We are often asked why you should upgrade your Small Green Computer sonicTransporter Music Server to Sonicorbiter Operating System Version 2.9.  Below is a quick summary as well as detailed updates and changes from Sonicorbiter Operating System V2.8 to V2.9  

Summary of Additional Services now available:

• Lyrion Music Server (formerly Logitech Media Server)

• Roon ARC access (Tailscale)

• HQPlayer 5.X compatibility

• Audirvana (We are now an Audirvana partner company)

How to upgrade:

• To receive the V2.9 upgrade, your sonicTransporter must be shipped to Small Green Computer.  The charge to upgrade to V2.9 is $100 plus the cost of shipping (both ways).   Upgrades often include bug fixes tailored to audiophile workflows like Roon, HQPlayer, and library management. If you're on an older version, SGC ALWAYS recommends backing up your configuration before upgrading.

• If you are interested in upgrading, please fill out the “Contact Us” form on our website to begin the process.  Please reference V2.9 SonicTransporter upgrade in your comments to us.  We will then reach out with specific directions and an invoice to get the process rolling.   

Below. we outline the key differences between V2.8  and V2.9. These versions were rolled out relatively recently (V2.8 in late 2022, V2.9 in mid-2023), with V2.9  being the current stable release for most SonicTransporter music server models. Note that SGC provides these updates via their web dashboard to reach V2.8. 

Details of upgrades and changes:

### Overview of the Versions

- **V2.8 (Released: Approximately October 2022)**: This was a maintenance-focused update building on V2.7, emphasizing stability for Roon Core operations and basic NAS functions. It introduced minor enhancements for network reliability and audio format support but was seen as an incremental step rather than a major overhaul.

- **V2.9 (Released: Approximately June 2023; Current Stable Version)**: This is a more significant update, addressing user feedback from V2.8 while adding new features for better integration with modern audio software and hardware. It's designed to future-proof the OS for newer Intel processors (e.g., 12th/13th Gen in recent SonicTransporter models) and includes optimizations for high-res audio streaming. V2.9 is recommended for all users unless specified otherwise by SGC support.

### Key Differences Between V2.8 and V2.9

Here's a breakdown of the main changes, categorized for clarity. These are derived from SGC's official changelog and support articles:

1. **Performance and Stability Improvements**:

   - **V2.8**: Focused on resolving intermittent network dropouts during long playback sessions (e.g., fixed a kernel-level Ethernet driver issue affecting Gigabit connections). It also improved CPU efficiency for idle states, reducing power draw by ~5-10% on fanless models, which helps maintain lower operating temperatures and noise floors.

   - **V2.9**: Builds on this with broader optimizations, including an updated Linux kernel (from 5.15 in V2.8 to 6.1 in V2.9) for better multi-core utilization on i7/i9 processors. This results in 15-20% faster library scanning and metadata processing for large collections (e.g., 50TB+ libraries). It also includes enhanced error handling for SSD wear-leveling, reducing the risk of data corruption in RAID setups. Users report fewer reboots during heavy transcoding (e.g., with HQPlayer).

2. **Roon Integration and Compatibility**:

   - **V2.8**: Added support for Roon 1.8 features like improved multi-room sync and basic DSP engine tweaks. It fixed a bug where Roon Core would occasionally fail to detect external endpoints (e.g., via UPnP).

   - **V2.9**: Significantly enhances Roon compatibility, with native support for Roon 2.0 (released in 2023), including tidal integration improvements and better handling of Roon ARC (remote access). It introduces a new "Roon Optimizer" tool in the dashboard for automatic tuning of buffer sizes and latency, which can improve sound quality in high-res setups (e.g., DSD over network). Additionally, V2.9 resolves V2.8's occasional sync issues with Roon endpoints like the SonicTransporter's built-in NAA (Network Audio Adapter).

3. **HQPlayer and Audio Playback Enhancements**:

   - **V2.8**: Included basic HQPlayer Server 4.x support with fixes for upsampling glitches on older Intel chips. It added clock synchronization tweaks to minimize jitter for bit-perfect playback.

   - **V2.9**: Upgrades to full HQPlayer 5.x compatibility, enabling advanced features like matrix processing and higher sample rates (up to DSD1024 natively). It introduces a dedicated "Audio Isolation Mode" that further reduces electrical noise by prioritizing audio traffic on the network stack, potentially improving measurable audio quality (e.g., lower THD in downstream DACs). V2.9 also fixes a V2.8 regression where HQPlayer NAA would drop connections during firmware updates.

4. **User Interface and Management Tools**:

   - **V2.8**: Updated the web dashboard with a refreshed UI for easier drive status monitoring 

   - **V2.9**: Overhauls the dashboard with a more intuitive mobile-responsive design, including real-time monitoring graphs for CPU, network, and audio stream metrics. 

5. **Bug Fixes and Compatibility**:

   - **V2.8**: Primarily fixed issues like USB 3.0 port instability with external DACs and Wi-Fi adapter compatibility for models with wireless options.

   - **V2.9**: Addresses more V2.8-specific bugs, such as intermittent crashes during firmware flashes and compatibility with newer peripherals (e.g., 10GbE SFP+ modules). It also includes broader support for ARM-based endpoints (e.g., Raspberry Pi integrations) and fixes for DLNA/UPnP discovery in multi-vendor setups.

 

6. **Other Notable Changes**:

   - **Size and Installation**: Both versions are similar in footprint (~500MB), but V2.9 requires a clean install for optimal performance. V2.8 was more forgiving for upgrades from V2.7.

   - **Power and Efficiency**: V2.9 edges out with better suspend/resume handling, saving an additional 2-3W in low-activity modes.

   - **Known Limitations**: V2.8 had some reported issues with 10GbE on certain switches (fixed in V2.9).

### Recommendations for Upgrading

- **Should You Upgrade from V2.8 to V2.9?** Yes, if you're using Roon 2.0, HQPlayer 5.x, or dealing with large libraries— the performance gains and stability improvements are worthwhile. SGC notes that V2.9 is backward-compatible, but test your setup post-upgrade. If your system is stable on V2.8 and you're on older hardware, it might not be urgent.

- **How to Check your software version**: Log into your SonicTransporter's web interface at http://sonicorbiter.com and click the "Manage" link for your music server.  Your current software version will be listed.