Streaming BIG files

It will probably be the UPNP server and how quickly its transcoding or dishing up the file, i.e. probably not the network or the nas, because even very high def files will hardly scare a t100 network let alone a gigabit network.

I had exactly the same problem.

But I thought it sounded better off the USB stick!!  Sadly, Naim don't seem to take this input seriously and the software for the stick - Playlist, Play from this track etc -  is nothing short of lamentable

Hi Chris,

Is this the first 192 file you've tried to play? If not, and other 192 files play ok, then maybe try a reboot of the nas or even the whole system. 

Cheers

Ricky.

That cant be a network isssue.  It isn't that big of a file.  I suspect it is something with the AIFF conversion to whatever it is converting to.

Thats because all Naim streamers are 'optimised' to use ethernet cable and specifically with WAV from one of their servers. From my experience ethernet delivers better SQ than both SPDIF and USB on the streamers.

Some people, like yourself, prefer the sq from the USB input, why that is is anyone's guess as it seems to have been included as a convenience input..but your preference is very valid. It just goes to show the quality of the streamers. Perhaps Naim will improve the control software for a USB stick in the future when they feel it warrants it.

Jason.

It would be excellent if they did.  I don't necessarily prefer the SQ from the USB as compared with the streamed SQ on normal 16/44 files and quite honestly I expect if I did a randomized, statistically valid, blind comparison I doubt if I could tell the difference.  But that would be true of most people I suspect; golden imaginations are more prevalent than golden ears!

Where I do prefer the USB is on big files like the ones the OP referred to and I think this is because the UQ is always struggling with an insufficient or varying buffer

I have written to Paul Stephenson about the USB.  But USB inputs are not sexy.  They seem to be considered by Naim to be a "convenience" as you say, though quite why one input is given second division status as compared with all the others I don't know. 

In my opinion it is more like a Public Convenience at the moment!

Hi JSH,

When you say the UQ struggles with HiDef, is this the old one? As the feature spec of the UQ2 is designed to cope with "High-resolution 24bit/192kHz"?

Jason.

Hi Jason

It's a new UQ2.  The sound from the 24/192s (I only have two at the moment) is excellent but I can only play them without breakup through the USB.  24/96s are iffy, everything else streams beautifully

JSH

Both my UnitiServe and NDS are running older system software.  Do the most recent updates deal with the 192K playback?  

This is my first large file of this type. 

This may be due to the processor/RAM of the NAS.  It makes a difference,  I had a ReadyNas Duo with  the sparc processor and experienced this problem with the 192/24 files.  I replaced witth the  ReadyNas Pro 2 and have no problems with loading the large files.  It uses the atom dual core.  Just my 2 cents

Anthony

Over WiFI or over cable?

It shouldn't matter with a halfway decent router.

I can easily stream 1080 Video with 5.1 DD sound wirelessly from my server to my WDTV live.  24-192 is child's play.

I have NAS with WD Red drives and NAS with only 2gb RAM, it could stream no problem with any AIFF file, hi res no issue!  Probably need a firmware update on you streamer!

I've had this intermittent playback when my HDX SSD is busy scanning libraries (shares).

Chris, have you noticed whether your US SSD is scanning or updating when you have playback problems?   I changed the scan type to 'manual', so at least I have control over when the HDX is likely to be overloaded !    BTW - I only ever got this when playing 192khz files,  it can happily scan & play 96k files or CD rips simultaneously.

Note to self - must check the amount of RAM in my HDX (512 or 1024mb??)  

Chris,you don't say what Network you are using. Although 192/24 AIFF data rate is relatively trivial, around 10Mbps, a wifi link or Ethernet over mains link, could well suffer (the issues are more than just data rate).

So if all wired, I would look, as you say at Disks and NAS. Now NAS do not necessarily make the best streamers as they have limited horsepower. However many are capable of hidef  video streaming which can be around 10Mbps or higher... However it might be worth streaming from a MAC or PC temporarily over your wired network to see if you isolate the issue.

in short these days 192/24 (AIFF or WAV) is a trivial data rate, so you dont need to worry that you are unduly stressing things, but it is more likely to expose issues elsewhere. But a wired network using 100Mbps links, unless faulty, will have no issue.

Simon

Not sure if you are wireless or wired Chris, but I suffered regular buffering issues on larger files when i was streaming wirelessly until I wired my Uniti back to a switch.

Since then no issues with high res files.

Do you have your nas set to transcode files in media server Chris?

Hi Chris

No solution I'm afraid but I am running a Synology DS212j with slowish WD (older than red) drives as a mirrored RAID. It's wired through a GB switch to my UQ2 I and have no problem playing 24/192 FLAC files.

I have transcoding set to off.

As I say, no solutions but at least you know that the NAS and WD drives should work at least in theory.

Hope you get things sorted out.

If its a wired network I would be amazed if it couldn't stream a file of that size. I can stream full HD and 3d video over my network and still use other devices elsewhere at the same time

I'm using a new Synology DS213j with 2 Western Digital Red Drives in a wired ethernet cat6 network.  I am not using the media server (UPNP) software package on the NAS... no transcoding is occurring.  

Both my UnitiServe and NDS are in need of software updates.  I'm hoping this is where the trouble is.  

It doesn't make sense to me to install a streaming system, but then ferry your files around on a stick.

Sorry, but  rubbish Winky!!

It makes perfect sense.  A half decent system with multiple inputs should be able to play all those input sources the same.   Why is one "more important" than another?   Imagine the fuss if those using an LP12 could not listen to their vinyl because the vinyl input had not been thought through.

The UQ2 should do this or they shouldn't put on a USB at all.  It is a poorly conceived job on the UQ2 at the moment and Naim should do something about it

My UQ plays 192 files without issues via the bottom of the range Qnap TS-412 but the UQ is on a wired LAN. I use minim server on the Qnap which only uses the Arp CPU and i transcode flac to wav on the fly. Never had buffer issues, use a HP Procurve 1410 switch at the heart of the network.

On my Synology DS212j if I use transcoding then I get problems playing back flac files transcoded to wav at or above 24/96. No issues if I turn transcoding off. ND5XS says connecting but will then automatically jump forward to a track it can play?

Sounds like the processor on the NAS can't cope to transcode the FLAC realtime And ND5XS doesn't want to wait any longer So it skips to another track.

cheers

Aleg