Roon Labs’ Roon music server software is is unparalleled in terms of its performance, its robust metadata support, and its flexibility. You can integrate any AirPlay, Chromecast, or native Roon RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport) speakers and other audio gear for multi-room streaming. The high-end music-streaming services Tidal and Qobuz have integrated Roon so their subscribers can benefit from the Roon’s user interface and its deep well of metadata (reviews, lyrics, artist bios, genre classifications, album credits, release dates, recording dates, and even live concert dates). And that’s just scratching the surface of what Roon is capable of.

The Roon Nucleus is an audio-optimized file server that you’ll almost never interact with directly. It has no mouse, no keyboard, and no display. It’s designed for passionate music lovers who don’t have the time, know-how, or inclination to build out a computer as a do-it-yourself project.