Hunting Unicorns

erik_squires the hidden Linux box plus inexpensive streamer sounds good, but apparently you still need at least a phone. My unattainable object is something requiring no external multi-purpose device. From ddude03 above I gather that even Lumen needs your phone. 

If there was such a product I suspect the "remote" would end up looking like a tablet because of the amount of info that needs to be displayed. If you want the same functionality as a control app you either need a control app or a device that acts like one.

djones51 if you do come across it, please share. My dream product ;-)

Not sure what the OP is looking for. Most streaming services have tens of millions of tracks to choose from. How is one supposed to wade through all of that to choose what you want to play without some type of visual display? An old style remote gives no feedback about where you are in the selection process unless there is a visual display somewhere. That means you will either have to stand at the streamer to read the display, or it needs to be large enough to be read from across the room while you’re playing with the remote. Or, if the remote has its own display, you’re back to having the equivalent of a table or smartphone in your hands, albeit one that has no other function.

Most people already own a smartphone or tablet, and for those that don’t, a Kindle Fire is available for $50, or less if they are on sale. That is a drop in the bucket compared to what most streamers (other than the Raspberry Pi option) cost.

So we are back to this - what problem are we solving?

My unattainable object is something requiring no external multi-purpose device

Problem with that is the UI.

With a library, artists, internet radio of any size at all and a little appliance screen will not be enough.

If you don't mind going old school though, you could do a Logitech Squeezebox Touch or pi based clone.