USB drive vs NAS for storage/streaming/back-up


Is there any sonic benefit for a NAS over a USB drive for storage and streaming? I'm using a 1TB USB drive for streaming FLAC files through a Sonos (Cullen modified) to a DAC. Sounds good. I was planning on getting a NAS, but I could just as easily get another USB drive and back up maunually when needed, not a big deal. USB drive is quiet, easy to use and situate, seems to work well. Why go NAS? Ethernet benefits? Sonics? Thanks for any input.
joc3021

Showing 2 responses by joc3021

Thsalmon: Thanks. I'll investigate NAS units. Need something quiet and cool running that can be in the listening area. As I have a USB drive, don't really need RAID. I'm also running wired and wireless with the Sonos.
Good suggestions. Ordered the power cord. As another sonos user with the mod, do you know if they plan on supporting 24/96 in the future? Or improve the software for managing large collections, allow metadata, etc. The basic sonos platform has great potential and is very stable, but it does'nt seem they're really committed to supporting the audiophile market (which is admittedly small).