It's one step forward, several steps backward, IMO. I think it's possible to make even well designed DACs sound better with lower noise server but the gain isn't outweighed by the considerable downside to any of the expensive dedicated servers. The downside is the lack of even basic DSP and the lack of future software development.
Even if you don't think you like DSP and would never use it, you may not feel the same way a year or two down the line. Here are some examples:
1. You want to take out a single room peak with simple EQ, my bet is that your expensive server won't be able to do it and you will need to rely on something that's sonically degrading (analog PEQ) to do so.
2. You want to test advanced convolution software or something like DIRAC. You can't do that on your expensive server.
3. You want to tryout some new digital filter or new dither that some computer wiz came up with down the line. You won't be able to do that with your expensive server.
4. You want to add a pair of subwoofers and run a delay/crossover to properly integrate them. You won't be able to do this with most of the expensive dedicated servers.
There are many good software options on both mac and windows that have HUGE followings and offer excellent customer support. You can be sure that if enough folks want a new feature, it WILL happen. With the fancy boutique servers like the Aurender, you get a very limited number of folks that buy into it and very limited software functionality. The Aurender and other fancy linux servers are specifically designed for the audiophile that just wants it to work and isn't concerned with future software innovations. Btw, most of the excellent MAC and Windows softwares are almost as simple to use and almost as reliable as the big bux servers.
JMO.
Michael.