Why Stream from Your Own Music Server Instead of a Phone?

If you’re like me, you’ve probably streamed music from your phone or tablet for years. It’s convenient, fast, and (most of the time) good enough. But once you start investing in better gear—a proper DAC, high-quality headphones, or a decent speaker setup—you’ll eventually notice the weak links in that chain.

For one, your phone or laptop simply isn’t built for clean, uninterrupted audio streaming. It’s handling Bluetooth, app updates, notifications, Wi-Fi handoffs, and power management—all of which can introduce noise, dropouts, or limitations in format support. Not to mention: you’re stuck with whatever OS-level resampling or background processes the manufacturer throws at you.

That’s when it’s good to know how to get your favorite streaming service straight to your DAC via a streamer. There’s just too many ways and methods to choose from.

A good streamer will allow you to stream lossless audio (FLAC, ALAC, even DSD) from services like TIDAL or Qobuz. It will also act as a central hub for all your playback devices via Roon, AirPlay, or UPnP. Finally – and that one is crucial – give you a clean, stable, and silent digital transport to your DAC—often with better timing and format support than a general-purpose computer

Even if you’re using something as small as a Raspberry Pi or an old NUC, the difference in usability and flexibility is massive once it’s properly set up.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to stream from TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music or even Apple Music using your own music server, which software options work best, and what hardware combinations I personally recommend – based on my own experience.

TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify – and What About Apple Music or Amazon Music?

If you’re planning to use a music server, you’re probably after sound quality, flexibility, or both. So choosing the right streaming service isn’t just about playlists or UI – it’s about formats, integration, and long-term support.

Here’s a breakdown of the major players:

Spotify

Let’s start with the most popular one. Spotify is great for casual listening, has a massive library, and works everywhere—from your phone to your car. It does have limitations though for serious audiophiles.

• Max quality: 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis (no lossless)
• No support for bit-perfect streaming
• Works via Spotify Connect, AirPlay, or Bluetooth
• No native integration with high-end music server platforms

TIDAL

TIDAL used to be known for MQA (which is now being phased out). The good news: TIDAL now offers standard FLAC-based lossless and high-res streaming.

• Max quality: up to 24-bit / 192 kHz FLAC
• Excellent Roon integration (bit-perfect)
• Works with Volumio, LMS, Audirvana, and others
• Connects to endpoints via Roon, USB, AirPlay, or UPnP

Qobuz

Qobuz doesn’t do any lossy streaming—everything is at least CD quality, and much of the catalog is available in high-resolution.

• Max quality: up to 24-bit / 192 kHz FLAC
• Pure lossless—no compression tricks
• Native integration with Roon, Audirvana, LMS, and some Pi-based OSes

Apple Music

Now supports lossless and hi-res lossless, but with major caveats:

• Max quality: up to 24-bit / 192 kHz ALAC
• Playback of hi-res only possible via Apple devices + external DAC
• No Roon support, no open API for server software
• Streams via AirPlay (limited to 16-bit / 44.1 kHz)

If you’re in the Apple ecosystem and want lossless playback through a USB DAC connected to your Mac, it works well. But Apple Music is not friendly for headless or networked streaming setups. It works right out of the box though with my Eversolo DMP-A8 (advertisement link). Another workable method I advocate, is using a USB-C or Lightning from your iPhone or iPad (depending on which iPhone or iPad generation you own) and plug it straight into your DAC. This allows you to take full advantage of Apple Music’s high-res playback in bit-perfect fashion.

Amazon Music HD / Unlimited

Supports lossless and hi-res—but is poorly integrated into third-party software.
• Max quality: up to 24-bit / 192 kHz FLAC
• Limited integration: No support in Roon, Volumio, or LMS
• Mobile apps and PC playback only
• No public API for server implementation

You can make it work via Bluetooth or AirPlay, but again: no bit-perfect streaming, no real server integration.

If you’re building a music server with flexibility in mind, TIDAL and Qobuz are the most future-proof choices. They integrate directly with headless servers, support bit-perfect streaming, and offer wide compatibility with platforms like Roon, Volumio, and MoOde.

How They Integrate with Music Servers

Here’s the key: all three services can be streamed through a music server—but not all are created equal when it comes to native, high-quality playback.

Roon offers the best overall experience for both Qobuz and TIDAL: it’s bit-perfect, responsive, and highly customizable. Volumio and MoOde support TIDAL and Qobuz via plug-ins or premium subscriptions. LMS (Logitech Media Server) supports all three with some community work (via plug-ins). AirPlay or UPnP can be used to stream from your iPhone, Mac, or iPad to a Raspberry Pi or network streamer – but quality will be limited (AirPlay is capped at 16/44.1).

If you’re just testing the waters, streaming Spotify from your phone via AirPlay to a Pi endpoint can be a great first step. But once you go Roon or native FLAC streaming, you won’t go back.

Streaming via Roon Core

After trying various solutions over the years, I always end up coming back to Roon. Why? Because it simply works. It’s the most polished and flexible way to stream high-res music from services like TIDAL and Qobuz, while managing your local files, radio stations, and metadata in a single, unified interface.

A Roon Core acts as the brain of your setup. You install it on a small PC, Intel NUC, or server (in my case, I now run it directly on my music server). It handles your library, organizes artwork and metadata, and streams bit-perfect audio to your DAC or endpoint—whether wired or wireless.

What Makes Roon So Useful?

• Bit-perfect playback of FLAC, ALAC, WAV, DSD
• Built-in support for TIDAL and Qobuz
• Supports multi-room audio over your network
• Seamless gapless playback, upsampling, EQ and DSP
• Works with virtually any DAC, streamer, or even Raspberry Pi endpoint

If you’re serious about integrating streaming services into a home audio setup, nothing comes close. Especially when you want to keep your music server headless, but still want full control via phone or tablet.

Roon + Raspberry Pi = Powerful Combo

I’ve run Roon endpoints on Raspberry Pis using Ropieee and DietPI, a minimal OS that auto-configures your Pi as a Roon-ready device. It just boots up, connects to the network, and waits for the Core to stream music to it.

Connect the Pi via USB to any DAC (I personally use it as a secondary source to my Eversolo DMP-A8 (advertisement link)), and you’ve got a reliable, silent streamer that sounds great and doesn’t cost much.

You can install Roon Core on:
• A dedicated Intel NUC (Roon ROCK OS)
• A Linux PC or Mac you already have
• A NAS like Synology (requires more setup)
• Even inside VMs or containers, if you’re comfortable with Linux

In my case, I started with a used ThinkPad running Linux and later migrated to a Synology DS218j for storage and Roon Core on a separate PC. Eventually, I simplified it all by moving everything to a compact NUC – NAS and Core in one.

If you’re looking for a high-quality streaming solution with zero guesswork, Roon is what I’d recommend. Yes, it’s a paid service—but the stability, sound quality, and ecosystem integration are worth it.

Volumio, MoOde & LMS – Streaming Without Roon

Roon is great, but let’s be honest: not everyone wants to pay a monthly subscription. If you’re building a music server on a budget—or you just prefer open-source tools—there are solid alternatives. Over the years, I’ve tested all of them, and while none are as polished as Roon, some come pretty close if you’re willing to tinker a bit.

Let’s go through the best options:

Volumio (My Top Pick Without Roon)

Volumio is probably the most accessible and polished option. It runs on Raspberry Pi, PC, or even on certain streamers like the Primo or mini PCs.
• User-friendly web interface
• Native support for TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, and Internet Radio
• Supports USB DACs, I2S HATs, and HDMI output
• Has an iOS and Android app (but web UI works fine too)
• Optional MyVolumio subscription for advanced plugins & streaming integration

Volumio is plug-and-play for beginners—but it also allows for customization if you want to dig deeper.

MoOde Audio Player

MoOde is another Pi-based OS that’s more lightweight and geared toward DIY tinkerers.
• Supports local library playback and network shares
• Works with UPnP, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect
• Advanced DSP and parametric EQ options
• More technical setup than Volumio—but also more flexible in some ways

I like MoOde for minimal builds where I don’t need native TIDAL or Qobuz support—but still want clean, low-level control over playback.

Logitech Media Server (LMS)

Yes, it’s still alive—and still great.Originally developed for the old Squeezebox streamers, LMS now runs on almost anything: NAS, Pi, PC, or Docker. With the right plugins, you can get access to:

• TIDAL, Qobuz, and Spotify
• Web-based UI with tons of skins and control apps
• Multi-room playback
• Gapless and bit-perfect output

The community around LMS is impressive, and it’s still one of the most powerful platforms—if you’re willing to dive into plugin management

My Recommendation:

If you want:
• Plug & play → Use Volumio
• Open-source minimalism → Try MoOde
• Maximum flexibility (and don’t mind some config work) → LMS

They’re all free to try and run perfectly on a Raspberry Pi. Just plug in your DAC via USB and start streaming.

Using a Raspberry Pi as a Streaming Endpoint

If you’re building a music server setup, chances are you’ll want one or more streaming endpoints—small devices that receive audio from your server and send it to your DAC or amp. For this task, nothing beats the Raspberry Pi in terms of flexibility, price, and performance.

I’ve used several over the years, and it still amazes me how well they perform for under €100. The Pi is quiet, efficient, and supports everything from USB DACs to I2S HATs, making it ideal for streaming high-quality audio into your system.

Common Use Cases for Raspberry Pi as an Endpoint

Roon Endpoint (Ropieee)

This is what I personally use in my system. I keep my Eversolo DMP-A8 (advertisement link) as the main DAC and source, but I have a Pi 4 running Ropieee connected via USB as a Roon endpoint. It auto-discovers the Roon Core and just works.

Volumio or MoOde Standalone Streamer

Install Volumio or MoOde on the Pi, plug in a USB DAC or HAT DAC, and you’ve got a full-featured streamer with:
• TIDAL / Qobuz / Spotify Connect
• UPnP and AirPlay support
• Web interface and remote control from any device

Perfect for active speaker setups or headphone stations.

AirPlay / UPnP Renderer

Want to stream from your iPhone or Mac? The Pi can act as a network receiver for AirPlay (via shairport-sync) or UPnP (via mpd/upmpdcli or other tools). Great for casual listening and guest-friendly setups.

HQPlayer NAA (Network Audio Adapter)

For the hardcore crowd: you can run the Pi as a network endpoint for HQPlayer, which allows oversampling and DSP to be done on the main server. Not plug-and-play, but very powerful.

You control everything from your phone or tablet. Even a simple Amazon Kindle Fire works if you don’t own a tablet or prefer having a dedicated device without spending unnecessary cash.