Networking Synology and Unitilite

Posted by: Normsbigwindow on 12 July 2015

Hello and thanks for looking At this thread. 

 

I am a very happy owner of a new Unitilite on the 4.3 firmware. I have my music in various formates on a synology DS215j NAS using DMS 5.2. Sadly a dog's dinner of MP3, Flac, Wav, etc. 

 

My my house requires the use of powerline plugs as well as WIFI to extend the network.

 

I noticed Naim suggests against powerline plugs for data streaming between server and device. 

 

I've moved the NAS next to the Unitilite and put both on a switch, with the switch connected to a powerline plug.

 

My questions:

 

1) any switch recommendations for streaming between the two? Does Naim recommend any products of standards?

 

2) will the music file data travel from the NAS to the Unitlite via the switch only, or will it nip out across the powerline plug, via the router, and back to the Unitilite? i realise this maybe more a general network routing question. 

 

3) Aside from transcoding to WAV, are there any other set-up recommendations for this set-up?

 

Many, many thanks

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi 

1) most simple unmanaged switches are fine for this task. Little  Netgear switches appear quite common on the forum, such as a GS105

 

2) no, the purposes of switches is to switch data frames between the required ports, so the media frames will pass between the NAS and switch and also between the switch and Unitilite. Other frames such as discovery frames will go everywhere but don't worry about these with respect to SQ.

 

3) i think transcoding to WAV generally is considered a good thing with Naim, I can't think of any other burning recommendation. There are of course many tweaks with Ethernet patch led types and chokes, but that can come later if you really want to 

 

Simon

 

 

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by Normsbigwindow:

Aside from transcoding to WAV, are there any other set-up recommendations for this set-up?.

+1 for wot Simon sez (there's a song in there somewhere) 

 

Re transcoding with Synology: Synology's own native Media Server down-samples 24 bit to 16 bit,  its OK with ripped CD's but disappointing (in £-$-€ terms) when you have bought 24 bit HD albums.  

You can install Minimserver UPnP software that's included in the Synology "Package Centre". This transcodes without down-sampling & its got a lot of fans in these parts.   Its a bit fiddly as you also need to install Java (also included in "Package Centre") & then follow the Minimserver install instructions,  its OK if you are confident with computer work.

 

Personally I use the Synology Media Server UPnP software & because I chose to have only .wav files, I have no need to transcode.   Disc space is cheap & I have yet to find a .wav file I cannot edit metadata.  

 

Good luck - enjoy - & let us all know how you get on 

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Nick Lees
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
 

Re transcoding with Synology: Synology's own native Media Server down-samples 24 bit to 16 bit

 

This isn't true Mike. Media Server transcodes as per source bitrate. i.e. 24 bit FLAC files transcode to 24 bit WAV. What it doesn't do is gapless.

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by bicela

Ciao Gary, Mike is somehow right, there was (is?) a bug on this bit dept.

I really don't understand why the Media Server is still not gapless anyway, in the meanwhile I'm using with happiness Minim.

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Nick Lees
Originally Posted by bicela:

Ciao Gary, Mike is somehow right, there was (is?) a bug on this bit dept.

I really don't understand why the Media Server is still not gapless anyway, in the meanwhile I'm using with happiness Minim.

There used to be a bit problem, but it was fixed some while ago. The gapless bug is a pain though. Synology say they have no current plans to fix it either.

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Normsbigwindow

Thank you all so much for the posts. Very happy to know the switch set-up will work as it allows the UL and NAS to work independent of the poorer elements of my network.

 

Q: how do I confirm the UL is not using down-sampled 24bit files from the NAS when playing? I've downloaded a copy of Talk Talk The Colour of Spring from Qobuz which is claimed to be a 24/96 version. I've played it via the minimserver and the UL shows it playing in the screen at 96khz. Is that the sign in need. It sounds lovely but I'd just like to know for sure so I can play about with it all. Tinker and all that.

 

once again. Thank you for your comments. 

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Nick Lees
Originally Posted by Normsbigwindow:

Thank you all so much for the posts. Very happy to know the switch set-up will work as it allows the UL and NAS to work independent of the poorer elements of my network.

 

Q: how do I confirm the UL is not using down-sampled 24bit files from the NAS when playing? I've downloaded a copy of Talk Talk The Colour of Spring from Qobuz which is claimed to be a 24/96 version. I've played it via the minimserver and the UL shows it playing in the screen at 96khz. Is that the sign in need. It sounds lovely but I'd just like to know for sure so I can play about with it all. Tinker and all that.

 

once again. Thank you for your comments. 

Media Server DOESN'T DOWNSAMPLE 

 

However, you can't go wrong with Minim

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Normsbigwindow

Thanks Gary, I couldn't re-edit my edit as i realised I'd left a ref to it in my question, so noted. 

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by Gary Shaw:
This isn't true Mike. Media Server transcodes as per source bitrate. i.e. 24 bit FLAC files transcode to 24 bit WAV. What it doesn't do is gapless.

Sorry Gary,    but I re-checked this only yesterday 

A 24/96 file shows as 3072kbs instead of 4608kbs.

Check the numbers on your app display & then check the math

24x96x2=  ????

16x96x2 = ????

 

If it is not downsampling,  please show me why its showing the downsampled kbs rate

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Normsbigwindow

Thanks all, now have the results of a test using my Talk Talk album on both servers. 

 

 24/96 WAV files played back using both the synology and the minimserver read as 96khz 4608kb/s in the naim apps. 

 

Super, lovely, special. Night night and thanks again. 

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Nick Lees
Originally Posted by Mike-B:
Originally Posted by Gary Shaw:
This isn't true Mike. Media Server transcodes as per source bitrate. i.e. 24 bit FLAC files transcode to 24 bit WAV. What it doesn't do is gapless.

Sorry Gary,    but I re-checked this only yesterday 

A 24/96 file shows as 3072kbs instead of 4608kbs.

Check the numbers on your app display & then check the math

24x96x2=  ????

16x96x2 = ????

 

If it is not downsampling,  please show me why its showing the downsampled kbs rate

This could be a result of me talking b0ll0cks and running two media servers. I humbly apologise - you were right. It is downsampling.

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by Mike-B
Originally Posted by Normsbigwindow:

 24/96 WAV files played back using both the synology and the minimserver read as 96khz 4608kb/s in the naim apps. 

That's as it should be with wav playing wav

Trouble starts when flac is transcoded - to wav (with Synology) 

 

Gary - my wife sez all men talk bullnuts,  but then adds its a real man who has nuts big enough to admit it.       got a few of the tee shirts myself  

-  respect man  

Posted on: 12 July 2015 by hungryhalibut

I'm glad that's all sorted out then! I use minim on my Synology, as I transcode from FLAC to WAV and gave many gapless albums. Minim is a bit fiddly, but once set up works beautifully.

 

One option to consider is adding an airport express to the switch and then connecting wirelessly to the router, thereby obviating the need for a Powerline connection. That may give issues when adding downloaded music from your computer to the NAS wirelessly, but will depend where you sit while you do it - I download wirelessly to the laptop while sitting in the dining room, which is where the router lives, so it's not a problem, but moving large hidef files over a weak wireless signal nay be problematic.