NAS and associated software

Posted by: Greensleeves on 01 February 2015

I am new to this forum, new to streaming and new to Naim, and it is clear to me from the erudition on the forum that I know nothing!  Hence the following enquiry as I want to learn.

 

I very recently invested in a Unitiqute 2, but have not yet been able to use it as two rooms in my house are currently being gutted - my big day is therefore a few weeks away.  In the meantime my intention is to rip my CDs to a NAS (purchase imminent) in FLAC and maybe transcode to WAV on the fly and stream via ethernet connection.  After doing some homework my current preference lies with either Synology DS215j or the nearest QNAP equivalent, though I am currently not sure what this would be.  I would intend to install 2 x WD Red 2TB drives.  From what I have read the Synology appears to be easier to set up (might well be important for me!) but does support the range of media servers that the QNAP does, so I should welcome advice on this point.  In fact one question is do I need additional media software or is the facility already built in?  I was intending to rip using dbpoweramp and use Asset (just because it seems highly rated), but I understand that Asset will not work with Synology.  Any recommendations of NAS/software would be appreciated, so that I can shortlist and hopefully use free trials to make up my mind.

 

I think that will do for now, but I hope your replies will help to get my thinking sorted.

 

Many thanks.

Posted on: 03 March 2015 by Greensleeves

Thank you Mike-B and Bananahead for your replies, and link which did help my understanding.

 

Bananahead, I do not think my network would be considered complex: I have a D Link cable router connected to a modem and to my PC, all of which are located in upstairs office, and in addition there is another PC, a laptop and an android tablet around the house all connected by wireless.  I am intending to locate the NAS next to my router with the Unitiqute downstairs.  I was intending to run two cables from my router to downstairs (one for UQ, one for future but not going to be used immediately) and this would use up the channels on the router.  I am quite happy to install a switch if that is seen as a good long term move (and I notice dabs.com have an 8 port D Link one for approx £15), but would be glad of advice.

 

Mny thanks, again, for your help.

Posted on: 03 March 2015 by Arnsider

Hi Greensleeves,

I posted a similar thing a few weeks ago. I also have a Qute 2 and wanted to upgrade a DLink NAS. I read loads on here and you wont go far wrong with either Synology or Qnap by the seems. I followed Huge's advice and went for Synology. I have a Synology 214 play which is excellent. Easy to setup, fast and quiet. No regrets whatsoever, so thank you to Huge for that.

In summary...my experience.. Synology is excellent straight out of the box using its own media server. Also do add a simple switch as recommended above. I use a Netgear 205 too....easy peasy and does make a difference. Also dBpoweramp is great.

Hope that helps...

 

Posted on: 04 March 2015 by DrPo
Originally Posted by Mike-B:

Will99, using the Naim app to browse my Synology DS214 with Media Server DSM 5.1 5022, there is no album cover art at the higher levels, only folder icon's. Once browsing has drilled down to individual album level - i.e. you are ready to select an album - then the album cover art is available. 

Mike, lack of support of this feature (folder art) is what has made me completely forgo the "folder" view and only work with "album" or "genre/album" views with my TWONKY-running NAS. Naive question: once you have found what you want to listen to with the folder-art-showing Synology app how do you pass control to your streamer to play it? Don't you have to switch to the NAIM app, do the search again and ask to play the album (implying duplicate work)?

 

Posted on: 04 March 2015 by Bananahead

Mike hasn't said that he is not using the Naim app, just that he is using Media Server instead of Twonky.

Posted on: 04 March 2015 by Mike-B

DrPo,  I think I did not put my point over that well;   I don't agree there is any lack of support for folder art in Syn MS.  Its all there & it does a great job with browsing by album if & when I want it.  However I prefer to browse by folder, its simple quick & gets be to the music I want.   Browse by folder does just that, folders all the way until I open the album to play it.    If however if/when I want to really browse - like look around & wonder what shall I play next - then I browse by album, artist or genre & that shows all the art needed to stimulate the appetite. 

Posted on: 05 March 2015 by Greensleeves
Originally Posted by Arnsider:

Hi Greensleeves,

I posted a similar thing a few weeks ago. I also have a Qute 2 and wanted to upgrade a DLink NAS. I read loads on here and you wont go far wrong with either Synology or Qnap by the seems. I followed Huge's advice and went for Synology. I have a Synology 214 play which is excellent. Easy to setup, fast and quiet. No regrets whatsoever, so thank you to Huge for that.

In summary...my experience.. Synology is excellent straight out of the box using its own media server. Also do add a simple switch as recommended above. I use a Netgear 205 too....easy peasy and does make a difference. Also dBpoweramp is great.

Hope that helps...

 

 

Posted on: 06 March 2015 by Greensleeves
Originally Posted by Greensleeves:
Originally Posted by Arnsider:

Hi Greensleeves,

I posted a similar thing a few weeks ago. I also have a Qute 2 and wanted to upgrade a DLink NAS. I read loads on here and you wont go far wrong with either Synology or Qnap by the seems. I followed Huge's advice and went for Synology. I have a Synology 214 play which is excellent. Easy to setup, fast and quiet. No regrets whatsoever, so thank you to Huge for that.

In summary...my experience.. Synology is excellent straight out of the box using its own media server. Also do add a simple switch as recommended above. I use a Netgear 205 too....easy peasy and does make a difference. Also dBpoweramp is great.

Hope that helps...

 

 Thank you, Arnsider, always good to know following established practice.  Decided on Synology and will add a switch.  I already use dBpoweramp which seems to be very capable.