HDX as Server for Sonos?

Posted by: endlessnessism on 19 September 2014

I may well be wrong but I seem to recall posts by people who are using an HDX (or Unitiserve) as the server for Sonos components.  Unfortunately I now cannot find any relevant posts, which may confirm that my memory is playing tricks.

 

I have an HDX SSD + NAS which I use for local playback, and Sonos components in various locations for multi-room playback.  Probably my question is about Sonos rather than the HDX ie, how (step-by-step) do I configure Sonos so that it looks to the HDX as its server?

 

The other question, of course, is whether there is any benefit in doing this.  My Sonos components seem to work perfectly well - they find all the relevant shares on my NAS, update themselves overnight, etc.  Is it going to be any different or better if I use the HDX as a server?

Posted on: 19 September 2014 by NickSeattle
I would run Line Out from the Nait into Sonos Connect and continue using nServe for locally stored music.  The A/D conversion will introduce a time delay though.

Nick
Posted on: 19 September 2014 by DavidDever

If you are using the HDX as a UPnP server for Sonos endpoints (using Sonos apps), no further effort is required, other than to get it onto the same network. If you are using the built-in UPnP/DLNA server on the NAS, same exercise.

 

If you are planning on using the Naim n-Serve app, you'll need to wire it into the Sonos (e.g., analog RCA phono from HDX, not NAIT or DAC) if you want Sonos-synchronized multi-room zones.

Posted on: 19 September 2014 by NickSeattle
Originally Posted by DavidDever:

If you are using the HDX as a UPnP server for Sonos endpoints (using Sonos apps), no further effort is required, other than to get it onto the same network. If you are using the built-in UPnP/DLNA server on the NAS, same exercise.

 

Very sound and experienced advice above, IMHO.  Nick

 

If you are planning on using the Naim n-Serve app, you'll need to wire it into the Sonos (e.g., analog RCA phono from HDX, not NAIT or DAC) if you want Sonos-synchronized multi-room zones.

Dear Mr. Dever,

 

I am schooled to set my Naim source, whether it be CD, streamer or server, whenever practical, to either: digital OR analogue DIN OR analogue RCA.  Your suggestion to take analogue Line-Out off the HDX while it is simultaneously feeding digital into the DAC would appear to violate this principle.  It also precludes playing the LP12 over the Sonos which, while not a stated goal of OP, is free benefit of using Line Out from the Nait. 

 

What is the advantage of your approach versus mine?

 

Thank you.

 

Nick

 

 

Posted on: 20 September 2014 by DavidDever

It is worth pointing out that the tape output buffer in the NAIT XS is passive and, as a consequence, will affect the performance of the entire system; the coaxial input on the DAC as well as the HDX output are pulse-transformer isolated. Latency is a non-issue as the DAC's buffer will introduce a much longer delay than that of the HDX's output stage. If you are feeding the DAC from the SPDIF coaxial output, yes, you could simultaneously feed your Sonos player from the optical digital output without any loss in performance - BUT, you may run into issues when playing back high-sample rate material, given the upper limit on the Sonos.

Posted on: 20 September 2014 by Harry

I have a Play 3 plugged into the network for office duty. It will play anything residing on the NAS which has been ripped by the HDX with all the tags and cover art displayed. 

Posted on: 20 September 2014 by DavidDever
Originally Posted by Harry:

I have a Play 3 plugged into the network for office duty. It will play anything residing on the NAS which has been ripped by the HDX with all the tags and cover art displayed. 

...as it should; anything ripped by the HDX as a Compact Disc is playable as 44.1 kHz / 16-bit (1.4112 Mbps stream rate). Hi-res stuff, on the other hand, is where the problem lies (as Sonos supports up to 48 kHz / 16-bit playback, max 1.536 Mbps stream rate).

Posted on: 20 September 2014 by endlessnessism

I still don't know the answer to my original question - how to configure Sonos to point to the HDX as its server.

 

I can see there is an advanced option to get Sonos to show UPnP servers, and I have checked it.  When I go into music library settings I can see my HDX on the network but I can see it whether or not I have checked the UPnP box.  Selecting the "music" folder under my HDX doesn't seem to do anything to my music library in Sonos.  I'm sure there's something simple that I'm not doing, or doing incorrectly. 

Posted on: 20 September 2014 by DavidDever

I've seen this happen before - turn off all of your ZonePlayers or speakers and bring them up one by one. It's a Sonos thing....