I can't get Roon to find my SA30

[craig808]

Edit: it's now sorted

Hi

As the title suggests, I cant get roon to play through my Arcam SA30. To be fair I'm totally new to Roon so probably doing something wrong. It has found everything else in my house apart from the Arcam!

I've downloaded the Core to my laptop and can control Tidal from my phone. But when I play a song it plays on my laptop rather than my SA30.

Please can anyone help?

 

[Helix Hifi]

Have you downloaded the software/driver? I’m no tech expert, but I know some. Contact the Arcam support. Not to mean, but Arcam have had many problems with the SA30. If it’s new, presuming you have 60-days return right-send it back! Then grab a new one. But Arcam does make great gear, but all this software/firmware can make things worse! Good luck.

 

[Helix Hifi]

Edit, it seems you sorted it out. May I ask how is Roon as a music server?

 

[craig808]

Edit, it seems you sorted it out. May I ask how is Roon as a music server?

To be fair, it was probably me not setting up right. I've no idea what I did or didn't do, but 1 minute Roon couldn't find the SA30...the next minute it could!!

It wasn't until late last night that I managed to get everything set up and working so I haven't really had a chance to use it properly. My first impression of Roon is that it is good, it has picked up every device in my house and all media libraries and works well with Tidal. The interface looks nice and easy to use as well.

As I say though, I haven't really had much time with it yet so I'll have a better idea by the end of this weekend.

 

[mikeak66]

Hi - it's worth making sure that you have auto update turned on on your SA30 (this is buried in the menu system but worth finding). I noticed that Arcam quietly released a new firmware version last week which does seem to have brought some more stability.

I use Roon and Tidal as the primary channel for my SA30 and find it really stable once it's set up and running. MQA files are automatically picked up and sound fantastic.

 

[craig808]

Hi - it's worth making sure that you have auto update turned on on your SA30 (this is buried in the menu system but worth finding). I noticed that Arcam quietly released a new firmware version last week which does seem to have brought some more stability.

I use Roon and Tidal as the primary channel for my SA30 and find it really stable once it's set up and running. MQA files are automatically picked up and sound fantastic.

Thanks for the heads up - I will turn that on when I get home. Can you remember which settings subcategory it is under please?

I was listening to some MQA tracks last night and I was really impressed with the sound, much better than the CXA80 that it has just replaced.

 

[mikeak66]

Thanks for the heads up - I will turn that on when I get home. Can you remember which settings subcategory it is under please?

I was listening to some MQA tracks last night and I was really impressed with the sound, much better than the CXA80 that it has just replaced.

Can't remember if it's system or network I'm afraid. FYI - it can be easier to change those settings through the web interface. If you open the "Arcam control" app you will see the IP address at the bottom of the settings section, then if you put that into a web browser you will find the web interface. (The arcam control app is also useful for changing some settings such as DAC filter & auto shutdown.)

 

[craig808]

Can't remember if it's system or network I'm afraid. FYI - it can be easier to change those settings through the web interface. If you open the "Arcam control" app you will see the IP address at the bottom of the settings section, then if you put that into a web browser you will find the web interface. (The arcam control app is also useful for changing some settings such as DAC filter & auto shutdown.)

That's great, thanks. I'll sort that out when I get home.

That's one thing that I am not too keen on, Arcams apps. The Arcam Control is very basic and the Musiclife app is a joke (hence me using Roon). I would have thought that they would put more effort into their apps, especially with it being a streamer.

 

[mikeak66]

That's great, thanks. I'll sort that out when I get home.

That's one thing that I am not too keen on, Arcams apps. The Arcam Control is very basic and the Musiclife app is a joke (hence me using Roon). I would have thought that they would put more effort into their apps, especially with it being a streamer.

Agreed. It's really disappointing and as a company they are doomed if they won't embrace the user experience in the way that (for example) NAIM have with their Uniti series. Having said that, I demo'd the Uniti Atom recently and the sound was not even remotely close to the Arcam - so I decided to persist with the clumsy interface and embrace Roon as a necessary band-aid.

 

[craig808]

Agreed. It's really disappointing and as a company they are doomed if they won't embrace the user experience in the way that (for example) NAIM have with their Uniti series. Having said that, I demo'd the Uniti Atom recently and the sound was not even remotely close to the Arcam - so I decided to persist with the clumsy interface and embrace Roon as a necessary band-aid.

You would think that Arcam would be doing their best to update these issues. It's not like it is just the odd fussy customer who is complaining, it is basically everyone. Also, if you look at any review they all say the same. I would be amazed if Arcam just tries to ride this out. I am no app expert at all but I would have thought that in the grand scheme of things, the financial outlay would not be too high?

As you say, the fact that the app sounds so good is keeping me on board.

With regard to Roon, my initial impression is that I like it but it's an expense that I shouldn't and wouldn't have if the Musiclife app worked.

 

[mikeak66]

You would think that Arcam would be doing their best to update these issues. It's not like it is just the odd fussy customer who is complaining, it is basically everyone. Also, if you look at any review they all say the same. I would be amazed if Arcam just tries to ride this out. I am no app expert at all but I would have thought that in the grand scheme of things, the financial outlay would not be too high?

As you say, the fact that the app sounds so good is keeping me on board.

With regard to Roon, my initial impression is that I like it but it's an expense that I shouldn't and wouldn't have if the Musiclife app worked.

Agreed. I work in IT management and we are not talking about big money here. I've been tempted to write to Arcam and offer to help! Getting a small team of good developers to fix this stuff would be really quite straightforward.

 

[craig808]

Agreed. I work in IT management and we are not talking about big money here. I've been tempted to write to Arcam and offer to help! Getting a small team of good developers to fix this stuff would be really quite straightforward.

I thought as much. Give them a call and get on board!!

 

[paulguk]

Edit: it's now sorted

Hi

As the title suggests, I cant get roon to play through my Arcam SA30. To be fair I'm totally new to Roon so probably doing something wrong. It has found everything else in my house apart from the Arcam!

I've downloaded the Core to my laptop and can control Tidal from my phone. But when I play a song it plays on my laptop rather than my SA30.

Please can anyone help?

Can you tell me how you sorted it as I have just installed ROON on my PC. The SA30 is on and connected to the same network and in the NET input but it doesn't show as an available output on the ROON app either on the PC or my IPAD.

 

[craig808]

Can you tell me how you sorted it as I have just installed ROON on my PC. The SA30 is on and connected to the same network and in the NET input but it doesn't show as an available output on the ROON app either on the PC or my IPAD.

Hi Paul

To be honest I'm not sure. I kept looking and nothing was there, then all of a sudden it just showed up.

I scrolled down and there were quite a few options. Now I'm wondering if they were always there and stupidly I just didn't scroll down far enough!!

When you are playing a song press the button in the far right of the song title bar (circled red) and all the options should be there. Remember to scroll down

Let us know how you get on.

 

[paulguk]

I asked in the ROON Facebook group and got the answer which for future readers is as follows.

1. In the Roon app go to Settings.
2. Select Audio and Arcam is listed under Roon Ready.
3. Enable Arcam in the app.

 

[craig808]

Can't remember if it's system or network I'm afraid. FYI - it can be easier to change those settings through the web interface. If you open the "Arcam control" app you will see the IP address at the bottom of the settings section, then if you put that into a web browser you will find the web interface. (The arcam control app is also useful for changing some settings such as DAC filter & auto shutdown.)

I've being trying to get the Control app to find my SA30 but it just won't. Is there something I'm missing?

Surely I should just download the app and it connects automatically?

It says that it's searching but that's about it.

 

[paulguk]

I've being trying to get the Control app to find my SA30 but it just won't. Is there something I'm missing?

Surely I should just download the app and it connects automatically?

It says that it's searching but that's about it.

Read my solution above.

 

[craig808]

Read my solution above.

I mean the Arcam Control app now, not Roon. I've got that running fine.

Mike mentioned that the arcam control app is also useful for changing some settings such as DAC filter & auto shutdown. But the Arcam app wont find the Arcam device!!!

 

[paulguk]

sorry I misread. click the cross in the bottom left of the MusicLife app and click Arcam SA30 under choose a device to control. There is a stand-alone app for Arcam Control as well

 

[mikeak66]

sorry I misread. click the cross in the bottom left of the MusicLife app and click Arcam SA30 under choose a device to control. There is a stand-alone app for Arcam Control as well

Yep - that works for me. Just make sure that your phone or iPad is connected to the same wireless network. If struggling, try running the setup through the google home app first as advised in the SA30 manual.