NAS based streaming advice

[tonky]

Hi There!

I stream from my old laptop (stored about 50 of my favourite CDs so far - in no rush!) I have a Naim unitilite . What are the best advantages of streaming from a NAS set up - and what would the minimum cost be for this. I hear Synology are good - I was thinking of a 2 by 2Tb set up (western digital nas hard drives)?

I might store digital images or video but to be honest - music is my first love/requirement.

Any help/advice appreciated - Are these devices very reliable etc and are there any other advantages to using a nas?

thanks in advance - Tonky

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi. It doesn't really matter what you stream from, it's just storage. Atm it's your laptop. The advantage of a nas would be increased space and the fact that you'll be leaving it on 24/7, so less hassle. Synology are very good and pretty easy to setup .

 

[tonky]

Thanks for that. Rainsoothe

Is 2 by 2Tb hard drives enough. I take it one hard drive backs up the other?

cheers Tonky

 

[MrTeroo]

Is 2 by 2Tb hard drives enough. I take it one hard drive backs up the other?

If you have configured as a mirror raid set, yes, but don't be lulled into a false sense of security with that.

I have seen more than one instance of an entire raid box being wiped out by a power spike.

Both drives damaged. Also instances of the software raid set becoming corrupted and getting the data back is not simple.

I have two NAS drives for my music / videos. The main one replicates itself to the second one when anything new is added.

Obviously a fire would wipe it all out, but if my house burns down my music will not be the most important thing I would want to save, my wife comes before that

 

[Jota180]

I have a 2 bay Synology NAS with 2x4TB hard drives and I'm looking to buy a 5 bay NAS in the near future. I have about 2500 CD's ripped in FLAC on the NAS but have also backed up some movies and pictures which take up space.

The NAS has been one of my best buys bar none. It's very quiet, uses little power if configured to go into sleep mode when not active (mines goes to sleep in 15 minutes). I can access my music at any friends house via their internet or anywhere out and about through my mobile phone. Obviously via the phone would be dependent on your deal.

 

[tonky]

Thanks MrTeroo - good points made which I hadn't thought of (spiking etc) In case of fire - I'd save myself! -

thanks Jota180 - what model Synology 2 bay nas do you use? Is the software nice and easy? And finally was it easy to install the hard drives (easy to get in the bay etc?) I think this type of synology nas is the route for me to take.

Is it easy to set up all by yourself or is it better to get a hifi dealer to do it for you?

thanks very much - Tonky

 

[rainsoothe]

I'm using the Synology in my signature with 2x2tb WD Red hdd s, and it's more then enough for now (they're mirrored, and I have lots of movies and tv series besides my music, also some game backups and I still have a lot of room left). If you wanna be safe, you could just get two 3tb drives.

 

[expat_mike]

I have a Synology DS211j with 2 bays, and it was easy to set up.

Have a read of this thread from the forum, because it contains a few links that will be of interest to you.

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/network-storage/newbie-nas

 

[tonky]

Thanks for all the advice guys - the links are proving very interesting too.

cheers tonky

 

[Jota180]

Thanks MrTeroo - good points made which I hadn't thought of (spiking etc) In case of fire - I'd save myself! -

thanks Jota180 - what model Synology 2 bay nas do you use? Is the software nice and easy? And finally was it easy to install the hard drives (easy to get in the bay etc?) I think this type of synology nas is the route for me to take.

Is it easy to set up all by yourself or is it better to get a hifi dealer to do it for you?

thanks very much - Tonky

DS 213+. Synology have loads of "how to's" on their website that take you step by step through everything you can possibly do on their NAS and it's accompanied by pictures so it's pretty straightforward. This was my first venture into NAS and it's been a breeze. The NAS is ultra flexible and you can use it in so many different ways, but I wanted it mainly for streaming my music and back up.

I have a Nam UnitiQute 2 and use the Naim control app for iPad for chossing what music to play. I also use BubbleUPnP on Android and Synology have their own built in Mediaplayer/streamer and you can download their control app, DS Audio, for Android phones and tablets or iPhones/iPads. It acts like a remote control where you can browse your music collection, play songs, CD's or make big playlists. Or you can just shuffle play your collection. Control apps basically allow you to use your smart phone or tablet/iPad as a remote control for the mediaplayer installed on the NAS.

Synology also has a DS photo app so you can stick all your digital photos on the NAS and browse them on your phone, tablet or even TV.

Easy to install hard drives? It's hot swappable so you just 'plug' the things in. The 2 bay NAS comes with 2 hard drive holders with plastic clips on the side. Take the two clips off, put the hard drive into the holder, snap the clips back in then slide the holder with the HD into the NAS. It's that simple.

I bought my NAS from Dabs online then followed Synology's instructions online.

I have my eye on a 5 bay Synology as the current one is filling up fast.

DS Audio app pictures -

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=naim+ipad+app&biw=1920&bih=945&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIws_m_p2CyQIVQsAOCh3OYwDK#tbm=isch&q=ds+audio+app&imgrc=_

 

[Oie]

Hi,

Remember to backup the files you have in the Nas.

I don't know if it's your case but people tend to believe that the Nas files are backup.

Regards,

O

 

[tonky]

Thanks for the help and advice. Dabs.com do a decent price on a 2 by 2Tb (WD) Synology DS214 (good reviews too).. I am going to bend the ear of the dealer who sold me the Naim unitilite on his opinion as he knows the Naim Unitilite so well. (use of Virgin Broadband as provider for me).

One last thing (excuse my ignorance) - is it normal to hardwire these NAS devices to the network for stability (for music in particular)

Anyway - thanks to all Tonky

 

[expat_mike]

One last thing (excuse my ignorance) - is it normal to hardwire these NAS devices to the network for stability (for music in particular)

I have mine connected to my modem using ordinary network cable.

 

[Jota180]

Thanks for the help and advice. Dabs.com do a decent price on a 2 by 2Tb (WD) Synology DS214 (good reviews too).. I am going to bend the ear of the dealer who sold me the Naim unitilite on his opinion as he knows the Naim Unitilite so well. (use of Virgin Broadband as provider for me).

One last thing (excuse my ignorance) - is it normal to hardwire these NAS devices to the network for stability (for music in particular)

Anyway - thanks to all Tonky

Yeah, ethernet cable. I think Cat6 cable. It's guaranteed no loss up to 100 metres which is more than enough for most houses.

 

[VoodooDoctor]

Have a look at QNap NAS drives as well. They have decent functionality and some have HDMI so that you can connect directly to your TV.