24/192 FLACs buffering

Posted by: antonyl1 on 13 July 2014

Hi,

 

I'm experiencing severe buffering when trying to play 24/192 FLACs on my Uniti.  My set up is as follows:

 

Uniti with 24/192 upgrade running firmware version 3.21

BT Home Hub 4

Devolo AV500 powerline adapters

Iomega HomeCloud NAS

 

I have several 24-bit files on the NAS at various sampling rates.  They all stream fine with the exception of a single album of harp music downloaded from Linn.  It's by far the largest album in terms of file size and it's now buffering so badly it's practically unplayable.

 

Until recently it payed just fine so now I just can't understand why it has suddenly started doing this.  Is it the Uniti, the NAS, the Powerline adapters, the network, or maybe even the file?  I've run a LAN Speed Test and it looks like there's plenty of bandwith and the internet connection is pretty solid - I can comfortably stream 1080p films on Netflix without any interruption.  

 

Any advice/theories gratefully received.

 

Thanks,

 

Antony

Posted on: 13 July 2014 by Hmack

Hi Antony,

 

I would say almost certainly the Powerline adapters.

 

I had no problem whatsoever with standard resolution over powerlines, but experienced buffering with hi-res. My powerline adapters should in theory have ben more than capable of supporting hi-res, but weren't able to. in practice.

 

I now only use powerlines for a bedroom system, and for sundry computer based connections.. 

 

Bear in mind also that a number of people on the forum would recommend giving up your powerlines for other reasons.  

Posted on: 13 July 2014 by Mike-B

+1 the powerline adaptors are the most likely problem.  I've never used them & based on what I've seen with a friends system, the advise from Naim,  posts on this forum & around the www, probably never will. 

Also based on my real life experience the BT hub is not a suitable to use as a switch, especially with continuous high density files.  Its good for iRadio & general wireless traffic,  but as a network switch BT hubs don't cut the mustard. You need to add a simple unmanaged switch after the hub, then branch off that to the Uniti & the NAS; preferably via ethernet cables or if you cannot go ethernet, the Devolo's.  

Posted on: 13 July 2014 by antonyl1

Thanks for the replies, guys.

 

I thought you might mention the adapters.  I just find it odd that they will happily handle 1080p video and multi-channel audio but can't handle a 2-channel hi-res FLAC which should require a lot less bandwith.

 

I had considered a switch which I might get anyway on the basis that I have nothing to lose by doing so.  I know they're not ideal but the adapters are here to stay: it's that or wireless.

Posted on: 13 July 2014 by RaceTripper

I was unable to stream 24/192 FLAC files to my ND5/XS over any kind of wireless LAN connection. It worked just fine with 24/96 for for higher res I had to run a physical ethernet cable between the ND5 XS and the NAS hosting the FLAC files.

Posted on: 13 July 2014 by Hugh Craig

I started wireless but got severe buffering. I also tried Devolo plugs but did not find these much better. In the end there was nothing for it but to run cable from my router downstairs to my ND5XS upstairs. SWMBO not too impressed but I have not had any problems (with streaming!!) since.

Hugh

Posted on: 13 July 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Originally Posted by Hugh Craig:

I started wireless but got severe buffering. I also tried Devolo plugs but did not find these much better. In the end there was nothing for it but to run cable from my router downstairs to my ND5XS upstairs. SWMBO not too impressed but I have not had any problems (with streaming!!) since.

Hugh

Posted on: 15 July 2014 by Goon525

I'm another who took Simon's advice, and moved away from troublesome internet-over-mains to a direct wired solution. No problems since. He does seem to know what he's talking about!

Posted on: 27 July 2014 by antonyl1

Just thought I would post a quick update.  Bought a gigabit switch, installed it and problem solved! 24/192 files now streaming fine.

 

Separating out the data streams seems to have been the key. 

Posted on: 27 July 2014 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by antonyl1:

.............  bought a gigabit switch, installed it and problem solved! 

The only way !!!  

The routers & hubs supplied by the ISP's are not good for audio streaming

Now all you need to do is install ethernet

Posted on: 27 July 2014 by The Meerkat

I have installed flat Cat6 Ethernet cables. They actually slide very nicely down between the carpet and the skirting board. They are so thin you can't see them. Or, pull the carpet up slightly, and lay the cables flat. You'll never see them! Even if you had to pay a carpet fitter a few £ to 'kick' the carpet back on the grippers, it'll be well worth it!