NAS for NDX

I'm not familiar with your Zyxel NAS, but the way it shows your music files is down to the UPnP server you run on it. Twonky is not the most popular server, and if it can run Asset or Minimserver instead, you may find it better. If you need to change the hardware as well, try a basic QNAP, Synology or ReadyNAS.

If tracks are displayed in the wrong order, it is likely that Twonky is set to display them alphabetically rather than in the correct order, and/or that it is using folder view, rather than reading the metadata.

I've seen discussions about this on various fora, and a quick google found me an old one here, I don't use Twonky (mediaserver on Synology), so can't vouch for this, but have a look at the link to instructions in the thread I link below, it may be of use.

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...racks-alphabetically

All your numbered priorities 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 will be satisfied with a NAS from either Synology or QNAP or ReadyNAS

For UPnP software,  Synology comes with their own ‘Media Server’ or 3rd party Minimserver included in their preinstalled Package Centre.     QNAP will run with Asset & Minimserver.   Not sure too much about ReadyNAS but I understand they run Asset & Minimserver.  Avoid Twonky

QNAP + MinimServer is all you need 

Would agree with the QNAP/Minimserver suggestions, but would add that it's worth choosing a hard drive designed for continuous use, such as WD Red or Seagate IronWolf, and to buy a 2TB  (at least) if all you think you'll need is a 1TB.

Those discs fill up quickly, the extra cost of a larger-capacity drive is pretty marginal, and it will save a lot of faff later when you'd otherwise start running out of space.

Oh, and I'd run the NAS and NDX through a local dedicated switch, which won't cost you much – a five-port Netgear is on the right side of £20 – , and run a connection from that to your network router for Internet access, etc.

Thanks Andrew,

I will go for WD 2TB, partly as I have use several WD products and discs and have had no problems.

Hadn't thought about using a dedicated switch but it makes sense so I will do this.

Just leaves the NAS itself. Will probably go for the QNAP TS-128 but will ponder that for a few days before purchase.

An advantage of a Qnap is that you can run Asset. It’s easier to set up than Minim, and automatically rescans for new albums, without having to fire up the computer to rescan via MinimWatch. 

qnap with asset is a good idea  . mine has been faultless for 4 years// no increase in noise etc  / I like the web interface too. 

I would support the advice on the QNAP in combination with asset. You can better the QNAP and your overall musical performance by using a better power supply to the QNAP so you even have the opportunity to upgrade....

When you do get a NAS I would recommend setting it up as a single large disc. I made the mistake of setting my 2 bay NAS as RAID1 thus wasting half the capacity. RAID of any sort is not a true backup and if your NAS is only used for media streaming is completely irrelevant - it may be useful if you have other things going on with the NAS which need continuous availablity. Use an external USB drive for backup and keep it somewhere different from where the NAS is.

I thought migrating back from RAID1 to JBOD would be easy - I was wrong; it involves a factory reset with all data erased, at least it does on QNAP.

When I first had an ND5XS I used a Zyxel NSA325, which came with Twonky. I didn't get on with Twonky, though iirc it was connectivity issues rather than anything else, and loaded (free) Logitech Media Server, which worked without a hitch and displayed files correctly - which to me was using my chosen file storage system, mimicking my former CD and LP system (genre-artist (folders named by my preference, alphabetically by band name, surname first for solo works, composer surname first for classical) - album, etc), and actually with the Naim app controlling the ND5XS they all showed up correctly even where metadata was completely missing.

But the NSA325 was irritatingly noisy (predominently fan noise), and worsened over time  - and in that regard it didn't help that it was in the music room to enable as simple a network as possible for music: it was audible from the listening position during quiet music passages, and was an unpleasant constant background noise when music was not playing. It is now relegated to general purpose use, not music, in a cupboard elsewhere in the house. 

If in the music room, or indeed any living room, I heartily recommend a silent NAS, so fronm that angle endorse the QNAP suggestions even tnough I don't have personal experience of it. For music I actually replaced my Zyxel with a Mac Mini, running Serviio (another free UPnP server), and it worked a treat with the ND5XS. MM does have a fan, but it is low speed and is so quiet that it is inaudible more than a foot or two away in a quiet room. I use SSDs, so not even any disc noise.

(A bit different now as I run Audirvana on the MM, feeding my DAC direct, so no streaming of stored files across a network - sound quality better, but library handling not as good, though that is Audirvana's fault.)

Innocent Bystander posted:

When I first had an ND5XS I used a Zyxel NSA325, which came with Twonky. I didn't get on with Twonky, though iirc it was connectivity issues rather than anything else, and loaded (free) Logitech Media Server, which worked without a hitch and displayed files correctly - which to me was using my chosen file storage system, mimicking my former CD and LP system (genre-artist (folders named by my preference, alphabetically by band name, surname first for solo works, composer surname first for classical) - album, etc), and actually with the Naim app controlling the ND5XS they all showed up correctly even where metadata was completely missing.

But the NSA325 was irritatingly noisy (predominently fan noise), and worsened over time  - and in that regard it didn't help that it was in the music room to enable as simple a network as possible for music: it was audible from the listening position during quiet music passages, and was an unpleasant constant background noise when music was not playing. It is now relegated to general purpose use, not music, in a cupboard elsewhere in the house. 

If in the music room, or indeed any living room, I heartily recommend a silent NAS, so fronm that angle endorse the QNAP suggestions even tnough I don't have personal experience of it. For music I actually replaced my Zyxel with a Mac Mini, running Serviio (another free UPnP server), and it worked a treat with the ND5XS. MM does have a fan, but it is low speed and is so quiet that it is inaudible more than a foot or two away in a quiet room. I use SSDs, so not even any disc noise.

(A bit different now as I run Audirvana on the MM, feeding my DAC direct, so no streaming of stored files across a network - sound quality better, but library handling not as good, though that is Audirvana's fault.)

 

Thanks. The NAS is located in the computer room so noise is not an issue (though it is fine anyway).

Might try installing Logitech Media Server onto the NAS310 as a first step though am not sure how to do it

Dave Swan posted:

 

Might try installing Logitech Media Server onto the NAS310 as a first step though am not sure how to do it

Unfortunately I don't remember what was involved on my NSA325, being the best part of 4 years ago, but I don't recall it being anything other than straightforward. I know there is an option in the Zyxel admin software to disable Twonky.

OK - I now have enough info to make a sensible plan:

- QNAP TS-128

- WD Red 2TB

- Install Asset. If this doesn't do what I want then install Minimserver

- Add a small switch (probably Netgear) dedicated to the NDX and QNAP, bypassing the router

Many thanks to all who contributed

Dave, sorry late on this one - thats almost my system down to a tee - my QNAP is HS 210

from my router to swith and then to NDX, use Asset - easy and very good

Hi Dave,

as I mentioned in Timmo's thread as well.  You may wish to cross reference support between Roon, with your NAS choice.  

I was all hot and ready to try Roon and run it on my QNAP, but then found out the QNAP CPU was underpowered and not recommended.  

BTW, my QNAP TS212-P 2x4TB WD Red has been rock solid for years, and acts as the DLNA/uPNP server for movies and music, QSYNC backup for all our laptops, and runs Anti-virus check on the synced file copies. Been very happy with it, and it's caused me much less headaches than Apple updates have LOL. It's mostly set and forget.

scb