Nas directly connected

Two issues Rich - I don't think you can connect them directly together as each one will be looking for another device (such as a switch / router) to allocate it an IP address. Secondly, it'll be a PITA to control your music playback as you won't be able to use the usual control app via wireless.

I'd leave it alone or just get a switch to connect NDS to NAS to Router. Plenty of advice on this approach in this section of the forum.

Oh ........ drat ...... I did not think about the handshake and the IP allocation....... I am not concerned about the app  ... I don't mind using the remote directly ...... providing I am getting something in return! 

Try controlling music playback just using the remote and see how you get on. It provides control but it's not exactly elegant.

I quite often use it ........ its not brilliant ..... its very 1980's............

I don't think you will get any quality improvement that way anyway and, as James suggests, if you use a switch so that traffic goes from the NAS to the NDS without passing through the router and intermingling with other traffic on your network, you will be effectively getting your direct connection.

best

David

Ok .... currently nas and NDS plugged into router....currently  there is a Netgear switch connected which I use to expand ports ..... so I could rearrange   and put NDS & nas  into the switch and link switch to router - avoiding any contamination from within the router......is this correct???

Correct - its just as I have mine wired.    

Richieroo posted:

Ok .... currently nas and NDS plugged into router....currently  there is a Netgear switch connected which I use to expand ports ..... so I could rearrange   and put NDS & nas  into the switch and link switch to router - avoiding any contamination from within the router......is this correct???

Yes as Mike B illustrated, you're best off using a dedicated switch, and connecting the NDS and nas to that switch.  I have a 20-port switch, and everything on my network goes through that switch, and the switch is the only device plugged into my home router.

Richieroo posted:

Ok .... currently nas and NDS plugged into router....currently  there is a Netgear switch connected which I use to expand ports ..... so I could rearrange   and put NDS & nas  into the switch and link switch to router - avoiding any contamination from within the router......is this correct???

Having my ndx fed from a seperate switch as suggested and a linear power supply on my Nas made a big difference to my setup (that said that led to me getting a melco )  

I have a Melco HA-N1ZH and this is exactly what I do. There is a sonic benefit by simplifying the network path. The Melco assigns an IP to my 272 so it's still network accessible

I've been asking myself the very same question but I'm using a unitiserve connected directly to NDS with a generic, inexpensive cable currently and have bought a 2960 switch which i was planning to connect just as Mike suggests here.

i'm now wondering if a single length of better quality cable to directly connect US to NDS will give better SQ than two lengths of cable with the switch in the middle?

If the switch is a good quality one it should make no material difference, although as these Ethernet cables act kind of like RF stubs on our digital audio equipment and their corresponding ground planes so you may be able to detect a slight sonic change, but there is very much unlikely to be any material performance difference....

But do remember your NDS needs a layer 2 connection to your Wifi access point for the Naim app to work, so you really need a layer 2 switch for optimum usability and performance to allow connectivity to your Wifi and NAS/media server.

ct posted:.

i'm now wondering if a single length of better quality cable to directly connect US to NDS will give better SQ than two lengths of cable with the switch in the middle?

It can be done,  but its really clunky & not a pleasant user friendly experience as the naim app can't be used.      It will do next to diddy squat to SQ that is worth that bother.    

perfect, thanks

What is a layer 2 switch?

A layer 2 switch is a basic switch and works with layer 2 of the TCP/IP  stack which is the network access layer - and with our home  networks that is the Ethernet layer. They can only switch between ethernet network addresses (these are sometimes known as mac addresses) and operate within specific subnets or networks.

The next layer up is the IP layer - these is where IP addresses are used for network addressing and allows for routing between networks, such as our home network and the internet, or different home subnets - and this is accomplished with a router. A layer 3 switch is one that one combines switching and routing functionality - usually in a programmable/configurable way.

With Catalyst switches the 2960 is a layer 2 switch and can only switch within given subnets, but  the 3560 can act as a layer 3 switch as it can route between network/subnets as well as switch within  network/subnets.