Roon, the music management software company, has been a blessing for obsessive audiophiles. For most audiophiles I know, it’s almost inevitable that they begin their streaming day with Roon. The way the system organizes and enables new music to appear, the specific links to the roots of each recording, from the band to most of the people involved with a recording, it’s a maze of music that you like to lose yourself in.

This is a review of the Roon Nucleus One audio server (USD 499.99).

Specifications

-Provides space for 2.5” internal SATA drives

-External USB storage, two USB-A

-Network storage (NAS)

Outputs

-Network audio streamers

-USB DACs, speakers, and amplifiers

-Stereo and multi-channel HDMI devices

-Chromecast and AirPlay connectivity

Dimensions

Width: 9.5 inches

Height: 2.5 inches

Depth: 2.5 inches

Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz.

The Nucleus One

The Roon Nucleus One is the latest server offered by Roon; the previous generation Nucleus, introduced in 2019 ($1399), has been replaced by the Nucleus One. Also, there’s the Roon Titan, their flagship with more outputs and “customizable internal solid-state storage: 0, 2, 4, and 8TB options.” However, the Titan is a staggering $3999.99.

The Nucleus One is now an affordable piece of audio. It comes directly from Roon, in a small box with everything you need. One thing I always have to take into account with my components is where I’ll place them, so it helps that it’s a small box and I can fit it in a small space or on top of my furniture. It goes well aesthetically anywhere. I was even able to place other components on top of it without any issue. The dimensions of the Nucleus One are just right.

My use of the Nucleus One

The Nucleus One is a beautiful piece of hardware; it features a high-quality polycarbonate chassis with a distinctive "bird's nest" top that makes a statement of good design, rather than bells and whistles—just a great-looking component. It comes in a sturdy box, and it takes a minute to set up. Really, it’s that easy.

The reason I chose to order the Nucleus One is that it gives me flexibility for:

-Automatic updates, which were a pain when I had to start the app from my laptop. It’s a source of plug-and-play convenience, where I don’t have to start up my PC or laptop; it's ready for use. I just have to start up my amp and preamp with the respective DAC and streamer.

-Even my stored music (it has room for my 2’5 inch internal storage drive) and my music stored on USBs have found a new home with the Nucleus One

-The new Nucleus can facilitate up to six zones of multi-room streaming.

-Besides making my life easier, it has one more trick up its sleeve: it gives me access to the Roon Arc app. As such, I can have access to my playlists and listening history, and everything I love about Roon on the go. If I’m at the office or at the gym, coffee shop, I can get my music as long as I have a wifi connection. Streaming was with Tidal and Qobuz.

There’s really no downside to having this server for me. I’ve had it for months and have had no issues at all, which is something I can’t say about other audio components in my home.

Roon comments:

“A remarkably quiet internal fan assists CPU cooling via dual vents concealed in the wings of the enclosure. With wired and network connectivity options, Nucleus One plays with everything, providing an exceptional listening experience.”

And they’re correct, very important to mention that it does not make any noise. The Nucleus One does not get hot to the touch. And perhaps most importantly, design-wise (for me), besides the cool black design, is that there are no lights in the front of it. When you are in front of your setup, you see a black box with no On/Off button; it’s in the back (as well as the light that shows it’s on). This is a brilliant design cue.

Audio Chain Used

I used several amps and DACs, and streamers with the Nucleus One; I found no discernible difference in functionality; the server mastered them all, no issues or glitches in the outputs used with the components. My main audio chain at the moment is with a lovely neutral-sounding dual mono DAC, the Preciso from Volumio (review forthcoming), the streamer also from the Volumio family, the Rivo+ connected to my PS Audio Stellar Strata. For some change in my sound, I also connected the Galion TS A75 power amp. Other streamers like the AirLens from PS Audio and the great-sounding PS Audio StellarGold DAC also made an appearance with the Nucleus One. The server complemented my components, and I can’t stress this enough; it made it easier to trust the Roon software with its constant updates.

Music

There are moments where Roon or streaming generally have a place during the day. Thanks to this component, I’ve enjoyed streaming music. Jazz legends await, like the beautifully titled album Jasmine (2010) from Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden; these two sound like they have so much fun in their playing that you can’t help but smile. And what can you say about “The Art of Conversation’ (2014) by Kenny Barron and Dave Holland, particularly in the song “In walked Bud”, where they channel Monk, and you are mesmerized? One more I album that made an impression on me with this setup and the Nucleus One leading the way is Chimaera from Sylvie Courvoisier (2023)—such an amazing musician and composer, presents one of the best recordings in recent years for my taste.

Conclusion

The best compliment I can give about the Roon Nucleus One (USD 499.99) is that it’s like my morning coffee—I start my day with it, find it comforting to take it with me anywhere, and it really gives me a boost in my music playing throughout the day. Not only do I recommend it, I think it should be purchased even before other needed components, at least that’s what I’m telling my friends. It really is that important in your setup, especially ease of use. It’s not essential to have one to enjoy the Roon experience, but every update, every moment you want to access Roon, it’s the best way to do it. For me, a must-have component. Very highly recommended.

Further information: Roon