Ready For Digital Source...Computer?

I used PCs for a bit, Mac and Windows.  You can achieve good sound.  A software program such as Audirvana Plus really helps, because it attempts to shut down the rest of the computer and leave music playing part, as well as providing a GUI to manage your music.

   Otoh--it can be a pain switching out of Audirvana Plus when you need to use the computer for non music functions.  Frequently I had to reboot several times, which is annoying when you have a task that you have to perform.

  If your present computer is still breathing, you may want to use it exclusively as a music server until  it croaks, and use the new computer for everything else.  However, if I understand the OP, he or she needs a DAC.  I would just buy a DAC/Streamer for a few hundred bucks more and get an inexpensive PC.  Computers are designed to be obsolete in a few years, and you might have issues with Mac or Windows updates suddenly bricking your PC, then there goes your server.  A dedicated streamer is probably more durable and less likely to meet that kind of fate

Why would you want to use a computer to control your music? 

Too bulky. 

Just buy a streamer and control it with your phone. 

Much smarter. 

If you search, i have posted pages of posts on making digital good - its more than buying box(es).

You'll need both a server and a DAC.  What have you tried? what are your sound objectives?

You say "no Roon". Roon actually would be a srong suggestion of mine.  It wouldbe good to knwo your objection:  price i presume?  Certainyl not sound ( if done right).

I personally run Roon, on a dedicated server with a DIY LPS, to a raspberry Pi bridge with TWO DIY LPSes (one for the "dirty" RPi and one for the "clean USB I/F, isolated).  And into a DAC which cna generate tons of sunsubsantiated suggestions :-)  I have several - some ancient to whcih i have added USB and clocking, two new, mid priced, and punch way above their weight IMO.

You comment re: Spotify tells me sound may not be that high a priority.  There are so many better services out there. Like witgh cooking, you cannt make the best disjh from poor ingredients - and compressed music locks in mediocirty regardless of how much you spend later. 

Honestly, read up ont he chain.  Hans B is a good resource.

@high-amp   Can you share your current system, room, etc.?  Is it the one represented by the photo on your system page? Thanks.

Building a good streaming system with a computor can be done easly. Dont listen to the negative people who claim to her " noise " in the electrical wire because the power company uses a bad resistor 20 miles down stream. The first thing to consider is to have the best internet connection coming into the computer this should be done with a cat7 hard wire dont use wifi. Next is a good signal path to an external dac of your choice ( the dac option is unlimited). I use my mac book pro as my qobuz source and it sounds great. Look at this company for help to get the best signal into your computer.

https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/