutions.   For those without a large file collection it adds unnecessary complications and expenses.   

I'm glad you like Roon, it's just not for most people...