Want to branch out from iTunes; several questions.

Roon has a Community Forum where you can ask whether your Mini has the processor and memory to run Roon.  My 2012 Mac Mini with an external firewire harddrive runs Roon fine but I dont ask it to upsample or do any DSP.  

I still use iTunes as a library manager.  I rip to AIFF uncompressed for compatibility using XLD, a free program.  The great thing (one of many great things) about Roon is that it reads your iTunes library without modifying it. 

If you can, get a Roon trial going on your Mini. Then by reading the forum and using your own experience and hearing, decide where you want your music files.  

Ripping SACDs will require special equipment and know how.  Good luck with that.  

wow, I used to have OP's set up until I went one box Streamer DAC

Thanks dbtom2,  I am reading through all of the info on Roon.  Has anyone used their NAS as a server?

@ymc226 Yes. Many many Roon users have their music files on a NAS.

Some also run Roon server from a NAS but there are definite minimums to the processors and memory needed to run Roon on a NAS.  Since I don’t use a NAS, I am not familiar with those minimum specs.  

My basic, novice, understanding is that an optimal setup is the have the Roon core with the library (database) on an SSD drive and the music files themselves can be on a remote NAS HDD. By remote, I mean in another room since the spinning disk will emit noise. Since my hearing isnt what it used to be, any disc whirring sounds from my Mini havent been loud enough to distract from my listening. YMMV.