Is it worth it to add a music server just for FLAC files?

I have found servers make an enormous difference.  Usually a little less for local files but much more for streaming.  Getting control over things coming in from a very volatile internet is big and the processing power their matters.  Though I did notice that local files sounded smoother with a bit more air.  

Well, shame you said no roon cause the DSP features are excellent. :)

^^^DSP is a compensatory tool for less than optimal audio systems and for rooms without proper acoustic treatments :-)

Any use of electronic manipulation or artificial correction of the original signal at first may sound easier on your ears but ultimately it renders music unnaturally. DSP is best for headphones, smartphones or car stereo, there is simply no place for DSP in a well appointed home audio systems.

One of the most profound changes in the digital end of my system was to finally put in a high end music server. The first step was a Auralic.. then I moved to Aurender. The difference was profound. Now the sound quality of CD player played, LAN stored, internally (on streamer), and Qubuz have the same sound quality… well the Qobuz is frequently better as they are higher resolution files.

For years I upgraded DACs and amps, speakers, headphones… passing over the source. My first dedicated music streamer changed all that. Now I recognized the source, like the turntable in analog reproduction is the first critical step in getting great sound quality. My streamer is now the most expensive component in my system (well, equal to my tube amp). Worth every penny. I never play those albums on storage. I listen to Qobuz and have access to more music to explore than I could listen to in a lifetime.


After owning a couple good steamers, audioning a bunch, and several Aurender, I favor Aurender. They really get how to do streaming. The critical importance of the power supply. The audio circuit in mine runs on battery.

I believe the OP was asking specifically about his files stored on a HD.  The query wasn’t about streaming services.  So then the question becomes do files stored on a HD sound better if played back on a bog standard personal computer vs.a dedicated server/streamer.  This goes back to the issue of whether dedicated server/streamers sound better than computers.  In general, they do, but PCs can be optimized for audio playback using a relatively inexpensive program such as Audirvana Plus.