Servers: Are we there yet?

You're welcome.  It is s good decision if your computer is only used for playback.  It doesn't change the fact that you still need to make backup in case of any hardware failure.

Many music and media servers use live internet connections to make extended information on what’s playing available. Things like lyrics, artwork, artist bios, reviews, related recordings, concert locations and dates, etc. Much more related info than can be had without a live internet connection. That’s a trend that will only continue to grow. You can actually learn more about what you are listening to while you listen easier than ever before. Not a requirement in some cases, but a very nice feature that I have found to greatly increase my musical IQ and level of enjoyment over time and that I would miss now that I have it.

I work with a company that specializes in digital streaming, Audio Doctor,

and we routinely setup servers from modified Mac Minis, and PC's to dedicated streamer/dacs from Lumin, Cary, Devialet, Cambridge Audio and many others.

The Aurender servers blow away the Modified Macs and PCs, by the way.

Also the Lumin A1 and T1 outperformed a $13K CD player from one of the best names in digital! So it is time to embrace the practical and fun world of streaming! 

You do not need a working wifi network with the aurender, you can use a blu tooth dongle to setup two way communication between the Aurender and the Ipad, so now you can play all the stored music on the hard drive without a working internet connection, obviously you won't be able to stream Tidal without a working internet setup. 

Personally we feel that a good strong fast network is an essential part of the new streaming world I would embrace it. 

Mapman, Yes it is nice feature, but if you’re afraid of any changes to your server then you can do this on the other computer or tablet (or phone). I update my computer/server from internet, since I’m using it as a home computer, and never had any issues. My TV firmware I updated only once - If ain’t broke don’t fix it.

" If ain’t broke don’t fix it."

I usually tend to agree with that.  I still drive a 1996 Toyota for example.  

But the full potential of music streaming is yet to be realized for me but things are moving forward nicely, so I want to keep up in this case.

I also still run Logitech Squeeze System which is legacyware essentially at this point.  Little or nothing new there, including fixes.   I was very nervous about upgrading my music server to Windows 10.     Ironically, Logitech server continued to run fine but my older backup software from Seagate did not so I had to change.