I initially found Roon's component naming scheme to be a little confusing.
"So, if if I'm running my core directly into a DAC by USB, I don't need Roon Bridge, but if I use a separate renderer as an endpoint, then the renderer needs Roon Bridge on it. Like a microRendu or Pi, etc."
Correct. If you're running Roon directly on your computer and out to the USB DAC, and you can see and control your music library on said computer with a local keyboard and mouse, I just call that "full blown Roon". The whole enchilada. It also has a Core. I think Roon calls this Roon Server or just Roon. If you cannot see your music library and control it locally, you may just have Roon Core installed.
"I assume Roon Ready endpoint/DACs, like the Mytech Brooklyn or Moon 280D with the Mind module already have Roon Bridge preinstalled?"
Yes. They actually have a form of Roon Bridge already installed, tested, and certified by Roon.
My setup consists of:
- Mac Mini running the full blown Roon. It outputs music thru a USB DAC attached directly to the Mac Mini and I can play music from it into my office audio system. I can walk across the room and control the Mini and Roon with a keyboard, mouse, and computer screen. OR, I can control it remotely from my iPad running the Roon Remote app.
- Additionally, I have a microRendu streamer in the basement system. The microRendu is a Roon Ready device. I have two DIY Raspberry Pi streamers with Roon Bridge on them, and I have 3 AppleTV devices in our home. All of these can also be controlled by the iPad using the Roon Remote app.
There is a keyboard, mouse, and monitor available to me but they are out of view. They keyboard and mouse are wireless so they are not physically wired to the Mac Mini. The monitor out of view. It's a Panasonic TV mounted high on the wall to left side of the Mac Mini. I can see what's going on on the Mac Mini or switch the TV input to watch CNN or whatever. And of course there's the portable iPad with Roon Remote on it.
