Connection from NAS to hugo for playback

You need to get an NDS (or NDX), or an ND5 XS connected to a Hugo via a BNC to RCA digital interconnect.

It helps to think about the system using the notions of server and client. As shown below, in the middle row of the diagram, you would need to connect a streaming client (bridge) between your NAS and the Hugo.

The top row shows Huge's suggestion, which involves using only the streaming client section of a network player (NDS, NDS, ND5X), rendering the DAC inside it redundant.

On the bottom row, the UnitiServe replaces the NAS and the streaming bridge. The NAS can stay as a backup or as your music store, if you go for the solid-state drive version of the UnitiServe. The UnitiServe is a streaming server and will also provide iRadio.

Or simply buy a headless Mac Mini and connect via USB.

There is that

Just run the audiostation app on the Synology NAS.  The NAS will appear as a USB source to the Hugo. 

Interesting James. How does the Synology NAS as a source into the Hugo (or any DAC) compare with a Mac Mini running Audirvana?

I'd prefer the Mac myself Jan (+ Amarra) with the NAS located elsewhere but i know of a few users who run the Synology in this way. At least it's a quick way to get started anyway without any additional hardware. 

In this configuration, will I be able to control playback from my notebook that will be connected to the NAS via my home network?

If it does, have anyone tried this? Does it sound any good relative to a CDS3/555PS?

It probably won't.

The NAS is the lowest quality level of hardware which is absolutely not intended to be used as a playback device. Any other playback device will most likely sound better.

I believe James mentioned it only because it is a cheap easy option to get some music from the NAS into the Hugo. certainly not a recommendable solution for quality sound.

Thanks for the reply. I will probably try to borrow a DAC from a friend to try it out, though it will not be the Chord hugo. It is not at all popular in my part of the world. The Chord dealer doesn't even have it in stock. 

A quick update.

Connected my NAS to the DAC via USB. From the DAC to my 252 with a chord (not sure what model, and I have no recollection that I actually have such a cable with me) RCA to RCA interconnect, with a RCA to DIN adaptor at the preamp end.

By the time I managed to set everything up, it was quite late at night, thus could only play it at low to moderate volumes. I play some FLAC files through it. Sounded pretty ok. Separation and depth seems to be there. Not sure if it boogies though. Doesnt seem to have the bite and attack of the CDS3/555PS and sounded 'small'.

I guess there are a couple of things I need/can do to optimise the playback further. One will be to install minimserver on my NAS and the other will surely be to activate the RCA input on my 252 so I can get rid of the RCA to DIN convertor.

Just sharing....

Hi, yes try a Hiline RCA to DIN if you can for your DAC. What DAC are you using? The DAC is pivotal in a streaming setup in terms of source sound performance.

You mention your Chord dealer not stocking the Hugo..  I assume that is a Chord  Electronics and not  the quite seperate namesake Chord Cable company dealer?

Simon

I have another cost effective solution for sliklee and it's the one I think he might have had in mind when starting this thread. There is a solution that inlcudes following hardware: NAS, Beaglebone black (45 Euros) and linear power supply (15 euros). The software is free: Logitechmedia server (LMS) and squeezelite (linux). You run LMS on your Synology NAS and via ethernet (and router) connect Beaglebone black (BBB) running squeezlite. BBB is a small linux based computer, smaller than a pack of cigarettes that has among others USB and ethernet connection. It is used as audio renderer (ethernet to USB audio converter) for all commercial sample rates and formats (from mp3 to DSD 128 bit). It will take you just 20 minutes to set it up and the easy to follow instructions can be found here:

http://www.computeraudiophile....run-squeezelite-452/

Also it is important to use clean power supply. I for instance use cheap LPS just like the one sold on itemaudio.co.uk and its called STONTRONICS - S2226ST - AC-DC LINEAR PSU, 5V 1A UNIVERSAL.

I wish I still had my NDX to make head to head comparison, but from memory, BBB connected to my Hugo sounds more clear and more dynamic while loosing something on spatial reproduction.

If You want off the shelf solution for your NAS to Hugo connection, more less the same design as above is embedded into SOTM SMS-100 miniserver (500 euros). The difference to BBB is that the people at SOTM devloped there own operating system, while the hardware is just another commercial platform. It got very good reviewes but depending on the DAC configuration. I did not find any comments on SMS-100 connected to Hugo, so it's a route worth investigating.

BR
Josip

I borrowed a Meridian Director DAC from a friend. Activated AV2 input on my 252 to RCA and connected the DAC to my AV2 direct using the chord cable.

I then ripped a particularly familiar song into WAV uncompressed (using EAC) and compared the playback between that and via the CDS3/555PS.

First up was the WAV. It sounds impressively good. Very acceptable, enjoyable. I can imagine that I can live that kind of sound. However, the CDS3 just presents the music in a more engaging way. But of cos, given the huge cost differential, it is not a fair comparison. 

In any case, has anyone done a comparison between the Meridian Director and Hugo. The only way I can get my hands on the Hugo would likely to buy it as a second hand unit and try it out (and sell it off will little loss if it doesn't suit me).

Again, not prolonged listening. The weekend is coming though, so I will hopefully have more time to play around with stuff.

Did also try playing back FLAC files (though not the same song). Somehow sounds flatter in general but I have not completed the installation of the minimserver, minimwatch and minimstreamer. 

I have sort of given up. After a very tedious process of installing minimserver, minimwatch and minimstreamer, I have absolutely no idea how to continue after that.

Reading this...

http://minimstreamer.com/userguide.html

gives me an absolute headache. 

This was the reason why I was hesitant to go the streaming route. Probably setting up a NDS or NDX would not be so complicated. 

The WAV files sounds ok compared to the cd playback, but the flac does not. So I was very much eager to install and the necessary to transcode the FLAC to WAV files. But alas.... 

My last resort is to get help from a friend who has done it before. 

I think UPnP/DLNA streaming is a PITA too, that's why I stay clear of it.

But you can do computer based audio playback other ways too, like using a NAS as a fileserver and connect a computer with playback software like MQn, JRiver, etc or a dedicated mediaplayer and use SMB to connect to the NAS.

silklee, if you don't use Unitiserve/HDX - then Naim recommend in terms of setup simplicity/ease of use a little UPnP server application called Asset, made by a company called Illustrate. I am not saying it will be a 100% trouble free, although it has been me for me, it sounds an awful lot more straightforward than path of complexity you have described - and will handle transcoding for you very simply.

Simon

silklee,  I see from a previous post you have a Synology DS214

Why on earth are you not using the Synology packaged Media Server,  its a very very simple install & open (2 clicks) & your UPnP is ready to go - It really is so simple

I was trying to setup the minim* stuff to enable transcoding from FLAC to WAV(24) for playback. Does Snynology packaged media server do that as well?

Yes Synology now transcodes OK

It always was able to, but it downsampled to 16bit to solve DMA issues,  but the latest DSM-5.1 transcodes 24-24 

I personally only have .wav so its not an issue,  but I have a .flac handy that I've tested it with.  

Once you've loaded Media Server,  go to the updates screen & it will tell you that 5.1 is available & all you do is hit the update button

Then open Main Menu - the 4 squares on the header top left of the webpage

Open Media Server

General Settings

-          DMA Languge (Your Choice)

-          DMA Style (Simple or Advanced)

-          SSDP Advertisement Interval – suggest to change this to something other & less than 960 – I have mine on 60

Browsing Settings

-          Music Display Format – Track Title/Artist Album

-          None of  the boxes checked (ticked)

DMA Compatibility

-          Check the transcode & the different codecs that you want,  but leave everything else unchecked

If you change anything don’t forget to touch the “Apply” button

Happy listening 

Now I have managed to complete the installation of minimserver, minimwatch and minimstreamer. The thing that really got me stuck was not being able to enable transcoding by specifing it in the "stream.transcode" property, cos I couldnt find it.

 
Thus I thought i was looking in the wrong place or the installation was done incorrectly. At verge of giving up, when i did the universal IT problem solving trick.. reboot everything. And tada... Now it appears in miniserver icon found at the system track under properties > system. So managed to specify the transcoding format.

Is that all I have to do? What about this whole paragraph "Routing network streams via MinimStreamer" in this link.. 

http://minimstreamer.com/userguide.html

Or am I done?

What?  A NAS will stream digital content perfectly or it wont stream it at all.

I understand what you mean in a way. Why would adding a network player in the middle of the chain do anything to improve the playback quality? However, in the realm of hifi, we do sometimes believe in stranger things.

When I told my friend that there are USB cables that cost hundreds of dollars even for short lengths like 1m, he says its all snake oil. In his view, its all digital.. a '1' is a '1', will not become "0.99999" due to signal loss, so a $20 cable will not have any difference whatsoever vis-a-vis a hundreds of $ audiophile USB cable.

What I am trying to achieve here is to see if I can get a reasonable playback quality going this relatively cheap route and I will be able to achieve having easy access to my library of songs and a backup of all my music (without me worrying about me not taking good care of my cds).

The setup is a major PITA, but the outcome, even when not using the hugo but the director, seems very encouraging.