2. digital
  3. 144120-108465

Do I have to use a streamer/renderer to play music from an NAS?

I apologize for the basic question. But, I can’t seem to find an answer online. I would like to put all my CDs on an NAS and play that music through my system. I have a Rotel RC/RB-1590 set up. I know some NAS boxes come with DLNA software installed, and I am looking at Synology because I read their software for finding and selecting music to play is pretty good. Eventually, I will probably end up with something like a Cambridge Audio CXN or 851N to stream tidal and digital radio, as well as the music on the NAS. But, do I have to have the Cambridge or some other device to just play the digital music from the NAS to start? I would like to do the purchases in steps so I can get better units as I can afford them.  Also, any advice on alternative solutions would be much appreciated. Thanks.
kumakahn
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948
489 posts
 
@OP.  Try to find a local dealer and audition the ZENmini in your system if possible.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Commercial streamers like SONOS and Bluesound simply combine some of these functions in the head-end and others int he remotes. SONOS, by the way, sounds awful in the context of true high-end. I was also shocked when i first heard that in a very good system. Switching ti CD was a relief.

I need to look up audioengr’s roll-you-r-own components to see what its about. I don’t think i’d give up ROON though.


Sonos can sound world-class if you reclock it with a Synchro-Mesh and use a good BNC terminated S/PDIF cable of the optimum length.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
to Steve:
Why do you advise against *lossless* formats like FLAC/ALAC?


Because on a truly resolving system, they sound worse than .wav files.  The problem is not the data, it's the on-the-fly decoding by the CODECs.  Broken.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
-- Why is Ethernet superior to USB? answer: both are asynchronous and therefore should be the same. But USB needs to be galvanically isolated to prevent noise propagation. Also, see above, network allows you to remote the whole thing and eliminate physical/mechanical noise


Ethernet is superior the USB because there are fewer hoops to jump through and less money to spend to acheive audio nirvana.  They can both be identical in SQ, but USB takes a lot more and requires a really good computer and power supply and USB ports/USB regenerator/USB cable/kill the background apps/select the right playback software and even then you are usually stuck with a substandard USB interface on your DAC.  No thanks.

I have my own stellar USB converter/interface that matches the performance of my Ethernet, but it's a lot more trouble.  Handy for Amazon Prime music and listening to sample tracks from Amazon though.

Steve N.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Wow, what a wealth of information


More like a load of misinformation.  If you want to end-up with a mid-fi sound, fine.  If you are looking to achieve world-class sound, be selective who you listen to.


Steve N.
Empirical Audio
More to discover