Wsomers
If the budget benchmark is $1K . ONLY music servers from scratch can seem pricey, given one needs to acquire a DAC and a PC which will output into a wideband interface.
If you own a $8K CDP.... servers might seem too cheap to bother with and merely toys.
All of this is about perspective. I've heard of CDPs costing over $15K! I've yet to hear of a home music server going for that kind of money!
Normally, merely adding a good DAC to ANY CDP, will be a step up all by itself.
Buying a more expensive CDP say in the $3-$4K range is the next logical step for bona fide or marked gains in digital sound. So If you sell the current CDP, the costs for slipping into the server world becomes more palatable.
The point of actual conversion from digital to analog is vitally important. The points where the info is transmitted are almost as vital and have their own criteria and higher hierarchy .
To date, Im in for roughly $3K. Including DAC, converter, PC, 2TB of networked Storage, cabling, and software. The performance levels Im getting are subjectively on par with those CDPs ranging from $4-6K & up .. and the flexibility I have is beyond any CDP capabilities.
But heres the real thing the true issue if you like what youre getting then keep doing what youre doing! If you dont like what youre getting and/or want to improve on it, change what you can . When you can.. as much as you can. Its really simple.
Want increased performance and your entire library at your fingertips? Its server time! If not, then youre already there!