Kalista DreamPlay S and Kalista DreamPlay SC Open Up the World of Roon Music with Roon Ready Certification
Kalista DreamPlay S and Kalista DreamPlay SC, the reference streaming platforms from French manufacturer Métronome Technologie, now carry Roon Ready certification. The distinction lets both machines be discovered automatically on a home network and controlled directly from within Roon's software environment, whilst DreamPlay S remains a dedicated transport and DreamPlay SC ships with its D/A conversion built in. It is a practical upgrade for anyone whose listening habits already revolve around Roon's library tools, rather than a change to either unit's underlying architecture.
- Métronome Technologie's Kalista DreamPlay S and Kalista DreamPlay SC have gained Roon Ready certification, meaning both high-end streaming platforms are now recognised automatically on a home network and can be run as playback zones directly from Roon. Buyers still choose between DreamPlay S as a pure streaming transport paired with an outboard DAC, or DreamPlay SC with its integrated ESS ES9039MPRO converter on board, with a separate Roon licence and Roon Server required to make use of the feature.
Métronome Technologie has secured Roon Ready certification for the DreamPlay S and DreamPlay SC, the two newest streaming platforms in its Kalista range. According to the French manufacturer, the certification means both units can now be built into a Roon-based system and run as network players from within the software itself. That matters because Roon, developed by Roon Labs LLC., has built a loyal following among serious collectors precisely by rewarding this kind of engagement with a library — surfacing the links between albums, letting a listener wander from one to the next, and routing whatever is chosen straight out to the hi-fi rack.
Key Facts: Kalista DreamPlay S and Kalista DreamPlay SC
- Both models now carry Roon Ready certification
- Kalista DreamPlay S functions as a streaming transport; Kalista DreamPlay SC has an integrated D/A converter on board
- Network connectivity via Ethernet or WiFi
- A Roon Server and a valid Roon licence are required to run either unit with Roon
Roon Takes the Helm
Once a Roon Ready device is connected to the network, Roon finds it without any manual setup and, once activated, lists it as a ready-to-use audio zone — a single interface from which playback can then be steered. That plug-and-play behaviour comes courtesy of RAAT, or Roon Advanced Audio Transport, the transport technology at the heart of every Roon Ready certification issued by Roon Labs LLC. Because several Roon Ready devices can be addressed at once, the same certification also underpins synchronised, multi-room listening for anyone running more than one compatible component around the house.
The division of labour between the two Kalista models is unchanged by the update. Kalista DreamPlay S continues to hand digital-to-analogue conversion off to an external DAC, whereas Kalista DreamPlay SC carries its own conversion stage on board. Roon Ready certification alters neither of these designs; what it adds is a route into Roon and a place within a wider Roon-based music system.
The Main Benefits at a Glance
- Direct integration — both Kalista models can now be selected as playback targets from within Roon
- Automatic discovery — Roon locates compatible devices on the network without manual setup
- Unified control — track selection and playback are handled entirely through Roon
- Certified interoperability — the certification covers the integration of both hardware and software
- Multi-room capability — compatible Roon Ready devices can be played back in sync across several rooms
Price and Availability
Both models already appear on Kalista’s current product pages listed as Roon Ready. Making use of the software requires a separate Roon licence, whilst a Roon Server handles management of the music library and delivery of the audio data to connected zones.
Getting to the point
Being able to fold Kalista DreamPlay S and Kalista DreamPlay SC into a control environment listeners already know inside out is no small thing at this end of the HiFi market, where day-to-day convenience is so often sacrificed for outright performance. It is exactly this pairing of familiar software and reference-grade hardware that should make a Kalista streamer, courtesy of Métronome Technologie, a considerably easier recommendation for anyone whose collection already lives inside Roon.
| Product | Kalista DreamPlay S and Kalista DreamPlay SC |
|---|---|
| Price | DreamPlay S € 39.900,- DreamPlay SC € 44.900,- |
Technical Specifications
| Product | Kalista DreamPlay S | Kalista DreamPlay SC |
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation | Dedicated high-end streaming player | High-end streaming player with integrated reference DAC |
| Streaming resolution | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD256 native | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD256 native |
| Digital outputs | S/PDIF, AES/EBU, I2S | S/PDIF, AES/EBU, I2S |
| S/PDIF | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD128 via DoP | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD128 via DoP |
| AES/EBU | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD128 via DoP | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD128 via DoP |
| I2S | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD256 native | Linear PCM 32 Bit 44.1 to 384 kHz, DSD64 to DSD256 native |
| Analogue outputs | Not fitted | XLR balanced, RCA unbalanced |
| D/A converter | Not integrated | ESS ES9039MPRO |
| THD+N (DAC) | Not applicable | -122 dB |
| Dynamic range (DAC) | Not applicable | 137 dB |
| Network | Dual-band WiFi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Ethernet 10/100/1,000 Mbit/s | Dual-band WiFi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Ethernet 10/100/1,000 Mbit/s |
| USB | 1x USB 2.0 for external storage media | 1x USB 2.0 for external storage media |
| Streaming services and protocols | DLNA/UPnP, Audirvāna, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready, Deezer, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, vTuner | DLNA/UPnP, Audirvāna, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready, Deezer, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, vTuner |
| MQA | MQA Renderer up to 32 Bit and 384 kHz | MQA Renderer up to 32 Bit and 384 kHz |
| Accessories | Anti-vibration Silent Base, Classic Tripod furniture | Anti-vibration Silent Base, Classic Tripod furniture |
| Power consumption | 60 W | 60 W |
| Operating temperature | +5 to +35 °C | +5 to +35 °C |
| Operating humidity | 5 to 90 percent | 5 to 90 percent |
| Weight, Drive unit | 14 kg | 14 kg |
| Weight, Elektra unit | 13.6 kg | 13.6 kg |
| Dimensions, Drive unit | 445 x 120 x 420 mm | 445 x 120 x 420 mm |
| Dimensions, Elektra unit | 420 x 70 x 430 mm | 420 x 70 x 430 mm |
| Finishes | Black Pearl Finish, Diamond Finish | Black Pearl Finish, Diamond Finish |
| Brand | Kalista |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Métronome Technologie |
| Distribution Austria | Audio Exclusive GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
