Roon System Requirements

Roon Server and Remote specification recommendations

Roon Server is the heart of your library. The hardware needed for your server machine can vary based on a number of factors, such as library size, number of simultaneous zones, and DSP use. Run it on Mac, Windows, Linux, or on a dedicated appliance like Nucleus or mini-PC using ROCK.

Roon OS

We’ve optimized Roon OS to be the most efficient Roon server available. Devices running Roon OS are designed specifically for Roon, and you don’t have to worry about background processes that aren’t important to managing your library affecting performance or sound quality. 


If you’re looking for a turnkey solution that fits most libraries, look no further than the Roon Nucleus. The Nucleus is the perfect machine for managing your Roon library, and its ease-of-use means you don’t have to be a techy to get great performance. 


If DIY is more your style, our Roon Optimized Core Kit (ROCK) option is another great solution. ROCK allows you to have greater control over the specifics of your machine while still getting great Roon OS performance. 

Typical Usage

For libraries that contain fewer than 100,000 tracks, with moderate DSP and multiroom usage, the following specifications will typically be sufficient: 


Device Type
OS Version
CPU
RAM
Drive
Nucleus
Latest Roon OS
N/A
N/A
N/A
ROCK
Latest Roon OS
See supported NUCs
4GB
SSD
PC
Windows 10
Intel Core i3
8GB
SSD
Mac
macOS 10.15+
Intel Core i3
8GB
SSD
Linux
Latest Ubuntu or Arch distro
Intel Core i3
4GB
SSD

Other Linux distributions may also work, but we do not test these distributions. 

We strongly advise against using older macOS and Windows versions than are listed here. As Roon’s technology continues to improve, older Operating Systems will not be able to properly provide a quality experience. 

Larger Libraries, Multiroom, and DSP.

For large libraries over 100k tracks and/or if you plan on using heavy DSP and multiroom functionality, the specifications of your server will need to increase to meet the demand. Ultimately the specifications will vary depending on the size of your library, but here are some key points to consider: 


  1. Your server should be based on a more powerful CPU and the Nucleus+ is an ideal platform. Other options include ROCK or Linux running on an Intel Core i7 or i9 CPU, Windows on a Core i7 or i9 CPU, or macOS on a Core i7, i9, or Apple Silicon CPU.
  2. You will need sufficient RAM for Roon as well as any other tasks the machine may perform. We recommend 8GB as a minimum for Roon in addition to the base RAM for the machine. For Linux, Windows, and macOS this will typically result in a system with 16GB RAM or more.
  3. As always we recommend a solid state drive (preferably NVMe) for the OS and Roon database.

Largest Libraries

If you have over 250K+ tracks in your library, consider us impressed! You’re among the top .01% of Roon users, and you have a library most of us could only dream of. 


With libraries this large, we expect the right hardware will work, but it's definitely not something that we test with in-house. Your best bet will be to get a beefy Roon OS setup with a fast new CPU and plenty of RAM, but a very high-spec system running Linux, Windows, or macOS can work just as well.


We strongly recommend you engage with members of our user community when making any hardware purchase decisions for a very large library. There you will find a number of music collectors, like yourself, who have first-hand experience with getting the most out of Roon when the library track count is best represented in terms of fractions of a million tracks.

Remote Requirements

Remotes are used to control the UI of Roon, and since it isn’t doing the same amount of work as the server machine, the requirements are a little looser here. As long as your remote meets these requirements, you should be able to use Roon without issue: 


Desktops & Laptops


OS
CPU
RAM
GPU
Resolution
Windows 10
Intel Core i3
8GB
OpenGL 3.0
1920x1080+
macOS 10.15+
Intel Core i3
8GB 
N/A
1920x1080+

If also using the machine as a server, the recommendations for the server machine must also be met

We support a wide range of resolutions, but we recommend at least 1920x1080 or better for best results


Android


Device Type
Android Version
CPU
RAM
GPU 
Size
Tablet
8.0+
ARM or x86 based
2GB
OpenGL ES 3.0
8 inches +
Phone
8.0+
ARM or x86 based
2GB
OpenGL ES 3.0
< 8 inches

Android devices that are at least 8 inches run the full Roon interface. Tablets smaller than 8 inches run an interface designed for smaller screens and phones.

iOS


Device
iOS Version
iPhone
iOS 11+
iPad
iOS 11+



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