Next step into Digital Streaming

Thanks for the tips. Roon isn't really a viable option for me as I am away for sizable blocks of time so don't want to get involved with subscriptions that will sit unused. I'm currently satisfied with the blue node, I choose it as I was unfamiliar with streamers so didn't want to dump a load of coin on something I wasn't sure I was going to benefit from. I've pretty decided to stay with streamers and pull the tuner and I can only see more convenience with a server option. I am considering an aurender as they seem to be universally accepted as a step up from bluesound, however there is a big price jump? Another consideration is compatibility, will aurender and bluesound play nice together or do I have to have 2 stations with the same name?

I have a standalone hard drive connected to my router via USB that we have music on. My node had no problem finding it. Understand SQ wise it’s probably not ideal, but demonstrates it is easily doable. 

I’ve done exactly that with both Plex and Roon. Roon is more expensive but delivers a more complete user experience as well as better sound quality at home.

A lifetime Roon license costs <$1000, so in the same general cost ballpark as many popular home audio streamers and less than most audiophile gear in people’s homes. It’s a good investment for any home hifi and music enthusiast.

Plex is better at remote streaming than Roon so Plex makes sense for a cost effective solution using everyday consumer computing devices that can do it all including good quality remote streaming via CarPlay, headphones, etc

The Bluesound Vault would be a convenient option, since you already have a Node. I'd probably lean toward a general purpose computer instead.  You can get a Mac Mini M2 for less than the price of a Vault, and it will do more.  You could set it up as a music server with Roon Core or Audirvana, or simply store downloaded/ripped music files on its hard drive then expose them as a shared Bluesound library to the Node. 

Some people favor a dedicated music server (such as Small Green Computer's sonicTransporter, an Aurender, an Auralic Aries, or a Roon Nucleus.)  I'm sceptical that these devices deliver any noticeable sound quality improvements. They tend to be much more expensive than a Mac Mini or a NUC, and usually don't support a wide variety of music-related applications (like the HD Tracks music file downloader, Apple Music, or REW). I do have one, though (the sonicTransporter i9,) in addition to a Mac Mini.

You don't necessarily need to buy anything new, if you happen to have an old computer lying around.  Whether it's a general purpose computer, an Aurender, a Vault, a NAS, etc., basically what you're doing is setting up a network-accessible storage device to expose your music to one or more networked endpoint device(s) attached to your HiFi system.  There are many ways to do this.

You can set up a NAS plugged into your router and access it from any where, That’s what I did and it has movies and music loaded up as a media server.

See:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JKM0ES2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;th=1

If you are getting a second streamer stay with the Bluos OS, either Bluesound or NAD products. I have a Node and it is OK, the NAD C-658 is a big step up in SQ and has Dirac room correction too. I would put the NAD in the dungeon and move the Node to the secondary system. If you have questions on setting up the NAS just post.