This is clearly aimed at the uninformed and/or the clueless.
Here you find the experiences of a guy who was indeed completely
clueless at that time
(He learned a little over time)
Indeed this is the comfort game. You buy a box and plug it in and beside some minimal configuration that is all you have to do.
It looks like and behaves like a kind of advanced CD player.
Will appeal to people who detest computers.
Interfacing varies.
I detest those small screens.
But Sooloos is an example of how to do the interfacing right.
Same Sooloos is also a nice example of the price/performance ratio.
Their networked DAC is a Via Epia PC with a RME sound card.
Nothing wrong with the hardware but €3,600 is a steep price tag.
Likewise
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?4143-NAS-the-Meridian-way
$5,000 (excluding HDDs) for a NAS?
In general even using freeware, clueing all the components together is a long and expensive development. Probably explains the price tag better than the hardware.
The moment you say this so called ‘music servers’ are simply dedicated audio PC’s one indeed might wonder if they do have substantial benefits compared with a standard PC.
I do think a good GUI and mature media player software in the end gives you a better end user experience.
As sound quality of a standard PC leaves a lot to be desired for, you need an outboard DAC.
A good DAC doesn’t come cheap.
My limited experience (having owned a Hifidelio and from that time on use a PC + DAC) tells me that you are better off with a PC + DAC.