NAS and Media Streamer for FLAC?

[james]

My QNAP is model TS219-P

It has mirroring of the disks BUT I have seen systems where both disks died
[the RAID controller failed and destroyed both disks] so you still need external backups [and you should probably give a copy to a friend in case the house burns down, or maybe two friends in case your house burns down and you have a row with your first friend].

I am not sure if the model I use is still available; also if you are not using Squeezbox then you dont need Squeez-Server.

If you want any more info send me a PM.

James

PS -- the biggest pain in ripping the CD's and gettimg the metadata right !!

[cbarone]

Frank and Claus, thank you both for your help and advice, and offers to hear the JKDAC. Much appreciated. For the moment I am going to continue ripping/archiving the cd collection as Ill have to do that no matter what happens next. Do you chaps know if it's possible to go from FLAC to WAV using EAC? If it is that will cover me should I need WAV files in future. Of perhaps I should be ripping to WAV and converting to FLAC in the future. Ripping is both an archive function for me as well as future proofing as I go along the streaming route.

While all that's going on I will source a NAS and backup to store all without relying on the laptop.

Any of you guys ever heard of the Liv Zen (check on uk fleabay), search for Vortexbox. Looks like a NAS and CD/DVD ripper all in one with various levels of Tb. Sonos, SB and iTunes compatible. If it was any good it appears to be all I am looking for, must be too good to be true ! Maybe plug a JKDAC into the USB out and off we go !

James - with your NAS/FLAC/Dac setup, how do you feel about the sound you are achieving? Have you ever experimented with WAV versus FLAC? Nice CDP Opus 21. So you are running wireless from the NAS to the Squeezebox, thought that might be a weak link, perhaps only for transfer of HD movie content.

Is there anything you would change or are thinking of changing with the setup as it stands?

Thanks, Charlie.

[Ken Moreland]

Charlie, here's the Jplay forum link on this subject http://jplay.eu/forum/computer-audio/wav-versus-flac/ you can rip in FLAC and convert to WAV later if you want.
KM

[james]

James - with your NAS/FLAC/Dac setup, how do you feel about the sound you are achieving? Have you ever experimented with WAV versus FLAC? Nice CDP Opus 21. So you are running wireless from the NAS to the Squeezebox, thought that might be a weak link, perhaps only for transfer of HD movie content.

I bought a Squeezbox 'on spec' and was delighted with what it could do. Initially I was storing my music on my computer up-stairs and connecting by wireless. I did not like to have to switch on the computer whenever I needed music so I eventually bought the NAS. Also I upgraded from Squeezbox to Transporter.

I am using FLAC because it is better at dealing with metadata [the file can contain album art, and lots of details of the performers etc]. I have never compared WAV and FLAC. I can play 24/96 files just about with the wireless connection but if anyone else in the house is using the the network I get dropouts [but I never have problems with 16/44.1 CD quality]. I don't really have an option to run a wired connection from the NAS [upstairs] to the hi-fi but I may bring the NAS downstairs at some stage.

I am very happy with the sound I am getting but this is the only computer system I have really heard. CD and computer replay are very similar since they both use the same DAC. I have no plans to change anything at the moment.

There are lots of programs that can convert between WAV and FLAC. Here is a link I found
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/ind ... opic=55951

There are lots of setup options for the Squeezbox-Server but I am just using the default. You can decide whether to transmit data over the network as WAV or FLAC [i.e. you can decide where in the chain it is decoded] but I have never looked into this.

I am very happy with my setup but I sort of just drifted into this setup .. It was not planned from the start. But one thing I know is that I would not but another CD player without a digital input.

James

[cbarone]

Thanks for the link Ken. I actually downloaded and installed the jplay 32 bit trial last nite but it wouldn't run in my laptop, saying something about the OS. It's running XP Pro, must be 32bit as I know it's not the 64bit version anyway. The laptop has only got 2Gb of ram so perhaps thats the issue.

Ken I believe you're the guy I bought the little REL 200 sub from a couple of years back. She's still running, pretty much for av only as the KEF Ref 4.2's are plenty srong of HiFi use. You still using the Benchmark DAC?

Charlie

[Ken Moreland]

Hi Charlie, yes that's me. I'm still using the Benchmark but I'm tempted by the JKDAC32 , maybe later in Spring.
Jplay won't work on XP only Vista/W7 either 32 or 64bit so you'll need to borrow someone else's to try it out.
KM

[cbarone]

Ah ha, that's fine if its XP stopping me. New W7 laptop coming this month in work, I'll test on that. Thanks for the help Ken.

[Fran]

cbarone: Its hard to make suggestions over t'interweb.... just because what might seem easy for me to do is an incredible PITA for someone else.. one mans meat and all that. Like earlier on, people talking about running a NAS with the SW running on it and linking it to squeezebox etc etc etc.... that gives me goosebumps!! Whereas for me, plugging in the USB cable on the laptop, sitting a little table I keep for the purpose next to the hifi, is very easy.

The long and the short of it: Squeezebox, sonos, sooloos et al are all very user friendly..... and sound OK and maybe better than Ok. If you are happy with the sound from them, and value this interface, then go for it.....

However, I suppose the thing that happens is that you're happy with that, then you hear something new, that is better, and all of a sudden you're chasing that higher quality sound. You say "so what if I need to hibernate the laptop during playback!" and so on. So I suppose when I say, "just run a laptop with jplay (or whatever) and try this driver etc" its easy because my setup has evolved that way.

The best thing to do is to go to someone and try out their system and copy that. I have a squeezebox here, and the laptop/jkdac etc. But I might be well out of your way and it might make more sense for you to go to someone closer to you.


Fran

[Ken Moreland]

I'm using JPlay from a dedicated PC through a JKMK2Hiface into the Benchmark Dac. It's simplicity itself to work and you're welcome to hear it if you're in the Trim area.
KM

[cbarone]

Hi Guys, from the Jplay site. Looks like there may be a GUI for iTunes ... that will satisfy the convenience crew of which I am founding chairman and just about the only member :-)

Thanks, Charlie



Submitted by Marcin_gps on Sun, 12/04/2011 - 12:21. Joined: 04/02/2010 .:. Offline .:. Comments: 75
:)
Everyone who didn't like jplay because of no-GUI might like it now.

JPLAY is the first audiophile player providing direct integration with Foobar and iTunes (support for JRiver Media center is currently under investigation).
GUI panel is now also included for quick & easy adjustment of most important JPLAY settings.

JPLAY v4 is the first and only audio player that operates as a Windows Service. By leveraging ‘Session 0 Isolation’ JPLAY can get to non-fragmented memory sooner than with current approach of manually tweaking loading order of Startup programs. No user intervention is required as Windows guarantees JPLAY will be started at earliest possible moment for best results.

This now makes JPLAY easier to use than ever.

Regards,
Marcin