u/Far-While-4376

Hi everyone, I wanted to share my current home audio ecosystem. It’s a mix of open-source software, AI-driven discovery, and some deliberate choices regarding the digital/analog divide.

The Core: Lyrion Music Server (LMS) & AI Curation My library is managed by LMS. In my opinion, it’s a more flexible, open-source alternative to Roon.

• The "Secret Sauce": AudioMuse-AI. It uses the LMS API to analyze my local files—not just by tags, but by quantifying musical characteristics. It creates incredibly cohesive playlists based on acoustic similarity. Warning: the initial analysis takes days, but the results are worth it.
• The Workflow: I still hunt for CDs at thrift stores and FB Marketplace. I rip them using XLD (X Lossless Decoder) to FLAC, tag with MusicBrainz Picard, and host them on my NAS.
• My Philosophy on Ripping: I view CD ripping as a "correction" process. Since CDs lack built-in error correction during real-time playback, you need expensive transports for stability. Ripping with AccurateRip verification ensures my files are bit-perfect matches to the master. This lets me skip the expensive CD player and put that budget into the DAC.

The Main Rig (Living Room)

• Streamer/Transport: WiiM Ultra. I switched from a Raspberry Pi 5 (piCorePlayer) for better stability. It runs Squeezelite natively and outputs via Coaxial to my amp, allowing for 192kHz (the USB input on my amp is capped at 96kHz).
• Integrated Amp: Hegel H190v. Using its internal DAC and Phono stage.
• Turntable: Technics SL-1500C upgraded with an Ortofon 2M Black.
• Speakers: Dynaudio Special Forty + Dynaudio Sub 6.
• The Subwoofer Integration Dilemma: The Sub 6 has a fantastic built-in DSP. Ideally, the signal should go Source -> Sub -> Amp so the DSP can high-pass the Special Forties. However, because I listen to vinyl, I refuse to let my analog signal be digitized by the Sub's DSP. Instead, I run the Sub 6 via the Hegel’s Variable Line Out, using the factory preset for the S40s. It’s a compromise to keep the vinyl path pure.

Secondary Rig (Bedroom/Office)

• Amp: Denon DRA-500AE.
• Speakers: B&W DM308.
• Streamer: An old Android phone running a Squeezelite client, connected via 3.5mm-to-RCA.
• AirPlay: Enabled via the ShairTunes2 plugin on LMS, allowing me to sync both rooms or stream directly from Apple Music.

Control: I use LyrPlay on iPhone to manage the LMS library. It’s snappy and handles the multi-room sync perfectly.

Would love to hear your thoughts on the Subwoofer integration—do you prioritize the "Pure Analog" path for vinyl, or is the benefit of a DSP crossover too good to pass up?