I built a self-hosted Spotify for my lossless CD rips, and this open-source app made it portable

After converting his CDs to lossless files and experiencing improved audio quality, an individual created a self-hosted, Spotify-like service using his ripped music files and Jellyfin. This allowed him to stream the files throughout his home using various devices and speakers. He particularly enjoys listening through the main sound system in his living room.

The user appreciated being able to select albums from a large screen and using the Jellybox app for mobile listening. The app offered a music streaming experience similar to what one would expect from a native app, including smart playlists, playback, and navigation controls. It displayed album covers and background art, and allowed for searching his library. Additionally, the app demonstrated the file's bitrate during playback, which was particularly useful for him.

The user liked that the app provided remote access to his library without requiring port forwarding, reverse proxies, or VPNs. It automatically switched between being available at home or away, making it easy to listen on any device. With Continuity, he could seamlessly pause a song on one device and continue listening from the same spot on another device.

The feature enables remote listening, which is particularly handy when he is running errands or on the go. The app also allows for downloading albums for offline listening, making it ideal for users with limited data plans, poor reception, or during travel. If needed, the FLAC stream can be reduced to 320Kbps or lower to save data.

Despite the initial effort required to rip his large CD collection, the open-source Jellybox app made his music collection portable and offered a high-quality audio experience that he owned and controlled.