Best server to use WITHOUT Roon

Lumin, Aurender and Innuos are all considered top notch server brands and I believe they all have their own controller apps. I can’t say which would work best for you.

What streamer are you using and do you have a wireless component in your chain?  I use SGC and Roon and have not had any problems.  I also us a Bricasti M3 DAC with network card.  It sounds like you are having network drops and have not buffering built into your streamer.  Just a thought. 

I cannot imagine listening without Roon. I have discovered SO much new music and so many artists due to the hyperlinks and text information. I use an SGC core/server and it's been reliable, but for one issue that only took a shipment back to Andrew to get fixed (I should have a NUC for backup core). 

If I didn't use Roon, I would probably get an Aurender, because their Composer app is excellent. I have heard some reports of their units "bricking" though (and that was from a dealer!). Not sure how common it is.

Mr Drone

I also use a SGC as my Roon server. I have not ever encountered the wonks you stated. I have found Andrew at SGC readily accessible. I hope you solve your issues. I really enjoy streaming audio and Roon is like accessing a 24/7 Music Store 

@mdrone You do know you're Sonictransporter not limited to Roon only. You can use JRiver, Audirvana or any number of players with it. Also, you could try Euphony Stylus Endpoint and/or core which is superimposed upon Roon, supposedly superior sound quality to Roon.

You could also check out Volumio :

@ghdprentice Every streamer or server is a computer. As I understand it, Aurrender holds to minimal processor model as being best, interesting. I can understand the logic of this, but means one cannot use any dsp. Not making judgmental here, just stating factual.

For less than the price of Roon lifetime subscription you can use the RaspberryPI4 and PI2AES HAT and with several of the PI media players you can build a top notch streamer platform.

I would say Aurender makes the best streamers. Widely known to have the best software: Conductor. Cutting the PC out of the loop can vastly increase sound quality. 

My vote is for Wyred 4 sound.

@mdrone Roon has no universal or global software issues the vast majority of time. Issues are individual and anecdotal, usually network issues.

I've had a single issue in many years of usage. In my case, using Fire tablet as remote, Amazon didn't keep up with updating Fire downloads for Roon Remote, as a result remote became unstable. Ended up switching to Android Tablet, no more problems.

You should speak to Andrew at SMG to determine issue.

If you're determined to quit Roon, you're pretty much on own, even the servers with proprietary music OS use Roon as library/interface for those OS. I've used Audirvana in past, the new studio looks good, I bet sounds good as well. You need to have latest OS on server to run Studio.

I'm not aware of a single ready to use server that doesn't use Roon, you'll have to diy configure any other music player.

Give it time......

I've been a Roon user for 2 years and I've never had anything but minor issues.

Server is on x86 / Ubuntu LTS, player on pi 4, phones are Android.

I use Quboz and Tidal and my own modest 650 CD library. I'm very happy with it.