Melco Ups The Game

I would find it irritating that a NAS needed a dealer level strip down to update the FW. But as long as there was no charge and you were willing to give up your time, then no harm done I suppose. It won't appeal to everyone but I'm sure Melco have done their customer profiling and price sensitivity studies.

Are the little round silver canisters where they put the snake oil?

Harry posted:

I would find it irritating that a NAS needed a dealer level strip down to update the FW. But as long as there was no charge and you were willing to give up your time, then no harm done I suppose. It won't appeal to everyone but I'm sure Melco have done their customer profiling and price sensitivity studies.

To clarify; I chose to have my firmware upgraded in this way because it gave me a chance to meet and talk with the people who're responsible for the device. Rather easier and more satisfactory than boxing something up & sending it away to a factory somewhere, don't you agree? Of course, you can now freely download the firmware.

If you wish to be cynical, I suggest you try a Melco before making negative insinuations.

tonym posted:

Rather easier and more satisfactory than boxing something up & sending it away to a factory somewhere, don't you agree? 

Yes I very much agree. But that contingency doesn't apply to a NAS surely?

Listening to one is bound to happen at some point. Although interest in listening to one is directly proportional to user serviceability (such as hot swapping HDDs and installing/configuring my preferred server software) and HDD capacity exceeding something like 2T.

Extra sorage can be added easily if needs be. You can install Minimserver, if you so desire, but the on-board software's excellent. Thing is, it sounds really special. 

Tony, sounds like a nice time spent amongst like-minded acquaintances and an upgrade and increased knowledge as well.  Hope the Melco continues to bring you great enjoyment.  regards, Jeff A

Thanks for the heads up Tony. New firmware looks interesting, especially the CD rip function so i'll give it a go when i'm back at home. 

James

tonym posted:

Extra sorage can be added easily if needs be. You can install Minimserver, if you so desire, but the on-board software's excellent. Thing is, it sounds really special. 

Fully agree, the overall increase in sound quality is remarkable. I will soon have my 6tb installed and I will be very happy as this version also has improved power supplies.

I am interested to understand what makes an SSD drive 'audio grade'

Did your man explain what makes an ssd 'audio grade?'

IIRC, I read somewhere that this had to do with radiated noise. The idea was that the Melco SSD firmware kept the internal processing load more or less constant, thus creating a more broadband signature (as opposed to lower frequency spikes that could land in audio range).

I'm intrigued by the Melco and have considered it as a replacement for the Unitiserve, which is beginning to show signs of age. I rather like the idea of plugging the Ethernet straight into the NDS, but the reviews of the this method of connection have been mixed, However, Tony's method of connecting the Melco to the Chord have very well received. I don't understand the scepticism.

Keith

garyi posted:

I am interested to understand what makes an SSD drive 'audio grade'

Did your man explain what makes an ssd 'audio grade?'

The review in this month's Hi-Fi News says their data management has been optimised to suit read-only media files. Not sure if that helps?

KRM posted:

garyi posted:

I am interested to understand what makes an SSD drive 'audio grade'

Did your man explain what makes an ssd 'audio grade?'

The review in this month's Hi-Fi News says their data management has been optimised to suit read-only media files. Not sure if that helps?

I have no idea what that means. Or why or how it affects sonics.

My bias is that there is more room for sonic variance (shall we say) from devices connected directly to a dac that with network servers connected thru a home network, switch, etc etc.  The latter is how I roll; if something can knock my $250 nas off the shelf, I'd be intrigued but skeptical.

The same review focuses on the USB connection, which it rates highly. It references a previous review by Andrew Everard (sometimes of this parish) who found the Ethernet connection sounded only marginally better than a NAS via a switch. Others have found significant improvements. 

Tony

Thanks for the info and picture. Very interesting device. Based on reviews in Britain, I've talked with the importer here in the US who has been very helpful. I'm giving the N1A, the entry level version, a lot of thought but my dealer is urging caution. My dealer is just getting into computer audio and was very impressed with a NDX, Synology, Unitiserve system he put together. We'll have to talk again and see what happens.

Cheers

Clay Bingham posted:

Tony

Thanks for the info and picture. Very interesting device. Based on reviews in Britain, I've talked with the importer here in the US who has been very helpful. I'm giving the N1A, the entry level version, a lot of thought but my dealer is urging caution. My dealer is just getting into computer audio and was very impressed with a NDX, Synology, Unitiserve system he put together. We'll have to talk again and see what happens.

Cheers

I would challenge you to listen to the same system, but with Minim running on the Synology and no UnitiServe in the mix.

Hi Bart

Let's test my ignorance. In your case Minim is a server program located on the Synology NAS replacing the Naim server app on the Unitiserve correct? In this scenario, are you ripping thru your MAC/PC  in lieu of using the Unitiserve?  Not inexpensive but folks seem to agree that the Unitiserve is special/convenient/foolproof as a ripper. What are you seeing as the advantages with your alternative? I'm not Simon, I need easy/straightforward.

Thanks

KRM posted:

The same review focuses on the USB connection, which it rates highly. It references a previous review by Andrew Everard (sometimes of this parish) who found the Ethernet connection sounded only marginally better than a NAS via a switch. Others have found significant improvements. 

Yes, I can see how devices like the Melco can make a huge difference on USB, but on Ethernet there are too many variables, and any benefit may well be temporary as network renderers such as Naim streamers which effectively control the audio transfer might change their audio transfer optimisations between firmware versions.

On MinimServer I have found the biggest change on audio depends on the audio libraries that are used in the OS by MinimStreamer especially when transcoding... and also heard by a few on this forum. I would be intrigued to know what is loaded into Melco and whether you can change these OS libraries to suite.

Simon

Looking at the picture of the inside of the Melco unit makes one appreciate the sheer simplicity of music reproduction via a turntable, arm and cartridge!

Harry posted:

I would find it irritating that a NAS needed a dealer level strip down to update the FW. But as long as there was no charge and you were willing to give up your time, then no harm done I suppose. It won't appeal to everyone but I'm sure Melco have done their customer profiling and price sensitivity studies.

Our store (The Gramophone) Melco N1A was updated in 2 minutes on Thursday of last week with the new firmware. Totally easy and bug free. We connected a $35.00 LG CD/DVD external drive for ripping CDs and it works flawlessly. Our Melco is one of the first in Canada and there will be more for sure.

Best, Bryan

Nick from Suffolk posted:

Looking at the picture of the inside of the Melco unit makes one appreciate the sheer simplicity of music reproduction via a turntable, arm and cartridge!

Hmm, but look at the electronics in a top flight phono preamp and its powersupply , and TT motor regulator... yes definitely not as busy as the Melco... But not a million miles away...

garyi posted:

I am interested to understand what makes an SSD drive 'audio grade'

I recently had an exchange of emails with Alan Ainslie in which I put a similar question to him. This is what he had to say:

Audio Grade SSD was put in place as a result of poor performance of several IT SSD when evaluated in complete machines vs HDD.

There are clear advantages to SSD of course, but two important downsides – one being the use of wear levelling SW running on the derive.  Second is large power spikes due to synchronous addressing of data.

So high grade Flash is used with no wear levelling (or very minimal and disabled in normal operation) and sequential addressing to minimise the PSU spikes.

ATB, David

Regarding the "audio grade" SSDs, IIRC it's something to do with the way data is moved around on these compared to a standard SSD. Maybe someone more technical can explain. Incidentally, it's possible to use Minimserver on the Melco; it's not officially supported but if you visit the Minimserver forum, Mr Spoon'll send you the necessary instructions, although the new system on the Melco works a treat.

Bart posted:

KRM posted:

garyi posted:

I am interested to understand what makes an SSD drive 'audio grade'

Did your man explain what makes an ssd 'audio grade?'

The review in this month's Hi-Fi News says their data management has been optimised to suit read-only media files. Not sure if that helps?

I have no idea what that means. Or why or how it affects sonics.

My bias is that there is more room for sonic variance (shall we say) from devices connected directly to a dac that with network servers connected thru a home network, switch, etc etc.  The latter is how I roll; if something can knock my $250 nas off the shelf, I'd be intrigued but skeptical.

I've always found the proof of the pudding's in the eating. I was pretty skeptical myself (it's just a NAS, isn't it? I mean, it should be easy enough to replicate with a good standard NAS etc.) but I thought I'd better try one before spouting off too much. On your comment regarding direct connection vs. going through a network, looking at the various postings regarding problems with the latter I think a direct USB connection from player to DAC is likely to be rather better.

tonym posted:

Bart posted:

KRM posted:

garyi posted:

I am interested to understand what makes an SSD drive 'audio grade'

Did your man explain what makes an ssd 'audio grade?'

The review in this month's Hi-Fi News says their data management has been optimised to suit read-only media files. Not sure if that helps?

I have no idea what that means. Or why or how it affects sonics.

My bias is that there is more room for sonic variance (shall we say) from devices connected directly to a dac that with network servers connected thru a home network, switch, etc etc.  The latter is how I roll; if something can knock my $250 nas off the shelf, I'd be intrigued but skeptical.

I've always found the proof of the pudding's in the eating. I was pretty skeptical myself (it's just a NAS, isn't it? I mean, it should be easy enough to replicate with a good standard NAS etc.) but I thought I'd better try one before spouting off too much. On your comment regarding direct connection vs. going through a network, looking at the various postings regarding problems with the latter I think a direct USB connection from player to DAC is likely to be rather better.

I went through the same process of being skeptical. But when I was in the market for an upgrade of my storage capacity on my Qnap NAS I had a listen. And it only took me a 5 seconds demo with a friend to appreciate the difference. I gave the Melco already for some time and I haven't looked back at all. I know a lot of people would argue that with a combination of cheaper components the same can be achieved. For once I haven't heard such a solution yet, and 2ndly the Melco solution bears some other key benefits like protection again power outage,mswitch it of like a normal device, looks, ease of use etc....that's a no brainier.

I will be soon transferring to the 6TB version which is even a step up, and I know I will again not look back.