Can DBPoweramp convert DSF files to Flac or Wav?

The best Media Server for your NAS will depend on what NAS you have and your appetite for setting up arcane configuration items and obtuse UIs.

Got a qnap. Two years old, four bay. Does 214 sound feasible as a model?

And given my command of the keyboard you would be excused for thinking ill of my networking knowhow

For a QNAP 214, I think Asset is probably the best option:
Reasonably easy configuration, high reliability (odd selection results and disappearing tracks are very rare, unlike 'wonky Twonky'), good transcoding, fast production of filtered lists for selection, and good support of a wide range of audio media formats.

Having said that, if Twonky is reliable for you and not giving odd results then it works OK.

Twonky has been generally ok, sometimes losing the album artwork but that's fixed with a rescan. Might give Asset a shot. Thanks again, will explore options and get back to you. 

All of them need the occasional rescan when they miss a change with the automatic indexing; it sounds as though your Twonky setup is working fine.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I think Mike's suggestion of getting source in correct format is best. DSD to PCM convertion is not an exact science. Think AAC/MP3 encoders. Good DSD to PCM converters come in specialist, typically quite expensive, software.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon,

My reason for asking the question is that I would like to play the DSD versions in my nicroRendu/Hugo based system (because it can handle native DSD (or DSF)), but would then have to convert the files in order to play them on my Linn Klimax based system.

However, having read the advice from yourself, Huge and Mike about the issues involved in decoding from DSD to PCM, I guess that my best bet will be to purchase the albums in hi-res FLAC format, and save some money in the process.

Pity that Linn doesn't (and probably never will) support DSD. 

The few DSD tracks I have from Blue Coast sound absolutely fantastic via my microRendu/Hugo, as they also did when I had an ND5XS.Hugo. I guess I will now buy one of their albums in hi-res FLAC just to check how it sounds before purchasing any more.

Incidentally, Keith Greeninger is one of their featured artists.  Only one of his tracks ("Close to the Soul") appears to be available on Tidal, but suffers from some nasty digital artefacts from around hallway through the track. Obviously the Tidal version is FLAC, not DSD. Hopefully, the problems with this track on Tidal are not related to the conversion process (at either the Tidal or the Blue Coast end). 

Huge posted:

PCM to DSD is lossy.

DSD to PCM is lossy

So the recording studio start with a 24/192 PCM studio master (for easier lower loss editing), the the record company convert this to DSD for 'premium price' distribution, then the user converts back to PCM for playback - hmm!

PCM is lossy

DSD is lossy

I just wish the PCM sounded better than the DSD.......

Hmack posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I think Mike's suggestion of getting source in correct format is best. DSD to PCM convertion is not an exact science. Think AAC/MP3 encoders. Good DSD to PCM converters come in specialist, typically quite expensive, software.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon,

My reason for asking the question is that I would like to play the DSD versions in my nicroRendu/Hugo based system (because it can handle native DSD (or DSF)), but would then have to convert the files in order to play them on my Linn Klimax based system.

However, having read the advice from yourself, Huge and Mike about the issues involved in decoding from DSD to PCM, I guess that my best bet will be to purchase the albums in hi-res FLAC format, and save some money in the process.

Pity that Linn doesn't (and probably never will) support DSD. 

The few DSD tracks I have from Blue Coast sound absolutely fantastic via my microRendu/Hugo, as they also did when I had an ND5XS.Hugo. I guess I will now buy one of their albums in hi-res FLAC just to check how it sounds before purchasing any more.

Incidentally, Keith Greeninger is one of their featured artists.  Only one of his tracks ("Close to the Soul") appears to be available on Tidal, but suffers from some nasty digital artefacts from around hallway through the track. Obviously the Tidal version is FLAC, not DSD. Hopefully, the problems with this track on Tidal are not related to the conversion process (at either the Tidal or the Blue Coast end). 

Hi Hmack, yes sounds the best option. I have a few DSD albums, all classical music, and yes I enjoy them.. for the air, space and tonal balance of strings etc.. Hwever i am not sure if that is because of the mastering or recording format. I am also mindful that my current DAC and the Naim DACs essentially are PCM devices and so although they do support DSD, that format is not intrinsically implemented  at the hardware level.

Hi Hmack,

Why not first convert a DSD you already own to FLAC and listen to the result?

You might use DSD2FLAC and experiment with different settings (bitrate, bitdepth, dither...)

I share your idea that DSD's sound better.