I agree, as I’ve fussed with DLNA/UPnP for at least a dozen years now, if not more. It can work but that doesn’t always means it’s the ideal solution. We’re at least fortunate the AirLens can operate as a renderer in that way. (I successfully streamed the Qobuz app via BubbleUPnP this afternoon and while a little clumsy with the extra step, it played back the music perfectly.
Given Roon’s very modest cost (basically the cost of one CD per month), what it does for my streaming system makes it well worth it. I like that once it is set up, it just works. I have several different streaming devices in the house (primarily for background music in different rooms) and Roon automatically detected them on the network and all it took was clicking “Enable” to use them. Roon sees my NAS and catalogs all the music for me. All that leaves me to do is crack open the tablet, search, and start playing music. I’m a bit miffed that I still have to get up and make my own hot chocolate with marshmallows, but that’s a “me” problem.
Granted, Roon Server should be on a reasonably powerful computer if a library of digital files is growing but even there, given that some streamers are several hundred to thousands of dollars, what’s the cost of a little $300-$400 computer to power the music library? And what’s $15/month to make it all so simple to access, with Qobuz as icing on the cake? One need not jump in with the latest/most expensive hardware in other words. Baby steps, and upgrade if storage, memory or CPU capacity gets strained.
It’s like buying a Cadillac Fleetwood but replacing the steering wheel and vinyl bench seats with those from a 1973 Chevy Vega because I cheaped out and didn’t feel like paying for the cushy, shiny Cadillac interior parts. Cheaping out on parts of a streaming system is never going to end well either, especially if we’re sending a stream to equipment that is on the level of an AirLens and DirectStream DAC of any flavor (this is no Raspberry Pi tethered to a no-name DAC found on Amazon, in other words). Yeah, a NAS for me is a must-own part of my digital system and entire home network, but someone with more modest means can start with a 2GB or 4GB SSD to store music on and tether it to the computer running Roon Server and it will work perfectly fine. Likewise, if someone already has an older computer they can repurpose for Roon, or install on a NAS with enough horsepower to run it, go for it! Use what you have to keep the cost down while you settle in with your system. Change what you need to in the future.
I only say all this as I hate to see anyone struggle with getting streaming operational.