Ripping Problem

Take a look at the buffer level information on the streamer, see if it's going down to zero regularly.

Also check the file size against duration, that can give you a clue to a fragmented or truncated music file.

I would be very surprised if it were a file problem, much more likely a replay chain related one (transportation of the file etc.) I'd try not to jump to any conclusions about your confidence in dB etc. Just report the problems and keep an open mind as to where the problem lies, after all it could be you sitting on the Ethernet cable! 

I am sure you have great knowledge - I have none.

I can confirm that I am not sitting on the network cable. The cat was but I have now moved it and it made no difference. (It's our second cat - so Cat 2, and it was on a Cat 5 cable, if that is of any relevance).

Please help me in words of one syllable how to do any of the things you have suggested. I don't have a clue how to check buffer levels etc.

Ok, I took a look at your profile but there's no streaming device listed, what are you using? Generally Naim streaming devices have a remote with an 'i' button, when you select a problem track to play,step through the 'i' button till you see the 'buffer level', you will then see a load of bars (a step representation of buffer level). Filled bars represent a full buffer, empty means there's no music left to play and you could get a dr p out ( the o was missing). If you have any music encoded at variable bit rate the graphics can wobble near full level, proving the buffer info is not just stuck showing nothing of any value.

As for the file size, maybe in the morning!

I have no Naim streaming device at the moment. I am about to sell my CD555 and replace with an NDS so I am doing background work at the moment setting up the music server etc., and just playing back through the PC on which I am ripping.

Ok, can you be specific about how you are playing music, software, where's the music coming out from etc.?

Have you tried re-ripping the same CD, to a new location? Thereby having two versions of the same CD rip? Do you get the same drop outs in the same place? What's the processor doing during the hitches in music? Can you view processor activity. My PC sometimes gets busy performing it's own agenda! Give more information please.

Try any files on a different computer or mobile device. That may prove it's not the files by a different route.

I expect the PC & DS are not able to communicate in a way they understand. I ripped my DS214 a week or so before my NDX arrived,  patience is now the order of the day. Trust what you've done with dBpoweramp, it really does what it says on the box, if it says it got the OK AccurateRip report,  then it really has.

When is the NDS arriving ???

Are you ripping directly to the nas? if so try to rip the files to the pc or mac and copy them to the nas afterwoods.

 I understand that people normally rip to the computer not  directly to the share on the nas.

On the tracks you have problems playing, copy the file to the hard disk on the computer or a usb stick and see if the problem is still there. If it is you are sure the ripping is the problem.

Claus

With dBpoweramp, you would normally rip to the NAS.

If the report tells you its "AccurateRip" followed by a number [e.g.(200)]  that means its copied perfectly when compared to 200 other rips on the dBpoweramp www files.

I would not mess around with it, the PC & DS214 are simply not able to communicate. 

If the OP really wants to check the accuracy of the loaded rip files,  copy one or two from the DS214 onto the PC's  media player, or onto a USB stick & run that on the PC.   

when you are ripping, if you are using a usb connect, or a usb/ethernet connect, make sure

line is asychronous, otherwise there's line conflict

I think hafler3o is almost certainly on the money here.

I was using TP-Link powerline adapters, the 200 models.  However if I play 24/192 files I kept getting buffer emptying on my UnitiLite - as shown by n-Stream.

I have just (yesterday) installed TP-Link 500 adapters and the problem has gone!