How to Roon: Getting Started

How to Roon: Getting Started title page and showing the Roon software

Welcome to How to Roon — a new series designed to guide first-time users and the Roon-curious through the startup journey. If you’ve heard about Roon through gear reviews, social media, YouTube, audio forums, or a trial card with your latest gear purchase and questions are swirling in your mind, you’re in the right place! 

To start our series, we’ll answer the four questions we hear most often from newcomers to Roon. They are: 

  • What is Roon? 
  • How does Roon work? 
  • What does Roon do? 
  • And, Why do I need Roon? 

Whether you’re just starting or wondering what makes it unique, consider this your invitation to venture down the rabbit hole. Together, let’s explore how Roon reshapes our relationship with music.  

What is Roon? 

I’ve never been able to answer this question with a standard elevator pitch. To me, Roon is more than software — it’s an experience that brings music to life by reigniting the pure excitement that made me love music, and it continues to deepen that connection every day. Most people who use Roon have a similar response. While wonderfully descriptive and evocative, these answers don’t necessarily help people seeking a more straightforward explanation. So, then… 

Roon is music subscription software that organizes your entire music collection — both streaming libraries and personal music files — and lets you play it to audio devices around your home, filling your living space with sound. It provides audiophile-quality playback, detailed music information, simplified multi-room streaming capabilities, extensive sound processing tools, plus exclusive content and features.  

How does Roon work? 

The terminology used to describe a Roon setup has evolved over the years, but the basic concept remains the same. I’ll provide a quick overview here and go into greater detail in an upcoming article.  

Think of Roon like any streamlined three-piece audio system you’ve used before. There’s the main component that plays music (like an AV receiver or integrated amp), a remote control, and gear that produces sound (speakers, headphones, etc.). 

The three parts of a Roon setup are: 

  1. Roon Server (formally called Roon Core): Don’t let the word ‘server’ intimidate you — it’s simply the computer that runs your Roon software. Most folks start by installing Roon on a Windows or Mac laptop, which works beautifully! Picture Roon Server as the brain of your system. It manages your music library, handles playback and audio processing, and orchestrates your Roon experience. 
  1. Roon Apps: The Roon app is your universal remote; it’s how you control and connect to your Roon Server. Load it on your phone, tablet, or computer to browse your library, select music, and play it on audio gear throughout your home. Best of all, you can install the app on as many devices as you like.  
  1. Audio Devices: Roon turns the gear in your home into one unified audio system — from wireless speakers to a streamer feeding an integrated amp, headphone DACs, and countless other possibilities (when you install the Roon app on a device, it becomes audio gear, too)! Roon plays beautifully with everything: AirPlay, Chromecast, Sonos, and high-performance Roon Ready devices with Roon’s streaming tech built in. You can connect as many audio devices to Roon as you want! 

Despite some of the complex jargon floating around the internet, how Roon works is refreshingly simple. The Roon app on your devices controls your Roon Server, which plays music through audio gear around your home. You can also enjoy your favorite music and Roon’s best features on the go using the Roon ARC app.  

What does Roon do? 

This is difficult to answer without writing an epic ode, and even then, I couldn’t include everything. Roon excels in music discovery, offering deep insights into music history, artists’ careers, collaborations, and production credits. And you can instantly create playlists from your explorations — for instance, albums produced by specific individuals (Glyn Johns, Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin) or favorite artist collaborations (all recordings featuring Ron Carter & Tony Williams).  

Beyond its music management and organization capabilities, Roon is compatible with a sea of devices and helps you get the best performance out of your gear. It offers sophisticated audio and digital signal processing (DSP) features — too many to mention: room correction, sample rate conversion, parametric equalization, enhanced headphone listening, and comprehensive high-resolution audio format support. It lets you effortlessly fill your living space with music.  This combination of music management, discovery tools, and audiophile-grade processing features makes it particularly appealing for listeners who want both expanded control over their audio playback and a captivating, informative music exploration experience. 

Check out our Mastery Series flipbook for an extended tour of Roon’s features. 

And finally, we come to: Why do I need Roon? 

We could reiterate Roon’s features and benefits, but nothing beats empirical evidence. Music touches each listener differently. Its power lies in a mysterious space between sound and the soul that’s beyond language. Roon is a music wonderland loaded with attractions for audio adventurers of all stripes.  We invite you to explore it and discover the answer — experience Roon’s magic for yourself with our free 14-day trial