Synology NAS

Posted by: ianc68 on 19 December 2011

Does anyone have experience of a Synology NAS; in particular using it to transcode uncompressed FLAC to WAV?

 

I am looking to replace my existing Buffalo Linkstation Live with a Synology DS212J. In the absence of any server software, such as Twonky, the Linkstation does not present meta data well to my UQ. At present it's rather a moot point as I prefer the sound of WAV files and Twonky can't handle embedded meta data in those. So I have to navigate by folder.

 

I presume that if I fill the Synology with FLAC files, and set it to automatically transcode to WAV, the UQ will be able to read the data in the FLAC but potentially give me the benefit of improved SQ.

 

How does the SQ of the transcoded file compare the straight WAV?

 

Ian

Posted on: 19 December 2011 by sbilotta

Hi There,

I have changed from Qnap (Twonky server) to Synology for this exact reason.

I keep my NAS full of FLAC but use the transcode function to send WAV to my NDX.

I have tried comparing original WAV (w/o transcoding) to FLAC with transcoding, but could not hear any difference, whilst I could (sometimes) hear a difference with FLAC w/o transcoding.

 

Hope this helps !

Stefano

Posted on: 19 December 2011 by ianc68

Many thanks Stefano. That's what I was hoping to hear.

 

Can you see the FLAC meta data in the n-stream app?

Posted on: 19 December 2011 by sbilotta

I don't use the n-stream app, or any other, so can't help here but from what little the NDX let's you see (track, title, artist) it's all there !

Posted on: 20 December 2011 by SKDriver
Originally Posted by sbilotta:

Hi There,

I have changed from Qnap (Twonky server) to Synology for this exact reason.

I keep my NAS full of FLAC but use the transcode function to send WAV to my NDX.

I have tried comparing original WAV (w/o transcoding) to FLAC with transcoding, but could not hear any difference, whilst I could (sometimes) hear a difference with FLAC w/o transcoding.

 

Hope this helps !

Stefano

Stefano,

 

Can you just confirm that a Synology NAS will transcode 'on the fly' from FLAC to WAV?  I thought Synology used Twonky also and this was not available.  I have been holding off to buy a Windows server to run Asset UPnP for this exact reason (to transcode uncompressed FLAC to WAV for my NDX).  I would much rather buy a NAS if this could do the job.

 

Which Synology model are you using; do they all have this ability?  I thought I had done my reasearch...!

 

Thanks

Posted on: 20 December 2011 by Rich27

I run a Synology DS211+ and can stream AIFF and FLAC to my NDX with no transcoding.

 

All Synology products can transcode AIFF, AAC, OGG and FLAC. This, IIRC, is part of the operating system common to all products.  They do not use Twonky.

 

Hope this helps.

Posted on: 20 December 2011 by sbilotta

Hi SKDriver,

yes, as Rich27 says, all Synology can transcode to WAV and use a proprietary media server.

I have the DS-411+II and works very well.

 

All the best.

Stefano

Posted on: 21 December 2011 by RM
I use ds211j, ripped CDs using db power amp in flac uncompressed and transcoding on the fly in wav. Works fine and can see meta data in nstream app. All the best. Rohit
Posted on: 22 December 2011 by SKDriver

Guys,

 

Thankyou all for your replies; most helpful.  I too rip lossless FLAC using dBPoweramp, currently streaming using Asset on my laptop.

 

I think I will go for a DS110j or DS111 (don't need mirrored configuration).  One last question though; how easy is it to set up if I buy the HDD seperately?  I am not especially computer savvy.

 

Thanks again,

 

SKD

Posted on: 22 December 2011 by Nagoya

It's very easy to set up if you buy it diskless: just purchase  a compatible disk and slot it into the unit and fix it in place with the screws provided. List of disks and full instructions are on the Synology site. Thanks!

Posted on: 22 December 2011 by Bart
Originally Posted by SKDriver:

Guys,

 

Thankyou all for your replies; most helpful.  I too rip lossless FLAC using dBPoweramp, currently streaming using Asset on my laptop.

 

I think I will go for a DS110j or DS111 (don't need mirrored configuration).  One last question though; how easy is it to set up if I buy the HDD seperately?  I am not especially computer savvy.

 

Thanks again,

 

SKD

I'm wanting a NAS as well, but hard drive prices have scared me off for a bit.  I really want "enterprise" level drives and figure 2 x 1tb is the minimum, preferably 2 x 2tb.

Posted on: 06 January 2012 by markush
Get the New Synology DS 212+ with two Deskstar 7300 (each with 3TB)
Posted on: 06 January 2012 by QoS
Hi guys, interesting thread.
I am in the process of getting rid of my old Nas and get a Synology 212  for streaming to the Qute, as after your suggestions I had a look at it and it seems very well built and supported.
Do you know if it works properly with Mac OsX Lion?
Thanks!
Posted on: 06 January 2012 by markush

Yes Synology works perfectly! I'd recommend the new DS212+

Posted on: 07 January 2012 by SKDriver
Originally Posted by markush:

Yes Synology works perfectly! I'd recommend the new DS212+

I have looked at the DS212 NAS and it appears good value for a top piece of kit.  Originally thinking of a single bay (DS111) but may go down this route.  The problem is the cost of HDDs at the moment, which have gone up in the past year.

 

Does anyone know whether I can run a 2 bay Synology NAS using a single HDD?  I would be looking at an interim solution before later getting a second disk to either back up or simply add more capacity.  Thanks

Posted on: 07 January 2012 by markush
Originally Posted by SKDriver:
Originally Posted by markush:

Yes Synology works perfectly! I'd recommend the new DS212+

I have looked at the DS212 NAS and it appears good value for a top piece of kit.  Originally thinking of a single bay (DS111) but may go down this route.  The problem is the cost of HDDs at the moment, which have gone up in the past year.

 

Does anyone know whether I can run a 2 bay Synology NAS using a single HDD?  I would be looking at an interim solution before later getting a second disk to either back up or simply add more capacity.  Thanks

Sure you can run just one HDD when buying a 2 bay Synology.

Posted on: 07 January 2012 by QoS
I read the ds212+ compared to the ds212 has the only premium of an eSata external connection.
Anyone here has a ds212? I'd go for this cheaper option as Imdo not need that external interface
Posted on: 07 January 2012 by markush
I have the DS212+ and this one has better CPU & RAM than 212 - so Overall better Performance. Just for Music Streaming the 212 will also be sufficient.
Posted on: 07 January 2012 by Bart
Thanks for resurrecting this thread.  I have ample backup of all of my music, so a good compromise just might be the 212 and only ONE hdd at the moment.  The prices of hdd's have been keeping me from getting a NAS, which has been keeping me from listening to a lot of my music.
Posted on: 07 January 2012 by sangsang
Markush yes single hdd can be used in 2 bays nas, I tried before.
Posted on: 07 January 2012 by sangsang
Sorry markush pls ignore my pervious post, I'm new in using naim forum apple apps
Posted on: 09 January 2012 by Stefan Vogt

Very interesting!

How loud is the Synology 212 fan, please?

Can I run it in my lounge?

Best,

Stefan

Posted on: 09 January 2012 by markush
Originally Posted by Stefan Vogt:

Very interesting!

How loud is the Synology 212 fan, please?

Can I run it in my lounge?

Best,

Stefan

The fan noise has even improved compared to the 211. So you will notice more the HDD than the fan. There are special HDDs available that are optimized for low noise (like WD green etc.)

Posted on: 11 February 2012 by RaceTripper

I am thinking about getting the Synology 212J for streaming audio to my UnitiQute. Has anyone used it as an iTunes server and streamed ALAC audio files. Will this work?

Posted on: 18 February 2012 by Vicca
Originally Posted by Stefan Vogt:

Very interesting!

How loud is the Synology 212 fan, please?

Can I run it in my lounge?

Best,

Stefan

I am using 212 NAS from Synology.

Can't hear a fan noice if not at least 40 cm close to NAS.

So, good one I may recommend.

 

Anybody running generic Synology UPnp and n-Stream? How album-cover flow perform?

Anybody knows about a UPnp server that can be installed on DS-212 other than its generic one?

 

For some previous posts:

Twonky can be installed only on a xx7 versions of Synology products.

Posted on: 18 February 2012 by Foot tapper

My Synology 212+ is very quiet.  I cannot hear the fan at more than 2 metres away, even if the rest of the room is silent.  I rip music on to it in AIFF format.  

 

I then have the option to replay using the itunes server or using the on-board uPNP server software (called Diskstation). It can serve the music as AIFF or it can transcode to WAV if I select this in the Diskstation settings.

 

Seems to work perfectly so far.

 

Best regards, FT