NAS question

quote:

Originally posted by Dustysox:
Hi,

Forgive my limited knowledge on all things PC..

I have an RS3 NAS. My understanding is it has no soundcard etc. This is the bit I can't get me head round!!

Is there a way of connecting this to my Naim DAC (USB?) so as to play itunes/Spotify through system?

Hi Dusty

A NAS is a Network Attached Storage. It offers principly storage space. You need some other device which acts as a mediaplayer that you can connect to the DAC.

Mediaplayers can connect in several ways to a NAS which are technically somewhat different from each other.

Most NASes also have some mediaserver installed like Twonky or you can install Squeezecentre. This mediaserver sends out audio data over the network using a UPnP-protocol.

This requires however that you have either an ordinary computer system attached to the same network that acts as a UPnP capable mediaplayer and than you can connect the digital output of the computer system to the DAC.

You can also attach a UPnP capable mediaplayer specifically designed for the purpose, like a Squeezebox, a Transporter, Naim Uniti or some other of this type of devices. You then connect the digital output of the mediaplayer to the Naim DAC.

A third option is that you use the NAS just as a fileserver (also standard available on all NASes) and attach to the same network a mediaplayer that directly accesses the NAS in the capacity as a fileserver. Devices that work like this are Naim HDX, ordinary computer systems, Popcorn Hour, and several other devices of this type.

The NAS just stores and presents data, now you need some device that takes this data and plays it to a digital output, that you connect to the DAC.

Hope this makes it somewhat clearer ?

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aleg

I'm pretty sure you can't connect NAS drives via USB to the Naim DAC. You will need either a digital streamer or a computer with a digital output to play music or spotify through the DAC.

Dave

Cheers guys, top answers.

So, how would I get music from a PC into DAC? I am using a Logitech Transporter which is fab. The wife and I like to listen to music we would like to buy via Spotify/itunes and then rip to the NAS. Rather than listening on my "crappy" laptop it would be nice to plug into DAC and enjoy.

quote:

Originally posted by Dustysox:
Cheers guys, top answers.

So, how would I get music from a PC into DAC? I am using a Logitech Transporter which is fab. The wife and I like to listen to music we would like to buy via Spotify/itunes and then rip to the NAS. Rather than listening on my "crappy" laptop it would be nice to plug into DAC and enjoy.

Hi Dusty

The RS3, is that the AVA RS3 Music Server?

If so and if you have a Transporter, then it should be enough.

As I understand from here the AVA RS3 Music Server is already able to provide the services for the Transporter to connect to. No need for any extra software or devices.

I suggest you study hard on both manuals to find out how the connect them or contact the dealer of your AVA RS3.

-
aleg

Hi Dusty

The RS3, is that the AVA RS3 Music Server?

If so and if you have a Transporter, then it should be enough.

As I understand from here the AVA RS3 Music Server is already able to provide the services for the Transporter to connect to. No need for any extra software or devices.

I suggest you study hard on both manuals to find out how the connect them or contact the dealer of your AVA RS3.

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aleg[/QUOTE]

Hi Aleg,

Thank you for your help and advice.

Am I right in thinking that the best way forward is to rip all music to NAS and maybe use another PC to connect to DAC for Spotify/itunes? If so, how do I get sound out of PC into DAC on USB?

quote:

Originally posted by Dustysox:
Hi Dusty

The RS3, is that the AVA RS3 Music Server?

If so and if you have a Transporter, then it should be enough.

As I understand from here the AVA RS3 Music Server is already able to provide the services for the Transporter to connect to. No need for any extra software or devices.

I suggest you study hard on both manuals to find out how the connect them or contact the dealer of your AVA RS3.

-
aleg

quote:

Hi Aleg,

Thank you for your help and advice.

Am I right in thinking that the best way forward is to rip all music to NAS and maybe use another PC to connect to DAC for Spotify/itunes? If so, how do I get sound out of PC into DAC on USB?

Hi Dusty

If it is the AVA RS3 Music Server you own, then that is the way to go. But before you start ripping all your CDs I would make sure that you do it with one first and get your Transporter working in combination with the AVA RS3 Music Server. The digital output of the Transporter should be connected to one of the inputs on your DAC.

I'm not familiar with the use of Spotify/iTunes (we cannot use Spotify over here), so maybe someone else can tune in here.

It is not possible to connect a computer to the USB-connector of the DAC.
Any computer digital audio output has to be connected to the S/PDIF-COAX or to the optical TOSLink on the DAC.

I think you have all ingredients there, but get the Transporter -- AVA RS3 Music Server connection sorted out first.

-
aleg

Hi Aleg,

The Transporter works well in conjunction with the RS3. Music ripped as FLAC and at the moment (until funds permit) it is my only source.

Could I add a sound card to the NAS and use digital output into DAC and get itunes etc to play?

quote:

Originally posted by Dustysox:
Hi Aleg,

The Transporter works well in conjunction with the RS3. Music ripped as FLAC and at the moment (until funds permit) it is my only source.

Could I add a sound card to the NAS and use digital output into DAC and get itunes etc to play?

Hi Dusty

I don't think so.

There is not much information on the net about the AVA RS3 Music Server and I don't own one, but it looks like a pretty closed box to me. Usually it is not possible to add hardware to such a device. Also it probably isn't possible to install the required software for receiving Spotify.

So if you want to use Spotify my guess would be you'd have to add a computer to the setup for that purpose.

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aleg

Hi,

Cheers for great answers.

I guess a cheapee PC is the way forward. Maybe a Mac (mini?)and run it headless.

More stuff to learn!!

quote:

Originally posted by Dustysox:
Hi,

Cheers for great answers.

I guess a cheapee PC is the way forward. Maybe a Mac (mini?)and run it headless.

More stuff to learn!!

Good luck with this Dusty.

Many people on this subforum are very, very pleased with Mac Minis, esp since they can spend a lot of extra money to make it perfect (sorry Weiss INT202 guys).

These issues are also the reason I build my own computers, including NASes. I can always decide myself what hardware I wish to add and what special purpose software I would want to be able to run. It's fun but requires quite a lot of computer knowledge and research time.

But it is an enjoyable pastime.

Cheers

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aleg

I have to say the ripcasters are a silly amount of money. You could have a mini and 3 TB of storage for that amount.

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
I have to say the ripcasters are a silly amount of money. You could have a mini and 3 TB of storage for that amount.

Garyi,

You have a fair point. However, for the PC tech challenged (me!) people the RS3 is a quick solution to NAS entry.

Now....if I equated my audio system to what what else I could of brought.............

A mini takes about four minutes to configure. Set itunes to automatically import and automatically eject CDs.

And erm, thats it.

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
A mini takes about four minutes to configure. Set itunes to automatically import and automatically eject CDs.

And erm, thats it.

Can it do FLAC?

One other easy point to the RS3 is that it creates both FLAC & MP3 at conversion.

Ripping in itunes limits me to ...erm itunes!!

Flac? Yes, use XLD instead of itunes.

All these posts about trying to get music to work with UPnP (Which somewhat unbelievably stands for Universal Plug'n'Play! - What a misnomer!) makes me glad I am sticking with a simple Mini/SPDIF/SuperNait combo.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
All these posts about trying to get music to work with UPnP (Which somewhat unbelievably stands for Universal Plug'n'Play! - What a misnomer!) makes me glad I am sticking with a simple Mini/SPDIF/SuperNait combo.

Hi,

Don't get me wrong, rip CD into RS3, play back through Logitech Transporter into Naim DAC into 552 sounds as wonderful as easy as it is to do.