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Local network HiRes storage and player


Looking to learn the best method for storing high resolution music files locally on your hardwired network and playing into a stand alone DAC>PassLabs system

*Currently I run an Eversolo A8 into a Luxman DAC and stream music. Looking to add local storage to have high res files stored locally. 

1) Is it best to have separate storage device and player (two separate devices) which would then run into the DAC?

2) Or is there a good quality combo device that you have experience?

The Eversolo has storage but I am planning to replace it so it may be nice to get something that does all three tasks (a) streaming (b) storage (c) playing network stored files 

All expertise with being a streamer and file storage user is appreciated focused on two questions - 1) what is best way of doing this device wise (separate eveyrhinf or combine) and 2) what devices are you using?

lastly, are FLAC files the ideal format to store or is there something better?

hifi_jed_1986
dogearedaudio's avatar
dogearedaudio
219 posts
 

Oh, and don't forget a backup device.  I back up my NAS manually with separate USB drives.

tutonunez
5 posts
 

I also use a PC (AMD Ryzen 5 5600x, 16GB RAM) as a NAS with MinimServer, and I store my entire music library on an M2 NVMe SSD (don't kill me for this, but there are differences between different NVMe SSDs, and they're very, very noticeable, by the way). Then I output via a PCI SFP card, fiber optic cable, an Ethernet audio switch with SFP, and Cat8 (OCC+Ag) to the LUMIN. The same FLAC file from Qobuz vs. the server sounds slightly better from the NAS PC. All my CDs are ripped to WAV. By the way, MinimServer sorts everything.
This configuration was the result of many tests (trial and error) and hours of listening. I hope it helps.
Best regards.

corente
30 posts
 

@tutonunez 

:Please, could you go deeper into the differences you find among NVMe SSD’s?

wswright20
34 posts
 

I have a QNAP NAS setup with mostly FLAC files for my CD library.  I am using an Esoteric streamer/app that integrates seamlessly with the NAS for cover art, sorting, searches.  For me a NAS made sense because I also use it for other purposes such as large volume photo storage, computer/phone backups, etc.  If one goes this route I suggest upgrading the NAS power supply and using a good quality switch for critical listening.  I have a fairly large CD collection but in reality, wind up steaming the majority of time from Tidal or Qobuz with no discernable difference from ripped files. If I didn’t have other storage requirements and still wanted local CD files I would use a streamer with onboard storage and not bother with the NAS. 

 

 

larryincmh
87 posts
 

All of my FLAC files from my personal library (7,946 full albums and over 100,000 tracks) are stored on a Synology NAS.  The NAS has two drives so all files are duplicated for backup.  I also backup that NAS to a cloud service and also keep another hard copy on an external drive which is stored offsite.

I stream to my stereo via Roon (which requires a PC to be running which I have, or, Roon Server can run on the Synology) or JRiver if using my computer.  If I want to just stream directly to the stereo I can use the Yamaha's internal interface, which is poor, or I use my WiiM interface which is much better.  The Synology has music server software that runs on it and serves up the music to the interface.  Was not hard at all to set up and the results are quite good.  

FWIW I think that music from my local library or from the local CD player sounds better than the streamed versions, so I tend to play from my local library most of the time (which differs from what some here say they do).

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