Lyrion Media Server (LMS) in 2025: Open Source Audio Streaming for All Platforms

A comprehensive guide to Lyrion Media Server (LMS) in 2025—history, key features, installation on all platforms, client setup, plugins, troubleshooting, and audiophile tips.

Lyrion Media Server: The Ultimate Open Source Audio Streaming Solution

Introduction

Lyrion Media Server (LMS) is a powerful, open source audio streaming platform that has evolved from the renowned Logitech Media Server lineage. With roots stretching back to the original SlimServer and Squeezebox Server, Lyrion Media Server continues to innovate in 2025. As an actively maintained open source project, Lyrion supports a wide array of operating systems—including Linux, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and Docker—making it a truly cross-platform solution. In this guide, we'll explore its standout features, walk through seamless installation on various systems, delve into client and plugin setup, and cover troubleshooting tips. Whether you're an audiophile, developer, or home automation enthusiast, Lyrion Media Server offers a robust, customizable platform for high-quality, synchronized audio streaming throughout your environment.

What is Lyrion Media Server?

Lyrion Media Server is the latest iteration of a project that began as SlimServer in the early 2000s, later becoming Squeezebox Server and then Logitech Media Server (LMS). Following Logitech's transition away from hardware, community developers have kept LMS alive, and in recent years, the Lyrion fork has taken the lead—adding modern enhancements while maintaining full compatibility with existing Squeezebox ecosystem components.
Key differences with Lyrion include improved plugin management, a refreshed Material Skin web interface, and better support for high-resolution audio formats. Lyrion Media Server remains written primarily in Perl, ensuring high portability and extensibility.
Supported platforms are broad:
  • Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
  • Windows (10/11)
  • macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon)
  • Raspberry Pi (optimized builds)
  • Docker (containerized deployments)
This cross-platform versatility makes Lyrion Media Server ideal for everything from home servers to embedded audio devices. For developers seeking to integrate advanced audio features, solutions like

Voice SDK

 can complement Lyrion by enabling live audio rooms and interactive communication.

Core Features of Lyrion Media Server

Lyrion Media Server distinguishes itself through a rich set of features tailored for both casual listeners and audiophiles:

Audio Playback and Multi-Room Synchronization

Lyrion supports playback of a wide range of audio formats (FLAC, MP3, AAC, Ogg, etc.) at sample rates up to 384kHz, depending on hardware and client support. Its hallmark is robust multi-room audio synchronization—ensuring gapless playback and precise alignment across numerous Squeezelite or hardware clients. If you're interested in expanding your setup to include live streaming capabilities, integrating a

Live Streaming API SDK

 can bring interactive broadcast features to your audio environment.

Plugin Ecosystem

A thriving plugin ecosystem extends functionality with support for popular streaming services (Spotify, TIDAL, ClassicalRadio), radio stations, artist information, and advanced library management. The community actively maintains and develops plugins, making LMS/Lyrion highly adaptable. For those looking to add real-time communication features, leveraging a

phone call api

 can enable seamless audio calling within your media server ecosystem.

Open Source Benefits

As open source software, Lyrion Media Server benefits from global community contributions. Bug fixes, new features, and plugin extensions are frequent, and users can easily audit, customize, or fork the codebase. Developers interested in integrating voice features can utilize a

Voice SDK

 to add interactive audio experiences to their projects.

User Interfaces: Web UI, Material Skin, and Clients

Lyrion offers a classic web UI and the modern Material Skin plugin for responsive, mobile-friendly control. Squeezelite (software client) and a variety of hardware Squeezeboxes enable flexible client setups. For those who want to

embed video calling sdk

 into their control interfaces, integration is straightforward and can enhance user collaboration.

System Architecture

Diagram
This architecture enables flexible expansion, multi-client synchronization, and robust management across diverse devices. If your deployment requires interactive live streaming, consider adding a

Live Streaming API SDK

 for scalable broadcast support.

Installing Lyrion Media Server

Getting Lyrion Media Server running is straightforward, with native packages and Docker containers for all major platforms.

Windows

  1. Download the latest installer from the

    Lyrion Media Server GitHub Releases

    .
  2. Run the installer and follow on-screen prompts.
  3. After installation, open your browser and visit http://localhost:9000 to access the web interface.
For organizations or developers who want to add real-time voice features to their Windows-based audio servers, integrating a

Voice SDK

 can provide a seamless solution for live audio rooms.

macOS

  1. Download the latest DMG from the

    GitHub Releases

    .
  2. Open the DMG and drag the app to your Applications folder.
  3. Double-click to launch. If prompted, allow network permissions.
  4. Access the server at http://localhost:9000.
If you need to enable video communication alongside your audio streaming on macOS, you can

embed video calling sdk

 for quick integration with your existing setup.

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu Example)

1# Add repository and install dependencies
2sudo apt update
3sudo apt install -y libio-socket-ssl-perl libdbi-perl
4
5# Download and install Lyrion LMS
6wget https://github.com/Lyrion-Server/LMS/releases/download/8.4.0/lms_8.4.0_all.deb
7sudo dpkg -i lms_8.4.0_all.deb
8
9# Start the service
10sudo systemctl start logitechmediaserver
11
For Linux users looking to add telephony features, integrating a

phone call api

 can enable direct calling capabilities within your Lyrion Media Server environment.

Docker Setup

Docker provides a portable, isolated deployment:
1docker run -d \
2  --name lyrion-lms \
3  -p 9000:9000 \
4  -p 3483:3483 \
5  -v /path/to/music:/music \
6  -v /path/to/config:/config \
7  lmscommunity/logitechmediaserver:latest
8
  • Web UI is available at http://<docker-host>:9000
  • Audio clients connect via network
If you're deploying Lyrion Media Server in containers and want to add interactive audio rooms, consider integrating a

Voice SDK

 for scalable, real-time communication.

Raspberry Pi Tips

  • Use the latest 32- or 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS.
  • Prefer the Debian/Ubuntu .deb package or Docker image.
  • For optimal performance, use wired Ethernet and a quality SD card.
For Raspberry Pi projects that require live audio interaction, a

Voice SDK

 can help you quickly implement robust voice features.

Setting Up Clients: Squeezelite and More

Squeezelite is the recommended software client for connecting devices to your Lyrion Media Server. It emulates Logitech Squeezebox hardware, allowing PCs, Pis, and embedded devices to function as audio endpoints. For those building custom audio endpoints, integrating a

Voice SDK

 can enable interactive communication features for your clients.

Squeezelite Installation

Linux Example

1sudo apt install squeezelite
2squeezelite -n "Kitchen" -s <server-ip>
3

Windows/macOS

  • Download precompiled binaries from

    Squeezelite Releases

    .
  • Launch with desired name and server address:
1squeezelite.exe -n "LivingRoom" -s 192.168.1.100
2

Material Skin Web Interface

After server setup, enable the Material Skin plugin from the Plugins section. The interface adapts perfectly to mobile, tablet, and desktop controls, providing instant access to playback, playlists, and preferences.
If you want to add video communication to your client interfaces, you can easily

embed video calling sdk

 for seamless integration.

Multi-Client Synchronization

Group clients via the web UI for perfectly synchronized, gapless playback across rooms—ideal for whole-home audio.

Managing and Customizing Lyrion Media Server

Adding Your Music Library

  • In the web interface, navigate to Settings → Basic Settings → Media Folders.
  • Add folder paths containing your music library.
  • Click Rescan to index new tracks.

Managing Plugins

  • Go to Settings → Plugins.
  • Search, enable, or disable plugins like Material Skin, Artist Info, or streaming integrations.
  • For manual plugin installation, upload plugin files to the Plugins directory in your LMS config path.

Plugin Installation Example

1# Add a new plugin repo to LMS
2$plugin_url = "https://plugins.lyrion-server.org/repo.xml";
3# In LMS Settings, add $plugin_url under "Additional Repositories"
4

Advanced Features

  • Classical Music Support: Advanced tag view and browsing for composers, conductors, and works.
  • Advanced Tag View: Configure via Settings → Advanced → Custom Browse.
  • Streaming Services: Enable plugins for Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Database Scanning and Server Restarts

  • If the music scan freezes, restart the server from the web UI or via command line:
1sudo systemctl restart logitechmediaserver
2
  • Ensure music folders are accessible and permissions are correct.

Log Files

Lyrion stores logs for debugging:
  • Linux/macOS: /var/log/squeezeboxserver/
  • Windows: C:\\ProgramData\\Squeezebox\\Logs\\

Viewing Logs Example

1tail -f /var/log/squeezeboxserver/server.log
2

Community Support

  • Visit the

    LMS Community Forums

     for help.
  • Explore GitHub issues for bug tracking and feature requests.

Lyrion Media Server for Audiophiles

Lyrion Media Server is engineered for audio purity. It supports high-resolution sample rates, gapless playback, and bit-perfect streaming. Audiophiles can integrate Digital Signal Processing (DSP) plugins like Inguz or CamillaDSP for room correction and EQ. Real-world use cases include synchronized playback to multiple rooms, streaming native DSD/FLAC files, and seamless integration with advanced audio systems.

Conclusion

Lyrion Media Server delivers a comprehensive, open source solution for multi-room audio streaming in 2025. With its extensive plugin ecosystem, cross-platform support, and dedication to audio quality, LMS continues to thrive as the preferred choice for both home users and developers. Join the community, contribute, and experience the future of open source audio streaming.

Get 10,000 Free Minutes Every Months

No credit card required to start.

Want to level-up your learning? Subscribe now

Subscribe to our newsletter for more tech based insights

FAQ