Dipping toes into the NAS (world) with no clue and getting rid of the CD player

ChrisSU posted:

Hmack posted:

Frank Yang posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

For instance; inside a red box it says - Re-rip [114 frames] ?

That usually means the CD is dirty, a few swipes could fix it.

or possibly that there is a physical flaw on the CD that prevents your CD player from reading the track with the absolute accuracy that a dbPoweramp 'secure rip' requires .   

If cleaning the disc doesn't work and you still get the ripping error, then I would change the 'ripping method' from 'secure' to 'burst - no error recovery' in the top options menu, and re-rip the disc (or the specific track that encountered the problem).

Most of the time this will result in a successful rip, and the underlying data error (wherever it is) will be completely inaudible whenever you play the ripped track on your system. 

Remember to switch the ripping method back to 'secure' in preparation for the next CD rip.

Nearly all the CDs I’ve ripped are used, and I just shove them into the drive and let it get on with the job. They rarely, if ever, fail to rip properly. Perhaps dbPoweramp is fussier than others, or maybe your CD drive is a bit iffy - perhaps you could try a different one just to check. 

It happens very rarely, but I have encountered a few used and scratched CDs that will not rip completely successfully when dbPoweramp is used in the 'secure rip' mode - remember that dbPoweramp is designed to produce a bit perfect rip and so even some very small imperfections can result in a less than perfectly 'secure' rip. 

The one thing I didn't mention in my post for the OP, is that dbPoweramp will (almost) always complete the rip even if it has discovered a number of errors. So in the case of the OP's problem, if a message of 'Re-rip [114 frames]' is displayed, dbPoweramp will, if asked to do so,  attempt to resolve the errors and continue on to completion, but it is likely to take a very long time, possibly around 15 or 20 minutes or more. I find that if there are a large number of frames to re-rip, e.g. 20+ or so, it is much more convenient to simply re-rip the track without error recovery, but it's very much a matter of choice and convenience. Almost always, the non secure rip will be fine and the underlying flaw won't be noticed in playback.

I have come across very infrequently the odd track (mostly on old classical CDs purchased from charity shops) that display a requirement to re-rip a number of frames in the 000s. It might take an hour or so to re-rip the track securely.     

Thank you HMACK for clearing that up. Yes, what you say has been my exact experience too and again I thank you for your reply. It all makes perfectly good sense to me.

I will continue to rip in FLAC just as HH has advised me to do and use your method explained above to get over the offending discs or tracks. It works.

Hi guys,

I know I may already have asked this question before and earlier in this thread and I was given a few good recommendations by some of you but I am still a bit unsure as to what to purchase because the prices do vary quite a bit. I don't want to overspend on something that will be OTT or over specified for my needs but at the same time I do want reliability and good quality that will go well with a Naim network player.

I'm just about to order my NAS online as I now have the funds to do the purchase, so here goes...

What make or and model number should I choose?  I don't have any experience with NAS drives so I am out of my comfort zone here and i'm going to have to put my trust in to you guys based from your own experiences and know how. I do hope to be ordering one this evening and it will probably be purchased on the back of one of your recommendations. Budget is around £500 but would prefer it to be lower if possible. It's now crunch time.

Many thanks.

You may want to check out http://docs.linn.co.uk/wiki/in.../NAS#Recommended_NAS

I personally go for the QNAP TS-251+ and I added 4GB RAM. The reason I go for QNAP because of the Asset PnP.

Indeed for music streaming and other basic duties (i.e. not video streaming!), you only need a basic NAS.

I would recommend something with a basic dual core processor and at least 256Mb of RAM, but that's all you really need.  There's no need for more RAM or a model with a higher powered processor.  QNAP and Synology are both very reliable.

Single disk is OK, but a dual disk enclosure is useful if you want to expand in the future.  Mirroring is unnecessary as you'll still need a backup anyway (just like for your main computer storage).

1000 CDs will occupy about 0.5Tb, so to allow space for some HiRes (up to about 20%), I'd say allow 1TB per 1000 CDs you want to hold.  It's worth adding a little extra as the NAS can also be used as your primary backup for your computer.

When faced with the same decision for my other half (we're separated), I bought her a Synology 216J with a WD Red 3TB disk.  This has been very successful: quiet in operation, no trouble and plenty powerful enough, with power and room to spare.  The 216j has just been replaced by the 218j, so if you choose Synology, you may want to go for that.

Frank Yang posted:

You may want to check out http://docs.linn.co.uk/wiki/in.../NAS#Recommended_NAS

I personally go for the QNAP TS-251+ and I added 4GB RAM. The reason I go for QNAP because of the Asset PnP.

Exactly what I have and it is brilliant value.

As for adding extra ram, it may seem like it's not needed but I'm glad I did as Roon Server takes up a fair bit when it's running and it's quick, easy and cheap to do.

Like most people I use WD Red discs.

Stephen Tate posted:

Hi guys,

I know I may already have asked this question before and earlier in this thread and I was given a few good recommendations by some of you but I am still a bit unsure as to what to purchase because the prices do vary quite a bit. I don't want to overspend on something that will be OTT or over specified for my needs but at the same time I do want reliability and good quality that will go well with a Naim network player.

I'm just about to order my NAS online as I now have the funds to do the purchase, so here goes...

What make or and model number should I choose?  I don't have any experience with NAS drives so I am out of my comfort zone here and i'm going to have to put my trust in to you guys based from your own experiences and know how. I do hope to be ordering one this evening and it will probably be purchased on the back of one of your recommendations. Budget is around £500 but would prefer it to be lower if possible. It's now crunch time.

Many thanks.

Qnap Ts 253a with 4gb ram and two 3TB WD red drives. 

Synology DS218+ / 4tb Red drive / dBpoweramp / WAV.????

I would stick to a single drive NAS, as long as you can get one with a large enough capacity. Either a basic Synology Discstation DS117 or 118, running Minimserver, or a comparable QNAP running Asset. The drives can be bought separately (installation is very easy) and for any of the above, a Western Digital Red of whatever size you need is the tried and tested choice. 

Remember that you will need a backup too. A cheaper USB drive should suffice, and any NAS will run automatic backup software. 

Tony2011 posted:

Synology DS218+ / 4tb Red drive / dBpoweramp / WAV.????

This ^^^, although I would go for the cheaper 218j. Worth getting a dual disk capability, even if you start with a single drive to save money. You can always add another drive later.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Qnap Ts 253a with 4gb ram and two 3TB WD red drives. 

Hi Nigel,

Can I just run with just one drive for the moment, then add another one later? 

Also, because I have ripped most of my music in FLAC I take it I need Asset?

Thanks

Huge posted:

Indeed for music streaming and other basic duties (i.e. not video streaming!), you only need a basic NAS.

I would recommend something with a basic dual core processor and at least 256Mb of RAM, but that's all you really need.  There's no need for more RAM or a model with a higher powered processor.  QNAP and Synology are both very reliable.

Single disk is OK, but a dual disk enclosure is useful if you want to expand in the future.  Mirroring is unnecessary as you'll still need a backup anyway (just like for your main computer storage).

1000 CDs will occupy about 0.5Tb, so to allow space for some HiRes (up to about 20%), I'd say allow 1TB per 1000 CDs you want to hold.  It's worth adding a little extra as the NAS can also be used as your primary backup for your computer.

When faced with the same decision for my other half (we're separated), I bought her a Synology 216J with a WD Red 3TB disk.  This has been very successful: quiet in operation, no trouble and plenty powerful enough, with power and room to spare.  The 216j has just been replaced by the 218j, so if you choose Synology, you may want to go for that.

Hi Huge,

I do like the pricing for the 218j, will it matter that I have ripped in FLAC?

Also, will I need to purchase a switch?

Thanks

Suzy Wong posted:

Tony2011 posted:

Synology DS218+ / 4tb Red drive / dBpoweramp / WAV.????

This ^^^, although I would go for the cheaper 218j. Worth getting a dual disk capability, even if you start with a single drive to save money. You can always add another drive later.

Hi Suzy Wong,

Why would you choose the cheaper one and is there an advantage to having two drives?

I am a bit confused as to why one needs two drives, would the music on my laptop not act as a back up?

Thanks

Tony2011 posted:

Synology DS218+ / 4tb Red drive / dBpoweramp / WAV.????

Hi Tony,

I have ripped to FLAC not WAV. Does this mean I am tied to Qnap?

Thanks

You can use FLAC or WAV with any popular server. If you change your mind, you convert your library from one format to the other at any stage. Don’t worry about it!

As you can see i'm becoming a little bitwhich is why I have asked each of you similar questions, just need to get my head together.

ChrisSU posted:

You can use FLAC or WAV with any popular server. If you change your mind, you convert your library from one format to the other at any stage. Don’t worry about it!

Ok, thanks Chris!

If that being the case then I will probably go with a Synology 218J because of it's competitive pricing.

Do you think this is more than ok? and I can just use one drive?

Thanks

Stephen Tate posted:

ChrisSU posted:

You can use FLAC or WAV with any popular server. If you change your mind, you convert your library from one format to the other at any stage. Don’t worry about it!

Ok, thanks Chris!

If that being the case then I will probably go with a Synology 218J because of it's competitive pricing.

Do you think this is more than ok?

Thanks

I feed an NDX and a Nova from a Synology 216j which was the previous model (16 and 18 in the model number are the years of launch) and it works very well, I also have a 115j which is the model down as my backup drive and that also works fine as a music server. So I’d have no worries about the 218j.

Eoink posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

ChrisSU posted:

You can use FLAC or WAV with any popular server. If you change your mind, you convert your library from one format to the other at any stage. Don’t worry about it!

Ok, thanks Chris!

If that being the case then I will probably go with a Synology 218J because of it's competitive pricing.

Do you think this is more than ok?

Thanks

I feed an NDX and a Nova from a Synology 216j which was the previous model (16 and 18 in the model number are the years of launch) and it works very well, I also have a 115j which is the model down as my backup drive and that also works fine as a music server. So I’d have no worries about the 218j.

Thanks Eoink!

Sorry for dripping on with questions folks - I just don't want to F***up.

If you get Synology you can’t (easily) use Asset. I’d go with Qnap. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

If you get Synology you can’t (easily) use Asset. I’d go with Qnap. 

Ah yes, I do now recall you saying about this Nigel, I knew there was something, I just could not quite remember what it was.

I'll get the Qnap - I trust your judgement.

Many thanks.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Qnap Ts 253a with 4gb ram and two 3TB WD red drives. 

Done! 

That’s the spirit. 

Stephen Tate posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Qnap Ts 253a with 4gb ram and two 3TB WD red drives. 

Done! 

As strange as it may seem, it now feels like a whole different world and a sort of relief if I must say so myself!

Thank you everyone for all of your help & guidance so far, you have all been unbelievably informative and patient, I really do appreciate it.

Now for the network player!