Bluesound actually does a decent job at organizing as long as your over all file system is good. What amp are you using? Does it decode DLNA? That’s all you really need to make it happen. Or, use the on board music center and airplay to your system. Obviously you need airplay connectivity at the amp or integrated. Roon is another good option. If your NAS has enough juice you can run the core right off the NAS. Honestly, if I had to do it over again, I would probably go with a different storage device other than a NAS. A NAS requires a good amount of upkeep to keep clean and making sure your exposure is limited. My first Qnap NAS was hacked in a global attack and taken by ransomware. I didn’t know any better, and got nailed. The new NAS is an entirely different animal. Works great overall, but needs a good eye kept on it.
Recommendations for home audio setup with Mac and NAS
Hello all,
I've been doing a bit of searching through the forum and have found some similar threads, but I think my question might differ just slightly, so hoping to get some ideas/suggestions etc. Keep in mind I'm only "entry level" and not in position to spend thousands on new gear at the moment. Just trying to work with what I have.
I'd like to set up an entry level home audio system utilising a NAS as my storage for digital files, connected to a Mac. I will be doing most of my listening in my home office, and in the near future hoping to connect to the living room as well.
My view is to set up the system in the follwing way, but I'm just wondering if I'm being idealistic, and if so if there's a better way to connect everything.
I will have a Mac desktop (for office work etc) + mac mini (for audio/movie playback)
I want to connect both macs to the NAS (through a wireless routers), connect the Mac Mini to the amplifier and speaker system. I will be controlling the Mac Mini via the Apple remote on ipad or iphone.
My question is, do I need the Mac Mini at all? Given that my Mac desktop (which will be used for office work mostly) will be connected to the NAS as well (which will have all my music and video files stored), should I buy a dedicated streamer instead, or is the set-up I have suggested feasible?
In future, how could I be best set up the system in the living room to the NAS I have? Should I connect the amplifier in the living room to the NAS through a streaming unit via ethernet cable connected directly to the NAS? Or could I just get a wifi-streamer capable integrated amp/preamp that can connect wirelessly to the Mac in my office? I also have an Apple TV, so could I just realistically connect the to an amp in the living room and stream my music/movies from that over wifi?
I plan to use Bitperfect on my Mac (either desktop or mini) in my office system. Would this be OK to run on 2022 Mac OSX?
Thanks for your consideration!