NAS quality = sound quality?

[tkyt99]

I'm a total newbie to this. I've acquired a Slim Devices Transporter and in the process of burning my CD collection (about 2000) to the HDD on my desktop. It's clear that I will need more storage soon and I would like to invest in a NAS so that I'm not dependent on the computer being on all the time. I will be using the NAS exclusively for music (no video no photos etc.). The way things are set up it can be connected to the transporter either via Ethernet or Wifi. The basic question is: I could spring for something like the WD My Cloud Mirror 4TB with 2TB in RAID 1 for about $300 or something like the Synology DS214Play plus 2x2TB WD Red drives for about $600. They will both be running Logitech Media Server. Does anybody know if there is a difference in sound quality between these two options for double the price? I am not concerned with write speeds - I don't mind if it takes time for it to copy all my files. My only concern is audio quality. Thanks for any help with this.

[hdls]

I'm a total newbie to this. I've acquired a Slim Devices Transporter and in the process of burning my CD collection (about 2000) to the HDD on my desktop. It's clear that I will need more storage soon and I would like to invest in a NAS so that I'm not dependent on the computer being on all the time. I will be using the NAS exclusively for music (no video no photos etc.). The way things are set up it can be connected to the transporter either via Ethernet or Wifi. The basic question is: I could spring for something like the WD My Cloud Mirror 4TB with 2TB in RAID 1 for about $300 or something like the Synology DS214Play plus 2x2TB WD Red drives for about $600. They will both be running Logitech Media Server. Does anybody know if there is a difference in sound quality between these two options for double the price? I am not concerned with write speeds - I don't mind if it takes time for it to copy all my files. My only concern is audio quality. Thanks for any help with this.

 

WD or Synology NAS should not differ with regards to sound quality - they will just host your music files. IMO there are 2 points to consider:

1) If you have the choice and enjoy a good (100Mb or 1000Mb) Ethernet network you should opt for cable rather than Wifi between the NAS and the Slim Device.

2) Size: A rule of thumb is to estimate the space you will need and double it, so if you are going to rip 2000 CDs in good quality and possibly add music you will acquire later you should consider having at least 2 x 4TB HDD in your NAS (remembering that in RAID1 only half of the diskspace will be available). Also, remember that a NAS is not a backup solution, so at least 1 or preferably 2 backups (1 of them in another location) are mandatory (sorry if this reads obvious but you mentioned being a newbie in the field).

[Deaf Cat]

I have experimented a bit with storage and using LMS. I have ended up with an old pc with naslite, as my nas, a day to day pc, and a dedicated old pentiumD that only runs LMS with an internal hdd that stores all my flac files. Streaming from my nas, the music looses all life, streaming from the internal hdd seems by far the best option for my set up, and my ears.

Yes the differences are reasonably small, but noticeable if you pick up an small changes to music presentation.

Cutting out my router in between my pentiumD and my Touch made a nice improvement too (now using win8 as a network bridge)

Experiment if you can..

Maybe try different ethernet cables, if you hear a difference, it may well be worth experimenting with the nas options.. if you dont, don't worry about the nas so much..

Just a thought

Cheers

dc

[davide256]

WD or Synology NAS should not differ with regards to sound quality - they will just host your music files. IMO there are 2 points to consider:

1) If you have the choice and enjoy a good (100Mb or 1000Mb) Ethernet network you should opt for cable rather than Wifi between the NAS and the Slim Device.

2) Size: A rule of thumb is to estimate the space you will need and double it, so if you are going to rip 2000 CDs in good quality and possibly add music you will acquire later you should consider having at least 2 x 4TB HDD in your NAS (remembering that in RAID1 only half of the diskspace will be available). Also, remember that a NAS is not a backup solution, so at least 1 or preferably 2 backups (1 of them in another location) are mandatory (sorry if this reads obvious but you mentioned being a newbie in the field).

 

WRONGG!!!!

 

My Linkstation NAS sounds like trash compared to Synology NAS for streaming playback. Design and CPU power count

[hdls]

Dave,

I don't know Linkstation devices, but clearly your response misses the point. Of course I agree that some NAS are better than others, and Synology certainly is among the best brands (I personally own a DS1513+ which works a charm as a multimedia streamer). But each brand has several models, the more expensive usually being more efficient, reliable and versatile. My point was that between a WD and a Synology product, if they work properly, no difference in sound quality is to be expected a priori. CPU power counts as you say, but as long as it is enough to stream music, the quality will depend more on downstream devices.

[Audio_ELF]

[Cebolla]

LOL - I'd best avoid this one, too!

 

Are you sure that's the top quality original recipe, Eloise? I thought worms were blind - those look more like snakes. If they are I hope they're in their natural juices, rather than oil:)

[zittergie]

To clear some things up:

 

1. If you use the NAS to host the files, the sound quality will be the same for all NAS. It is the player (software and hardware) that fetches the file that can influence the sound quality. This is the way i use my NAS. You do not stream audio, but you read Data over the network.

 

2. If you use the built in streaming (like DLNA), a difference is possible, because the stream is giving between the DLNA server and DLNA client. This does not always work as it should and sometimes formats get transcoded on the fly to a less demanding stream.

I would say, stay away from DLNA streaming, but go for option 1 where you can use your NAS just like you use an external HDD.

 

Greetz,

Zittergie

[agisthos]

To clear some things up:

 

1. If you use the NAS to host the files, the sound quality will be the same for all NAS. It is the player (software and hardware) that fetches the file that can influence the sound quality. This is the way i use my NAS. You do not stream audio, but you read Data over the network.

 

2. If you use the built in streaming (like DLNA), a difference is possible, because the stream is giving between the DLNA server and DLNA client. This does not always work as it should and sometimes formats get transcoded on the fly to a less demanding stream.

I would say, stay away from DLNA streaming, but go for option 1 where you can use your NAS just like you use an external HDD.

 

Greetz,

Zittergie

 

Yes I second this.

 

For best results do not use your NAS as a DLNA streamer. Use it as a data store, that you directly read over the network like its a HDD drive.

[DavidL]

"1. If you use the NAS to host the files, the sound quality will be the same for all NAS. It is the player (software and hardware) that fetches the file that can influence the sound quality. This is the way i use my NAS. You do not stream audio, but you read Data over the network."

 

Very definitely: the simplest playback system but assessment work is required to find hardware and software for best sound quality.