Streamer apps critical

@moonwatcher 

Yes the WiiM units are quite good via the app. Even using their B06 unit with the Plex app is a joy to use.

Works great

Sounds good

Low cost

Whats not to like?

Software developers don’t gravitate to gui interfaces? Huh? Who writes this stuff but developers? I started as a developer in the mid 70’s and developers throughout the decades wrote user friendly interfaces for their users/clients, even if it was a green screen from the 70’s. You never wanted to make it difficult for the end user to use your app.

The older aurender software sucked compared to Auralic lightning ds software or lumin’s software, which I used both. The older pure music and the 1st generation of audirvana were much better than aurender.

Now, roon is the best, with the new audirvana closing in. 
IMO, the reason you don’t have good roon equivalent software out there is because software developers aren’t cheap to hire and keep on the payroll. Decent software developers aren’t cheap, probably $150-$200k a year with benefits. It’s cheaper for the manufacturer to make their system roon ready and let roon deal with the developer headaches 

@moonwatcher 

The skill difference among software developers is huge. There are individuals and organizations that couldn't program a simple calculator in six months, and some that could do it almost before you finished describing what you want. 

I to have been disappointed several times trying to "upgrade" my streaming device. I'm also a Bluesound Node (130 version) user. I've come back to the Node 3 times after trying a Eversolo DMP-A6, Lumin U2, and then a Cary Audio DMS-700. In every case, they unambiguously sounded better to some degree, but the app was so bad it negated any improvement in sound quality - sometimes within minutes of use. I'm planning one more try and looking heavily at an Innuos Pulse or possibly Pulsar. Their app seems to have a great reputation. For me, usability of a streaming app will always be priority #1.