Melco re-visit Pt 03 - Alan Ainslie audio interview

After two years of a UnitiServe, and having to phone Naim when anything went awry, I really appreciate the nas which is just bog standard, and which I can sort out for myself. The idea of a Melco seems rather like a UnitiServe, but you have to call on Melco when anything goes wrong, which of course it will. After having the US on the rack, and now being able to hide the nas in the dining room, which is great (just three equal sized boxes on the rack) I don't want to return to equal but different in the shape of a Melco.

Perhaps in three seconds I could detect a difference. I guess that if I can hear differences between a US and Minim on a Synology I'll be able to hear that a Melco is different. I'm not saying it's not better. I'm just interested in why it might be, I suppose. 

Dan43 posted:

I'm not sure any advantage comes from it just the option should you choose, plus brings to the party as such.

Minimserver will play DSD. 

The sooner Melco can get Minimserver out in general circulation the better. They've been at it for a long time now.

Bottom line is try one in your own system then decide. Don't pre-judge based on techie computer/network stuff.

Devices like Melco and Aurender consolidate NAS and UPnP server into a single optimised box.  They can also play via USB to suitable DACs. There are some interesting technical enhancements and tweaks that may or may not work in our systems. The only way to know is to try.

I had a Melco for a weekend a while ago, to help set up Minimserver, I only tried if briefly but I can certainly see the attraction of a well engineered solution which aims to reduce RF and noise to the player and DAC. This has to be a good thing.

We all think our systems sound great. Perhaps one of these devices can improve sound quality and musicality even more. It may seem like witchcraft and black magic, but didn't we used to say that about power cords? Try one and let your ears (and wallet) decide. Best case it makes a significant difference, worse case it sounds the same.

Harry posted:

Dan43 posted:

I'm not sure any advantage comes from it just the option should you choose, plus brings to the party as such.

Minimserver will play DSD. 

The sooner Melco can get Minimserver out in general circulation the better. They've been at it for a long time now.

Hi Harry,

Alan told me that the Melco will always ship with Twonky, but MInimserver is a simple software update which is already available.

Keith

Harry posted:

Dan43 posted:

I'm not sure any advantage comes from it just the option should you choose, plus brings to the party as such.

Minimserver will play DSD. 

The sooner Melco can get Minimserver out in general circulation the better. They've been at it for a long time now.

Thanks for that info. Harry. Not that I've got many DSD files but it's nice to know.

I've installed Minimserver on my Melco but it's not quite as straightforward as Keith has suggested. You need to contact Simon on the Minimserver forum & he then sends you the detailed instructions.

Harry posted:

Dan43 posted:

I'm not sure any advantage comes from it just the option should you choose, plus brings to the party as such.

Minimserver will play DSD. 

The sooner Melco can get Minimserver out in general circulation the better. They've been at it for a long time now.

I think one of the issues with general distribution of MinimServer is its need for Java.  Java licensing can be complicated (iirc) for commercial use.

The Melco provided a distinct audio advantage to my ears over my Synology running Minim with SSD drives. My Synology isn't optimised for anything mind it is just connected via network cable directly to the Netgear switch and thus to the N272, although it is plugged into a power conditioner from Atlas that also runs the 272/250.

Removing for those here the ease of use, as setting up a Synology/Minim doesn't take too much work, the Melco has a low noise floor, or inkier blacks, and in Direct Mode enhances that playback a little further, for me it is cymbals ringing out longer and more being brought forward and a little more being dug out of the playback, it reminds me of how the HCDR on the SN2 added more layers (digging out more) but adding this noise floor, or inkier blackness.

I for one am very pleased with the Melco, it felt like buying a new cable or an HCDR, it added to the overall playback experience in, for me, a distinctive way.

Now, how it manages to achieve this by just building a posh NAS in a box I am finding out as it intrigues me a little too :-)

Ah right Keith. Thanks for that.

I've only got one DSD album Tony. Although from my limited experience of the format I would like to own more and I think it only a matter of time.

My doubt with devices like the Melco is to do with the propitiatory nature of running them. The lack of scalibility and serviceability.  The only network isolator I have tried (the much lauded and positively reviewed Acoustic Revive) made our system sound awful, so that's a bit off putting also.

One should never say never until you've heard one, although I'm currently saying (and advising clients to say) never to SSD drives, which I am finding to be extremely unreliable.

Harry posted:

 

My doubt with devices like the Melco is to do with the propitiatory nature of running them. The lack of scalibility and serviceability.  

Really ? - can't see much of an issue with the HDD model. Hard drive goes, replace it, motherboard, PSU etc do the same. I'd question the value of the SSD models though. At 6K + i'd be more concerned over your issues than the 1.6K of the base model. 

No one's more cynical than me Harry. I made the mistake of trying a Melco in my system; I mean, it couldn't possibly be better than my optimised Mac Mini...

God damn the pusher man.

Harry posted:

................    The only network isolator I have tried (the much lauded and positively reviewed Acoustic Revive) made our system sound awful, so that's a bit off putting also.

.........   interesting,  I heard/read all about the Acoustic Revive LAN Isolator & managed to borrow one.  I tried it at the NDX & NAS ends & it didn't take long to hear it was not all it was hyped up to be. It made me have doubts & wonder what my ears were missing.   I wouldn't say it was awful but for me & 'erself in our system it did either nothing or took a step down in SQ terms,  & considering the price - just glad I didn't buy it thats for sure.    

Like you say - never say never until you've heard one - I say try before buy.

Yes really James. Hot disk swap? Plonking software in a new directory/share? Mirroring? Upgrading? It looks like a simple technology with added expense and complication to justify the expense. 

Tony. Been there! Not with Melco though. Impossible to predict what will happen if I get my ears on one. Never say never. Foe now, I share your cynicism.

Also if using MinimServer and transcoding I find there are SQ differences between what AV libraries are installed on the OS. MinimStreamer uses AVCONV or FFMPEG - I find FFMPEG sounds preferable (and more similar to Asset) when doing FLAC to WAV... so worth checking what is installed on the Melco, Perhaps both libraries are installed - and you can select in MinmStreamer to suit taste.

Simon

It made our system sound incredibly dull Mike. To the extent that neither of us could be bothered to listen to it all that much. After a month I removed it and the magic was instantly restored.

I suppose it’s like anything else. Works in some situations, doesn’t in others. I broke the rule of not listening before purchase because I couldn’t and the price wasn’t too high. It sold on easily enough and I hope it is now in a system where it is appreciated. I’m only down the postage, which seems fair enough.

Ears first.

Harry posted:

Yes really James. Hot disk swap? Plonking software in a new directory/share? Mirroring? Upgrading? It looks like a simple technology with added expense and complication to justify the expense. 

Tony. Been there! Not with Melco though. Impossible to predict what will happen if I get my ears on one. Never say never. Foe now, I share your cynicism.

If it behaves as well as my old Infrant NAS then i'll be quite happy. Just replace a drive once every couple of years if there is a failure no real need to do anything else. Given your concerns i'm surprised you ran an HDX - surely the same sort of issues could occur ?

James

I ran an HDX-SSDD with a NAS for exactly this reason James. If the HDX failed it wouldn't take anything with it and leave the house musicless. And when it did, it didn't. If I'd had my music collection located on a propitiatory device like an HDX with HDD,, or a Melco, it would have been a lot more inconvenient and difficult to manage maintenance, let alone recovery.

Here is another one who now has Audio Revive sitting in the bottom of a cupboard.

Simon

Understood Harry - My Melco is one of 4 devices holding a copy of my library so plenty of backup (and a Mac Mini could take it's place again if things went South...). Putting all your eggs in one basket leads to upset (as seen with the broken Unitserve / HDX threads). I think we're just about on the same wavelength here. 

Simon / Mike / Harry, i've never tried an Acoustic Revive but i've had one of these since my Linn and Naim streamer days from Baaske Medical - sits at the end of my 30m run of cable into the lounge - my only concession to Ethernet W*nkery 

Hi James,  I think there is a difference between these isolators,  the Baaske Medical is designed for medical safety standards compliance,  the AR device only carries promises of noise reduction & sonic perfection.

I might be tempted to get a Baaske to isolate my audio (NAS-switch-ND) if I had a PoE section in other part of my network - which I don't I hasten to add. 

james n posted:

 I think we're just about on the same wavelength here. 

i've had one of these since my Linn and Naim streamer days from Baaske Medical - sits at the end of my 30m run of cable into the lounge - my only concession to Ethernet W*nkery 

Agreed. And grateful for the recommendation. Like the Melco, I might mentally put it in pending but I won't dismiss it and should I cross paths with one.....

£82. Hmmmm. Not bad.

/cogitate

Quite right Mike - it's main role is a high level of electrical isolation in medical applications. I'd got this when i had my Linn DS and a few years back when i'd moved on to an NDX i played around the power supplies on my little (audio network) Netgear switch that sits with my other network gear in the study. The Netgear came with a linear plug top as standard, i also had a switching plug top and also a well over specced linear lab supply to play with. Without the isolator i could detect a slight difference between the linear and SMPS supplies. The sound was harder and brighter with the SMPS being used. With the isolator in place, there was no difference i could detect so it's stayed in other system configurations where a network connection is needed.

All IMHO of course 

Talked for some time today to a member of the Sound Organization team here in the US. They are the US importer for Melco. I was seriously impressed with his description of what the unit does and how it does it. If, like me, you're not an IT expert and don't necessarily  want to become one, but still want to download high defintion music material and store and access your ripped CD's the Melco seems to be an easy to use very elegant high quality solution. I'm going to order one tomorrow from my dealer. Trust me, if I get it working, it will be a slam dunk for most of you posting on this thread.

In a nutshell the concept, as I understand it, is ease of use and elimination of all the electronic noise and glitchy-ness of storing and accessing music from computers and networks. By the way, they have a very high regard for the Unitiserve and the quality of its rips compared to software/CD drive solutions. If software/CD drives give 85% sound quality, the Unitiserve gives 100% but at several times the cost. Becomes a matter of how retentive you are over that last 15%. Melco are looking to bring out something similar in the future. Very interesting stuff. One other interesting comment was that backups are much better and safer using multiple portable  back up hard drives off the USB port on the back of the Melco than saving to a NAS or other netwrk storage. The portables are inexpensive and when not actually in use sit quietly unpowered in a drawer. Buy four and you have safe multiple copies of your music without all the headaches of a network.

Hope this is helpful. Trust me, it was all I could do to remember this much.

Cheers

Hi Clay,

Alan Ainslie has a high regard for the Unitiserve because he was part of the team that designed it.

Good luck with the Melco and please post your findings.

Keith

Clay Bingham posted:

. By the way, they have a very high regard for the Unitiserve and the quality of its rips compared to software/CD drive solutions. If software/CD drives give 85% sound quality, the Unitiserve gives 100% but at several times the cost. Becomes a matter of how retentive you are over that last 15%.

I think you will find folk around these parts that disagree about SQ & think the reverse might be the case.  Then consider the non-standard metadata issues & then reliability.  But as Keith points out,  he was part of the design team.