Introduction – Why I Built My Own Music Server
Over the past decade, I’ve tested everything from affordable streamers to boutique devices costing thousands. Some of them sounded great, no question—but others left me frustrated. One of the biggest pain points? The software.
Many commercial streamers come with clunky apps, unintuitive interfaces, or limited configuration options. And no matter how nice the hardware is, if the software isn’t stable, fast, or user-friendly, the whole experience falls apart. I’ve seen it happen more than once.
Take something like the WiiM Mini or WiiM Pro: they’re great value, and the hardware is more than capable—but you still rely heavily on external servers for local playback, and the control app feels basic compared to platforms like Roon or even a well-configured moOde setup.
That’s when I realized: if I care about flexibility, stability, and long-term usability, I need to take control of the software stack myself. That’s how I got into building my own music servers.
Not because I wanted to be “DIY for the sake of it,” but because I wanted a system where I decide how it behaves, what it supports, and how I interact with it—not some company that may or may not update its app next year.
It turns out that building your own music server isn’t just more powerful—it’s also surprisingly satisfying. And often more stable than the stuff you’d pay four figures for.
Possible Uses Of Your Music Server
Before you decide which hardware or software to use, you need to define what exactly you expect your server to handle. Not everyone needs the same setup—some just want to stream from a NAS, others want full-blown DSP and multi-zone control. Here’s a breakdown of the most common use cases I’ve seen (and used myself):
Roon Core
If you use Roon—which I do—then your server needs to run Roon Core, the central database that manages your entire library. It handles metadata, streaming, DSP (like upsampling), and distributes audio to endpoints (like a Pi or Eversolo) via RAAT.
Examples: A fanless Intel NUC running Roon ROCK or an Ubuntu-based server running Roon Server. Alternatively, a Synology NAS (with Docker and some tweaking).
Important: Roon Core needs a bit of CPU and RAM, especially if you enable DSP or multi-room.
HQPlayer Backend
For listeners chasing ultimate fidelity, HQPlayer is an advanced upsampling engine that pushes PCM or DSD streams to ultra-high resolutions—if your DAC supports it. Your server would then run HQPlayer Desktop or Embedded, connects to an endpoint via NAA (like a Pi) or sends upsampled audio (often DSD256 or higher) to your DAC
Example setup:
• Intel NUC or fanless mini-PC
• HQPlayer Embedded running on DietPi or Ubuntu
• NAA endpoint (e.g. Raspberry Pi with DietPi NAA)
This use case needs a beefier CPU and good thermal stability. Not Pi territory.
DLNA / UPnP Library & Streaming
You want your music stored on the server and accessible from various apps or network players? Then you’ll likely be running MinimServer, Logitech Media Server (LMS), or something like Plex or Asset UPnP.
Examples:
• Synology NAS with MinimServer installed
• DietPi server with LMS and Squeezelite endpoints
• Windows-based server running JRiver Media Center
This is a great middle ground if you don’t want Roon but still want rich metadata and multi-device playback.
AirPlay / Spotify / TIDAL Connect Receiver
Some server software (like Volumio or moOde) can also act as receivers for streaming protocols.
Examples:
• Volumio with Spotify Connect, AirPlay, and TIDAL plugins
• MoOde with shairport-sync and librespot
• A Pi running DietPi with Spotifyd
Keep in mind: these are often better on endpoints, but your server can also handle them if it’s a headless, always-on machine.
Local Playback (Stand-Alone Server with DAC)
Sometimes, you just want a self-contained player that hosts music and plays it via USB directly to a DAC. No network streaming, no endpoints—just one box that does everything.
Examples:
• Volumio running on a Pi with internal SSD and Allo Boss2 DAC
• Fanless PC with MPD outputting to USB DAC
• Mini-PC running Audirvana and connected to your HiFi system
Great if you want zero dependency on external apps or servers.
Is a Raspberry PI a Good Music Server?
Before you start buying parts or reusing old gear, it’s important to understand what a music server actually does – and how that’s different from an audio endpoint like a Raspberry Pi.
An audio endpoint (e.g. a Raspberry Pi running Roon Bridge or moOde) is like a receiver: it takes the audio stream and hands it off to your DAC.
A music server, by contrast, is the brain. It manages your library, fetches metadata, runs DSP, and communicates with clients across your network.
So if you’re building a music server, you need something that can stay on 24/7, handle file access, stream content smoothly—and ideally do this without crashing, overheating, or annoying you with fan noise.
Option 1: Intel NUC or Fanless Mini-PC
This is my preferred route. A small, efficient PC with an SSD and silent case gives you enough power to run Roon Core, HQPlayer, LMS or whatever else you want They’re compact, reliable, and widely supported.
Recommended specs:
• Intel i3 or i5 (10th gen or newer)
• 8–16 GB RAM
• 256–512 GB SSD (NVMe preferred)
• Optional: fanless case (Akasa, Streacom), linear PSU
Option 2: Repurposed Laptop or Desktop
Got an old PC lying around? It might be good enough—if it meets a few conditions. For instance, it should have an SSD (don’t bother with spinning drives), ensure stable thermals (overheating will result in instability). Also ensure quiet fans or passive cooling. You probably don’t want background noise to disturb your listening pleasure. I don’t recommend using laptops long term unless you really know what you’re doing. They tend to sleep, throttle performance, or fail thermally under 24/7 load. Still, it’s a good place to start testing.
Option 3: NAS (e.g. Synology)
Yes, you can run your music server on a NAS—if it supports 64-bit apps and has enough CPU power.
For Synology users, install the MinimServer or Plex Media Server package for DLNA/UPnP playback. If using Roon, install Roon Server via Docker (not officially supported but works well on powerful models like the DS920 (advertisement link)+)
Just keep in mind: NAS systems are usually optimized for storage, not real-time audio processing. You might be better off keeping your files on the NAS and running your actual server (Roon, HQPlayer, etc.) elsewhere.
Option 4: Raspberry Pi (for endpoints only!)
I’ve built dozens of Pi setups, and they’re fantastic—as endpoints. But for server duties I don’t recommend them. The Pi lacks the CPU headroom and I/O bandwidth for serious library management or multi-zone streaming. Still, it’s a great companion to any proper server setup.
My Recommended Build (2025 Edition)
If I had to start all over again, here’s what I recommend today for an audiophile server that has enough power and capabilities for Roon or UpnP or simply as a storage backend:
• Intel NUC 11 i5 or higher
• 8–16 GB DDR4 RAM
• 256–512 GB NVMe SSD
• Akasa or Streacom fanless case
• Optional: linear PSU (for extreme setups)
This build can run Roon Core + HQPlayer without breaking a sweat and still fit in your media rack.
My Own Personal Server Setup
Over the years, my setup has evolved quite a bit—mostly out of a desire to simplify things while keeping sound quality and flexibility high.
I started out using a second-hand Lenovo ThinkPad, running Linux and later Roon Core. It worked, but it wasn’t ideal. The fan was noisy, the battery was dying, and I had to fight with power-saving settings just to keep it running reliably 24/7. It was a good low-budget entry into the world of music servers—but far from elegant.
Eventually, I moved my music files to a Synology DS218j NAS. It was quiet, efficient, and great for file storage. I kept Roon Core running on a separate PC, which worked well in terms of performance, but it meant juggling two systems: one for storage, another for playback control. It added complexity I didn’t want long-term.
Most recently, I built a setup based on an Intel NUC (fanless) with SSD storage. That machine runs Roon Server just fine. And I get to control all the aspects of library and playback management. Everything is in one place now.
This setup simplified my chain dramatically. No more managing two devices, no more noisy laptops, and no more waiting for the NAS to wake up. It just works exactly the way I want it.
I use my Eversolo DMP-A8 (advertisement link) as my primary DAC and all-in-one network player—but the NUC is the brain of my system. For casual listening or experiements (hey, I’m a tweaker), I still run Raspberry Pi’s as lightweight Roon or AirPlay endpoints.
What Comes Next?
Check out my DAC Buyers Guide or Raspberry Pi Setup Guide to complete your system.
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