NAS or not?

Moving the music to the NAS will just allow you to stream music (with a suitable UPnP server on the NAS) without needing your Mac Book Pro.

I assume that is what you want to do ?

from my point of view was given some advise and went down the NAS route - certainly delighted with the results - purchased Qnap HS 210 with x2 Red 2TB red memory - use dBpoweramp for ripping to FLAC - less than £400

delighted with the results - through my NDX, but if you do go down the NAS route - buy a back up too

hi. not concerned about utilities but sound.

Would that improve?

Seems not as you say 

Hi. Have you tried the other way too ?

I mean pc vs nas ?

Wouldn't make a difference to SQ.

I'm not quite sure how it will affect the sound - if that's the reason then I'd stick with what you have.

James

thanks guys

one more question if you mind

If I turned to a good quality Nas ripper do you think I'd get better sound quality ?

No - XLD is hard to beat - you got one of the best rippers already.

Ok as for software

SO

ripping with a dedicated hardware wouldn't make a difference ?

Why would it - you've either got your computer doing this with XLD or a lower spec processor in your NAS / Ripper doing this. I'm sure some would say the Unitiserve produces better rips, but then that's usually from dealers / traders wanting to sow the seeds of doubt and sell you something...

The only thing that does tend to make a difference once you've got the ripping right is the file type - uncompressed is better so your streamer doesn't have the extra processor overhead when de compressing lossless (ALAC, Flac etc).

There are advantages of using a NAS, but they are nothing to do with sound quality.

I agree - absolutely no influence on sound quality - for the better or worse!

I've recently removed an HDX-SSD from my setup which includes a NAS, and started running a music server on the NAS. Minimserver on a TS-470. The music has opened up and improved significantly. The HDX was getting in the way. So I would be more inclined to go with a NAS to store files and run a software server than introducing something like a US to the system. But how this compares to other ways of doing it, or how the result might differ from system to system, I have no idea. And I might have had a sick HDX, although it all sounded excellent to me - until I removed it. The difference is not small.

I also found not all device/OS TCP/IP stacks work with the same parameters. I found a Raspberry Pi sounded favourable to a HP PC both running Asset and streaming to Naim.

Simon

Out of interest Simon, how did you come to the conclusion it was the TCP/IP stacks, rather than any influence from differing devices (Pi compared to HP PC). I'm not knocking your methodology just interested in your findings. 

James

James, I Wiresharked and could see TCP parameter differences (within the TCP/IP stack) such as transport window sizes... but the encoded audio data was identical, so concluded it was the TCP parameters.. not definitely conclusive  cause and effect, but I felt it was probable as I was not aware of any other variable. Though I admit since migrating to the Hugo from the NDAC/555PS the effect has appeared to have diminished. (I am using an NDX) I have heard differences between other different UPnP servers types as well, but I didn't Wireshark these as I heard this at my dealers, and they heard also the differences... and in this case the media was from the same NAS.

Thanks Simon - interesting findings 

James

That's a very useful and interesting finding Harry. I am one of those who has been wavering as to whether or not to "upgrade" to a US. For the past two years or so I have been more than happy with my ripnas (Zoneripper) but the seeds of doubt keep being sown with the oft mentioned qualities of the US. Thanks for your comment here.

I'm only a sample of one anecdote Steve, but it has been a revelation for Helen and me. We kept the HDX because it didn't owe us anything and it was so easy to just drop an NDS on top of it. In retrospect this was lazy. But how reproducible my results are is unknown.