Problems with streaming 24/192 to ND5

Posted by: PAJP on 20 November 2011

I've been playing 24/192 FLAC files from my NAS through my ND5 for the last couple of weeks.  The sound quality is wonderful except when there are sudden gaps from time to time for a second or two. I presumed it was a network issue between the NAS and the streamer but when I played the tracks out via USB directly into the ND5 I got the same problem.  No issues at all on 16/44 playback
Any ideas?
Posted on: 21 November 2011 by Chris Shorter

I experienced similar problems with streaming 24/192 stuff. The same tracks were fine when played from a USB flash drive and so I concluded it was a network issue. By installing a dedicated switch the problems have all dissappeared.

 

I never had any problem with 16/44 and 24/96 stuff and have to conclude that 24/192 is much more demanding on the infrastructure.

 

It sounds like you have a different problem if playing from a flash drive is also a faulty.

 

Chris

Posted on: 21 November 2011 by PAJP
What flash drives work best for that level/speed of data transfer? Is it likely that there could be two different issues and that my flash drive isn't fast enough as well as possible network congestion?
Posted on: 21 November 2011 by Chris Shorter
The one I used successfully was a HP 8Gb.

What media server are you using? I'm using JRiver and I noticed that it didn't pre buffer tracks. So, each track ends and the buffer is empty, then it starts buffering the next track. The result is a huge surge of data at the beginning of each track and this overwhelmed the network. After the first few seconds it was ok. There doesn't appear to be a setting on the server so it buffers continuously. Anyway, my improved network can cope.

The Linn site has some useful resources about network configuration and components they recommend.
Posted on: 21 November 2011 by PAJP
Very helpful - many thanks
Posted on: 21 November 2011 by pcstockton
Originally Posted by Chris Shorter:
What media server are you using? I'm using JRiver and I noticed that it didn't pre buffer tracks.

It must.  I am using "Play From Memory" and I am getting gapless replay, so it must be pre-buffering.

 

Maybe try turning off "Play From Memory"?

Posted on: 22 November 2011 by Chris Shorter
I tried this setting and it was a disaster with 24/192. Much more rebuffing at the player. But this was before I sorted out the network and so I should try it again.

Also I have JRiver decode the FLAC to WAV. I haven't tried doing it at the player which would be less network heavy.

Now it's working properly, I don't feel much urge to experiment. 24/192 is magnificent but I honestly am struggling to hear any difference over 24/96, unlike 24/96 over 16/44 where the difference is more marked.
Posted on: 06 June 2012 by Ikoun

I have the same kind of problem home. Files streamed through my HDX works flawlessly with classic rip 16/44, with 24/96 most of the time it works and on 24/192 , i have some pause in the reading or few noise parasite on the music. I am running a Mac Mini server 8Gb RAM last version / my router is a industrial beast from Cisco and i seriously doubt t comes from it. I have a long run of new cable Cat 5e and all the rest is Cat 6. Is the Mac Mini that bad in file sharing ? All the network is in Gigabyte connection.

I would not like to go on the NAS route due to heavy HD i already have for backups. So would a Userve be the solution ? Is the network card of the HDX too poor in performing?

Thank you for your advice.

cheers.