NAS Devices: Basic info for a complete novice
Posted by: pjl2 on 07 August 2012
There is a possibilty that I will get into streaming in the not too distant future. I do not want to stream from my PC as I don't like the idea of having to have it running whenever listening to music. So I propose to use a NAS device to stream from. Here are my very basic questions:
1. Am I correct in thinking that in operation the NAS drive is completely independant of my PC, ie. no need to have the PC running when music is being streamed from the NAS?
2. Is a NAS drive left permanently powered up, ie. not shut down and re-booted each day? Does it go into a standby mode and activate automatically when required to do so by another device on the network? Or is it running permanently no matter what?
3. Where do people generally physically locate the NAS drive? I understand that a wired connection to a streamer will generally give better sound than wireless. Therefore it seems to me logically that it would be best to locate the NAS drive close to the streamer to allow for this, and connect it wirelessly to the router, rather than locate it close to the router with a wireless connection to the streamer. Does this make sense, or am I talking gibberish? If located in the listening room would mechanical noise be an issue?
4. If streaming to say a Squeezebox Touch then does any special software need to run on the NAS drive to allow for this?
5. If the music is stored in iTunes then does the whole of the iTunes application need to loaded onto the NAS? When tracks are selected on the streaming device then does one see the iTunes interface as on a PC or does the streamer impose its own interface independant of the type of library the music is stored in?
6. What are the criteria to consider when choosing a NAS drive? Do different ones sound different?
As you can see I'm pretty ignorant of all this. No doubt after owning a NAS drive for a short while it all becomes blindingly obvious, but to me at present it is all a great big mystery!
Thanks,
Peter
Theres supposed to be one on these at the end of the above post. Won't stick.
Damn It!
Russ….Good luck with your quest, let us know how you get on.
>Snip
Peter, why don;t you like Apple as a company? I've always found them most helpful and a breath of fresh air from the times when I had to deal with the Gatesian empire. Though they are not Naim, Linn, Rega or conrad-johnson when it comes to support, as computer companies are not like that.
Guy
Hi Guy
Since seeing your question I have been trying to recall which machine it was my misfortune to purchase that gave rise to my dislike for the company – I’ve been trying to forget them to be honest. 
From memory and searching the net I would say it looks like the Apple II model; can’t be 100% sure but it looks very close. Early 80’s I would say.
Very unpleasant experience, the exact opposite to yours it would seem. Personally I have no real complaint with the opposition, used them for years to great effect.
I had been a Naim customer for several years by that time and knew how a decent company treats its customers; not that I had then or now had a duff product from Naim.
Anyway, I felt that the poor old PC needed a champion against the upstart to level the playing field here.
All the best
Peter
1980's!! most computer companies couldn't support a paperback back in those days. For Hi-Fi and other industries it was different.