Why I Use Audirvana

Over the years, I’ve tested quite a few software solutions for music playback — from basic USB output on a PC to full-blown Roon setups. And while I still use Roon as my main system, there’s one alternative that’s quietly impressive: Audirvana Studio.

What I like about it is its simplicity and local-first approach. You don’t need a separate server, no subscription (if you use the Origin version), and it gives you direct access to your local files, Qobuz, and Tidal. It runs directly on your Mac or PC and can be controlled remotely via an app. For many, that’s all they really need.

I’ve used Audirvana on my Mac in combination with a Raspberry Pi endpoint and my Eversolo DMP-A8 (advertisement link) DAC. It’s stable, sounds great, and offers a clean user experience without cloud dependency or complex server architecture. In this article, I’ll show you how it works, how I’ve set it up — and how you can easily replicate a similar system.

Audirvana Studio Basics

Audirvana Studio is a desktop-based music player for audiophiles. It’s available for both Windows and macOS and focuses on two things: bit-perfect playback and a clean interface for managing your music — whether local files or streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal.

Unlike Roon, Audirvana doesn’t require a separate server or backend. Everything runs directly on your computer. That makes it easier to set up and ideal for anyone who prefers a simpler, lightweight system without networked dependencies.

The software handles most high-resolution formats, including PCM, FLAC, and DSD. It includes a powerful upsampling engine, customizable filter options, and even integrates with system-level audio plug-ins for users who like to fine-tune.

Audirvana also includes UPnP/DLNA output, which allows you to stream audio to network renderers like a Raspberry Pi or a dedicated streamer. While it doesn’t offer Roon’s proprietary RAAT protocol or multi-room features, it’s surprisingly stable over UPnP with the right setup.

There are two main versions: Audirvana Studio (subscription) and Audirvana Origin (one-time purchase, no streaming). I use the Studio version because it supports Tidal and Qobuz integration — which makes it a great all-in-one player when I’m not using Roon.

How to Use a Raspberry Pi as a Network Endpoint for Audirvana

One of the great things about Audirvana is that it supports UPnP/DLNA output — which means you can stream your audio to a networked device like a Raspberry Pi. I’ve done this myself, and it’s a great way to keep noisy computers away from your DAC.

To set this up, you’ll need a Raspberry Pi (any model from 3B+ or newer is fine) and a lightweight OS that includes a UPnP renderer. Good choices include moOde Audio or Volumio. Once installed, just enable the UPnP option in their settings and connect the Pi via USB to your DAC.

From Audirvana’s settings, you can now select the Pi as an output device — it will show up as a UPnP/DLNA renderer. Playback is usually stable, and latency isn’t an issue for music listening. Just be aware that you won’t get full Roon-like synchronization or DSP control over the network.

This setup is ideal if your Mac or PC is in a different room and you want a quiet, low-power endpoint near your DAC. I’ve tested it with both moOde and Volumio, and both work well as Audirvana endpoints. The audio signal is clean, and with proper power (I use a good 5V supply), the Pi introduces no audible problems.

Setup Example – My Configuration

In my current setup, I use Audirvana Studio on a Macbook Air M1. It’s silent, stable, and easy to keep updated — and since Audirvana runs locally, I don’t need any complex server infrastructure.

For the endpoint, I use a Raspberry Pi 4 running moOde Audio. The Pi is connected via USB to my Eversolo DMP-A8 (advertisement link), which handles USB input extremely well. The Pi is powered by a good-quality 5V supply and connected via Ethernet to ensure stable playback.

This way, my A8 is physically isolated from the computer, and there are no fans, no hard drives spinning near the listening position — just pure networked playback. I control everything with the Audirvana Remote app on my iPad, which works flawlessly.

I’ve tried other setups before — including streaming directly from the Mac to the DAC — but I prefer this networked approach. It gives me more flexibility and lets me keep my DAC setup clean and focused. And honestly: there’s no audible difference between this and my Roon setup, which says a lot about how far Audirvana has come.

Is Audirvana for You?

If you’re looking for a clean, no-nonsense solution to manage your music library and stream from services like Qobuz or Tidal — without diving into complex multi-device systems — Audirvana is a strong choice. It’s lightweight, requires no separate core or database, and sounds just as good as far more expensive setups.

Compared to Roon, it lacks features like multi-room, DSP (although the newest version has it now) or rich metadata browsing. But for focused, high-quality playback and UPnP streaming, it gets the job done. Especially if you value a local-first approach and don’t want another subscription tied to the cloud.

In my experience, pairing Audirvana with a Raspberry Pi endpoint is an elegant and cost-effective solution. It keeps your DAC away from noisy computers and gives you stable, high-resolution playback over your network — without needing to invest in dedicated streamers or bridges.