Does UPnP Media Server Software Affect SQ

Posted by: Mike-B on 06 July 2015

We've had a few comments around numbers of post threads about if (or not) UPnP media server software like Asset, Synology MS, MinimServe, Twonky, Bubble etc.  but its still an open question 

So do we have some thoughts on this & can we get to a consensus 

I would guess transcoding will have a real effect so we need to be mindful of that & make it clear in your posts  

 

..........   play nicely now  ............

 

Posted on: 08 July 2015 by Harry
Originally Posted by james n:

These are ‘icing on the cake’ mods, nothing different from the main forum where someone has fiddled about with the stacking arrangements of their rack and cables.

What main forum? This IS the main forum.

 

Perhaps some here are so intelligent that they need to find a grown up forum somewhere else and leave us plebs to our ignorant dalliances?

Posted on: 08 July 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by Mr THX:
Yes Mike

WAV 44.1kHz 2116kb/s

Interesting,  thats upsampled to 24 bit

Minimserver ?? right ??

 

Posted on: 08 July 2015 by Mr THX
Yes Mike .... Transcode line -   Flac:wav24

No testing yet though so Simon has a valid point ....
Posted on: 08 July 2015 by MartinKocurek

when i used flac:wav24 I had feeling I hear more noise..then I switch to Flac:wav and noise is gone

Posted on: 08 July 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

...........  if you are possibly able to provide WireShark and netstat details of network buffers etc that would be interesting as well, but if not no worries.. I will be back at base within a couple of weeks and could look at as well if there is still interest.

I doubt it Simon,  the other three in this test are not at all into the nerdish & deviates from the main reasons for the test,  actually is more of a demo really.  It started off when two who have CD systems voiced an interest in finding out what's involved getting into network players, discussions on how it all works & costs started & the Linn guy said he had experienced SQ variations with Twonky & Asset to which I said it can't be so   .....   & it all kicked off from there. 

But yes I for one would be interested in some techie data.  

Posted on: 08 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Cheers Mike, would still be interested in your conclusions from your demo.

Simon

 

Posted on: 13 July 2015 by Mike-B

The weekend test (demo) went as follows:

The question: does UPnP media serve software affect SQ?

Comparing Synology Media Server with Minimserver playing WAV on one system & separately comparing Asset with Twonky playing FLAC on another system, we heard no difference at all.

 

The main purpose of the test was two peeps were thinking about replacing their CD systems & wanted to know what was involved with changing to streaming; the question about UPnP sound was a side discussion.

We looked at & listened to two separate systems; my NDX + Synology with Syn's Media Server & Minimserver playing WAV files. The other system was a Linn Klimax DS + QNAP with Asset & Twonky playing FLAC files; both used iPad's for control.

 

The new guys were very impressed with the SQ on both systems.

Liked the facility of www streaming, Tidal was most impressive.

Loved Naim iRadio: the huge numbers of overseas stations & BBC HLS was a surprise to all, the number of stations with both 135 & 339kbs, Podcast & On-Demand.

Listened to WAV vs FLAC on the NDX, the new guys didn't hear much difference which meant my transcoding demo was a bit academic,  however the Linn guy did hear a diff

Everyone liked DSD - even the Linn guy …..

Asset browsing display was voted best, followed by Synology then MinimServer, but I feel that was because of the preferred Linn Kinsky app with its looks & function over the Naim app.

 

Anyhow, bottom line =  no difference in UPnP sound.