Unitilite can't play music reliably from QNAP HS-251+

You might try a search on the forum under Virgin & modem mode,  plus Netgear router,  I recall similar connectivity issues as yours with the same/similar set up.   But maybe the folks who had the problems are on-line.     You might be well advised to bite the bullet with wireless while you are solving the problem,  always the weak link in the chain  

Hi Mike-B

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately the Unitilite is too far away from the router to run an Ethernet cable. I was also getting these problems with Ethernet over Powerline to the Unitilite and with WiFi via Apple Airport Express. In both these circumstances the Virgin Media Super Hub was not in Modem Only mode.

Putting the Virgin Media Super Hub into Modem Only and connecting a router to handle ethernet and Wi-Fi LAN is the recommended advice so I recently purchased the Netgear R7000 hoping that this would solve the problem.

(On a side note, my internet connection feels much faster with the Netgear and Virgin Media Modem Only combo. :-) )

Regards,

Ed

.........   thinking out loud ......... “Can’t Play, skipped track”   “Can’t Play, unsupported file format"  etc   This makes me wonder about the file format compatibility,  & also you don't mention what UPnP software are you using on the QNAP.

You say it failed "’... in the process of adding more music files to the QNAP and I upgraded the firmware once during that period"    Have you tried re-indexing the QNAP ???  (I'm a Synology user & not well versed on QNAP)   I would do that as the next step.

I don't  know much about any Apple system,  but look into the QNAP files from the Mac to see what is actually in the share.  Once its clear the music files are present its a question of fixing what you have;  therefore as you say "None of my own music is on the QNAP",  I would be tempted to load one of you own albums that you know has correctly formatted metadata & see how that goes.    What file format (codec) is that music in ??    I have heard Naim have issues with some formats & I think one of the Apples was involved.   I would be tempted to make a copy & convert a test album to WAV,  (WAV is what Naim does best) 

Ed

I may be able to offer some help - I run QNAP and have an Apple ecosystem.

I'm a bit confused by your setup though: would you be so kind as summarise the connections and various network components.  

Thanks,

Adam

Mike-B posted:

 What file format (codec) is that music in ??    I have heard Naim have issues with some formats & I think one of the Apples was involved.   I would be tempted to make a copy & convert a test album to WAV,  (WAV is what Naim does best) 

Mike - I think it was me who reported minor problems with AIFF files. The issue I had was with a 'dot' at the end of a file name as in 'Greetings from Abury Park, N.J.' - had to change it to '[...], NJ

Hi Mike B,

I've had a bit of a breakthrough. I have converted the sample MP3 files to FLAC and transferred them to the USB stick and I can play them on the Naim Unitilite. I will investigate if the QNAP can transcode audio files to FLAC now.

Thanks for thinking out loud.

Cheers,

Ed 

OK thats a start,  the only problem is MP3 files are lossy,  this means some data is missing.  FLAC is lossless & converting the lossy MP3 file to a lossless FLAC file does restore that data back. You just get a much larger FLAC file but sonically its only as good as the MP3.     You now need to get new FLAC (or whatever) lossless files.    And yes QNAP can transcode,  but its the UPnP software such as Asset or Minimserver that does this.   

Hi Adam,

I'd be interested to know if you can play Sample Music 1.mp3 and Sample Music 2.mp3 in the Multimedia/Samples folder without transcoding. They are the sample files provided after doing a factory reset. No worries if you don't have them.

My network is as follows:

• QNAP-HS-251+ connected via Ethernet to Netgear FS105 Ethernet Switch.
• Panasonic VIERA TV connected via Ethernet to Netgear FS105 Ethernet Switch.
• Netgear FS105 Ethernet Switch connected via Ethernet to Netgear R7000 Router.
• Apple Mac connected via Ethernet to Netgear R7000 Router.
• Naim Unitilite and Apple iPad connected via Wi-Fi to Netgear R7000 Router.
• The Netgear R7000 Router is connected to Virgin Media Super Hub via Ethernet and I have configured it for Modem Only Mode as recommended by Naim Support and others.

I hope that helps. 

Regards,

Ed

Mike-B posted:

OK thats a start,  the only problem is MP3 files are lossy,  this means some data is missing.  FLAC is lossless & converting the lossy MP3 file to a lossless FLAC file doesn't restore that data back. You just get a much larger FLAC file but sonically its only as good as the MP3.     You now need to get new FLAC (or whatever) lossless files.    And yes QNAP can transcode,  but its the UPnP software such as Asset or Minimserver that does this.   

What appears to be a simple typo omission makes all the difference!

Hi Mike B and Innocent Bystander,

I understand that converting MP3 to FLAC won't bring back lost data, but it certainly makes it playable from a USB stick on the Unitilite.

I am now investigating if I can convert audio files to FLAC (or WAV) on the QNAP before streaming them to the Unitilite. Most of my files are in AAC (lossy) or ALAC (lossless).

Thanks,

Ed

Oh    sh#@$*!          a  typo that changes everything  -  thanks IB.      

Ed Lite posted:

Hi Mike B and Innocent Bystander,

I understand that converting MP3 to FLAC won't bring back lost data, but it certainly makes it playable from a USB stick on the Unitilite.

I am now investigating if I can convert audio files to FLAC (or WAV) on the QNAP before streaming them to the Unitilite. Most of my files are in AAC (lossy) or ALAC (lossless).

You can convert ALAC,  but nothing can be done with AAC.   dBpoweramp is the forum favourite for converting codec (& CD ripping)

Hi,

I have discovered that if I remove the MP3 entry for the Unitilite in the QNAP Media Streaming plugin then these files are streamed as WAV format and the Unitilite can play them.

I will do some experiments with AAC and ALAC tomorrow.

Many thanks for your responses today. I have made good progress on this problem with your help.

Cheers,

Ed

Ed

I don't have those MP3s anymore. My QNAP has been set up for music only - it works in tandem with my UnitiServe SSD.

I tried to understand your network set up and I'm a bit confused:
I think generally the simple set up involves setting up:

Modem > WIFI ROUTER > switch and all networked components linking either wirelessly to the WiFi router or by Ethernet to the switch.

In your description you have components linked by Ethernet to either a router or a switch.

Can you double check which of the components is assigning IP addresses to your network? Also please make sure it runs in a DHCP mode.
As your Virgin Media Super Hub runs as a modem only, please ensure it only 'broadcasts' one static IP address to your router /switch combo and this one than handles the local IP addresses assignment.

Adam

Hi,

I have now removed the AAC entry for the Unitilite in the QNAP Media Streaming plugin and they are now streamed as WAV format and the Unitilite can play them.

I have now lost the ability to queue up a whole album worth of music if they are streamed in WAV format. I have disabled UPnP compatibility mode on the iPad app, but that doesn't make a difference. 

Regards,

Ed

Hi Adam,

What format are your music files stored in?

Regards,

Ed

Ed Lite posted:

Hi Adam,

What format are your music files stored in?

Regards,

Ed

Hi Ed

Music downloads: AIFF or FLAC if AIFF is not available.

Rips: WAV - note: those as UnitiServe rips.

Cheers,

Adam

Ed Lite posted:

Hi,

I have now removed the AAC entry for the Unitilite in the QNAP Media Streaming plugin and they are now streamed as WAV format and the Unitilite can play them.

 

I have now lost the ability to queue up a whole album worth of music if they are streamed in WAV format. I have disabled UPnP compatibility mode on the iPad app, but that doesn't make a difference. 

Regards,

Ed

 

Ed

What UPnP software are you using? I could't find it in the thread - apologies if you wrote it already.

Adam

I've asked that same question a few times,  it might have saved a bunch if that had been posted from the get-go  

Mike-B posted:

I've asked that same question a few times,  it might have saved a bunch if that had been posted from the get-go  

Ah - so I didn't miss it then. If the OP is using either the embeded UPnP or Twonky he will not get far....

Hi,

I am using the QNAP Music Station and Media Streaming Plugin. I have previously been using TwonkyServer. I was unaware of issues with TwonkyServer and Naim. Please note that I have been successful with the QNAP software and my Panasonic Viera TV, so I expected it to also work well with the Naim.

I will try Minim or Asset later today.

Cheers,

Ed

Hi Ed

My STRONG advice, as a user of QNAP is to disable both the embeded QNAP UPnP as well as Twonky.

Just install a copy of MinimServer or indeed Asset. I only know MinimServer so can help ypu with that one.

Cheers,

Adam

Hi Adam and Mike B,

The problem is now solved by disabling the QNAP Media Streaming add-on and using MinimServer instead. I don't need to convert or transcode any files either.

Many thanks for your help. It was beginning to drive  me slowly mad.

Cheers,

Ed

Excellent Ed! Well done.

Enjoy the music.

Adam