Playing from JRiver to SuperUniti vs using Naim app with DLNA server
Posted by: ChrisByrd on 15 October 2015
I'm new to streaming so am still trying to get my head round things. I've just bought a SuperUniti and have managed to stream successfully from my MacBook Pro running Asset UPnP. I own JRiver so have also been able to play directly over the network to the SU, which shows as a playback zone in JRiver. Both methods seem to work fine, and I've not been able to detect any difference in sound quality. Most of my albums are ripped CDs or 96 kHz/24 bit downloads.
I really like the Naim app, but find JRemote more powerful for browsing my library, so wondered if there were any drawbacks in controlling playback via JRiver. Also, before getting the SU, I was thinking of getting a Toslink to mini Toslink cable to connect the MacBook to the SU, but I guess this isn't necessary as the DLNA route seems to be working fine. Comments on this forum suggest an optical cable wouldn't necessarily give better audio quality.
Can anyone comment or offer advice please?
My local hi fi shop uses JRiver as their 'house' streaming solution. All of the UPnP networked devices they demo use JRiver, including Naim devices. I know of no disadvantage.
.., so wondered if there were any drawbacks in controlling playback via JRiver...
Can anyone comment or offer advice please?
I take it you need the mac running whenever you feel like playing music? If I had to wait for my PC to power up I'd forget what I was doing!
Thanks Bart, that's good to know.
Hafler, I'm using the MacBook + external drives to store my music at the moment, so the MacBook is running anyway. If I move to a NAS I guess I'll need to think again.
I'm new to streaming so am still trying to get my head round things. I've just bought a SuperUniti and have managed to stream successfully from my MacBook Pro running Asset UPnP. I own JRiver so have also been able to play directly over the network to the SU, which shows as a playback zone in JRiver. Both methods seem to work fine, and I've not been able to detect any difference in sound quality. Most of my albums are ripped CDs or 96 kHz/24 bit downloads.
I really like the Naim app, but find JRemote more powerful for browsing my library, so wondered if there were any drawbacks in controlling playback via JRiver. Also, before getting the SU, I was thinking of getting a Toslink to mini Toslink cable to connect the MacBook to the SU, but I guess this isn't necessary as the DLNA route seems to be working fine. Comments on this forum suggest an optical cable wouldn't necessarily give better audio quality.
Can anyone comment or offer advice please?
Do You Knie that you can Define and configure the upnp server viel you See in you naim App by in JRiver?
IMO also there is no disadvantage - other than the fact that one or two folks on here will tell you having a computer running anywhere in the house or on the network is just one or two steps short of a satanic ritual.... ;-)
Conceptually there is a small and probably inconsequential difference. In DLNA streaming parlance, using the Naim app treats the SU as a 'player', 'pulling' the files off the MacBook. Using Asset or JRiver as the controller treats the SU as a 'renderer', with files being 'pushed' from the MacBook.
If you were to go the optical toslink route in your system (MacBook > SU), technically you would no longer be streaming (unless internet radio or whatever). JRiver itself becomes the player, and the SU a DAC/amp (only). I doubt any gains are to be found this way, other than for folks who prefer to keep music and networks as wholly separate beasts ! ;-)
I'm new to streaming so am still trying to get my head round things. I've just bought a SuperUniti and have managed to stream successfully from my MacBook Pro running Asset UPnP. I own JRiver so have also been able to play directly over the network to the SU, which shows as a playback zone in JRiver. Both methods seem to work fine, and I've not been able to detect any difference in sound quality. Most of my albums are ripped CDs or 96 kHz/24 bit downloads.
I really like the Naim app, but find JRemote more powerful for browsing my library, so wondered if there were any drawbacks in controlling playback via JRiver. Also, before getting the SU, I was thinking of getting a Toslink to mini Toslink cable to connect the MacBook to the SU, but I guess this isn't necessary as the DLNA route seems to be working fine. Comments on this forum suggest an optical cable wouldn't necessarily give better audio quality.
Can anyone comment or offer advice please?
I cannot comment on the differences between Asset / Naim App and JRiver / JRemote but I would consider replacing the MacBook Pro with a low-power, fanless microserver dedicated and tuned for music replay. Many OS X users seem to be very happy with mac minis although they are neither fanless nor low-power. If you are more comfortable with Linux or Windows, there is a new fit-pc microserver (quad core, 1.2GHz, 4.5W) which seems to be perfectly suitable for setting up a 24/7 music server, just google "tinygreenpc fitlet h". I have been running a previous model (a fit-pc3) for about two years 24/7 and they are great devices: the (Naim-like black!) aluminium case works as a heat sink and with an SSD drive their are absolutely noiseless. Best, nbpf
Do You Knie that you can Define and configure the upnp server viel you See in you naim App by in JRiver?
Thanks, yes I have found out how to do this so will experiment, and compare to Asset UPnP
IMO also there is no disadvantage - other than the fact that one or two folks on here will tell you having a computer running anywhere in the house or on the network is just one or two steps short of a satanic ritual.... ;-)
Conceptually there is a small and probably inconsequential difference. In DLNA streaming parlance, using the Naim app treats the SU as a 'player', 'pulling' the files off the MacBook. Using Asset or JRiver as the controller treats the SU as a 'renderer', with files being 'pushed' from the MacBook.
If you were to go the optical toslink route in your system (MacBook > SU), technically you would no longer be streaming (unless internet radio or whatever). JRiver itself becomes the player, and the SU a DAC/amp (only). I doubt any gains are to be found this way, other than for folks who prefer to keep music and networks as wholly separate beasts ! ;-)
Thanks, that's helpful as I'd not really appreciated the difference between a renderer and player. I've decided against the optical tousling route for the moment as it looks like the network is the best option.
I cannot comment on the differences between Asset / Naim App and JRiver / JRemote but I would consider replacing the MacBook Pro with a low-power, fanless microserver dedicated and tuned for music replay. Many OS X users seem to be very happy with mac minis although they are neither fanless nor low-power. If you are more comfortable with Linux or Windows, there is a new fit-pc microserver (quad core, 1.2GHz, 4.5W) which seems to be perfectly suitable for setting up a 24/7 music server, just google "tinygreenpc fitlet h". I have been running a previous model (a fit-pc3) for about two years 24/7 and they are great devices: the (Naim-like black!) aluminium case works as a heat sink and with an SSD drive their are absolutely noiseless. Best, nbpf
Thank nbpf. I am planning to replace the MacBook and getting something dedicated to music. I'm not wedded to Mac, so was considering Windows or Linux alternatives - the Tiny Green PC does look very nice.