In an attempt to “stream enable” my office system (was using my PC as source so far) I recently bought an SOtM SMS-200 “Ethernet to USB bridge”. After the usual “storming” phase where nothing was working (my dated DAC was to blame...) and a “norming” phase (aka “get expert help from product support”) I am now very happy I deed - aka the “performing” phase. But I realized some interesting (for me) things along the way that might be of interest to somebody else, hence this post.
1. The NAIM app is pretty good (it apparently takes fiddling with others to realize this). In the beginning I was dismayed that there would be no iOS app suitable to run the thing but this is not true. I have played with iPeng, Linn Kazoo, mconnect, LUMIN. I still find the NAIM app the most intuitive to work with.
2. The SMS-200 has several modes of “renderer” operation. I currently use it as a UPNP renderer (much like a NAIM streamer). But it also has the option to run in parallel as a UpnP server (minim server) using an 1TB USB disk attached to it (i used the USB disk I keep my QNAP backups).
As the unit is dead silent I have now shut down both my Seagate and QNAP NAS and stream to both office and main system from the SMS-200’s minim server.
For some strange reason I can even stream over WiFi to the NDX up to and including 192 kHZ files.
So I have gotten myself “accidentally” a silent NAS.
I can not compare the sound quality between the QNAP’s minim server in wired mode to the NDX against the SMS-200 minim Server over WiFi but the lack of the residual NAS noise (the QNAP is on the rack, no option to run Ethernet in the living room) gives me an exhilarating feeling, I would choose this even at the cost of some SQ degradation (which I have no evidence for though). My feeling is that there is a fair balance between the fact that the SMS-200 is optimized for audio and the disadvantages of WiFi.
Of course this “NAS” is not an option for large databases but for me is perfect and I am now contemplating a proper server solution for the main system (the NAIM Core is unfortunately out of the question due to its idiosyncratic metadata handling).
3. I also got a Roon Test license and played with the SMS-200 as a Roon entry point. The ability to navigate and browse notes etc is really appealing (yes, one can find all this info in google but this is almost like saying that you can find all ingredients in a grocery store as an argument against a good dinner out). So the “server” of the aboveboard paragraph better be able to run Roon Core!
Just some thoughts...
Posted on: 17 February 2018 by Harry
It sounds like you have a proper server solution already.
I'll certainly keep that NAS in mind if I move on from QNAP. I have four of them and none is silent, although none can be heard above playing music or streaming videos to the telly.
Most interesting.
Posted on: 17 February 2018 by Innocent Bystander
So, am I understanding correctly - you can attach a USB SSD and have store-renderer, which has the advantage of having been built optimised for audio? So in effect it is a direct Melco, Innuos Zenith and possibly Core competitor? It will be interesting to know how it compares with those for sound quality.
Posted on: 17 February 2018 by DrPo
Yes (to your first question).
About comparisons: Cannot talk about SQ and also it misses functionality vs the products you mention - like automated backups. I may attempt to install a short Linux backup script I was using in the past. Ripping I don’t care for.
The direct competition is with the “servers” the same company produces but with 1Tb of SSD these go price-wise above either Innuos Zenith or Melco and close to Antipodes territory. But again this is not apples to apples as Melco cannot (at this point and if I am not mistaken) run Roon Core.
So: not direct competitor but a neat silent solution which I am happily living with at the moment.
i suspect that running both minim server and powering the attached USB will take some toll on the SMS’s performance. The unit is upgradeable through external LPS and external clock. So many possibilities...
Posted on: 18 February 2018 by nbpf
So, am I understanding correctly - you can attach a USB SSD and have store-renderer, which has the advantage of having been built optimised for audio? So in effect it is a direct Melco, Innuos Zenith and possibly Core competitor? It will be interesting to know how it compares with those for sound quality.
I have raised this question a number of times in the CA forums. Specifically, I have asked whether ultraRendu and sMS-200ultra can run MinimServer and serve local data. In the first case, these would have to be stored on the microSD card, the 200ultra has USB ports to which one can attach external drives. In the case of the sMs-200ultra the answer was positive as confirmed by DRPO's original post. A problem with both the ultraRendu and with the sMS-200ultra is that they do not have a wireless interface. On CA there have also been rumors that Schiit might come up with a new device in Q1 or Q2 2018, but it is not clear whether this will be a server, a network player or just a DDC that supports switching between different formats. Frankly speaking, I find the current music server landscape simply depressing: OSs that are distributed via snail mail, inexistent documentation, lack of long-term support ... many manufacturers do not appear even to be able to explain in understandable terms what a device is meant to provide. Under these circumstances I would rather spend my money on a good DAC and on a good isolator and rely on well established off-the-shelf solutions for storing and serving music.
Posted on: 18 February 2018 by DrPo
Hi NBPF, i have the “entry” SMS-200, not the ultra, although in hindsight I should have gotten there directly as it has the superior clock built in. With a good LPS and a USB DAC it would certainly rival my main rig NDX-based streaming solution.
