I was also a HTPC (XBMC/Kodi) user for a very long time, with a central MySQL database.
I have retired my HTPC about 6 years ago, and here’s my journey.
- Moved all my media from HTPC to my main workstation (SMB share). Main workstation runs the central Kodi MySQL database.
- HT: Replaced HTPC with RPi3/LibreElec (Kodi), playing off network, metadata @ MySQL database.
- Music: I am a foobar2000 user, moved the music playback to my main workstation. DAC connected via long USB cable. AVR connected via long optical cable.
- After a couple of years, replaced RPi3 with RPi4/LibreElec (Kodi), playing off network, metadata @ MySQL database.
- Itchy backside, decided to buy Z9X for fun. Z9X replaced the RPi4. I run ZDMC (Kodi port on Z9X) because I still prefer ZDMC (Kodi) over the native HT4.
- Z9X has a music player MP6, which I don’t use.
- Discovered JellyFin. Ported my metadata backend from MySQL database to JellyFin. Installed JellyFin plugin to all Kodi front end. Super happy with JellyFin backend. The metadata scraping is super duper fantastic.
Hopefully my sharing gives you some ideas on how you may want to move ahead.
- As you can see, I am quite locked into Kodi - because of the tight integration I have done with Kodi to my Yamaha AVR using Python scripts and Kodi customizations. From Kodi hotkeys, I can control Yammy AVR Volume, DSP programs, Input Sources, PureDirect.
- On the stereo front, I’m pretty locked into foobar2000.