Network Music Player without DAC?

[siudai8888]

Does anyone know if there are good Network Music Players on the market (that does streaming from NAS etc) but without in-built DAC (so that I can buy a dedicated, and perhaps more decent, DAC)? Is what I am thinking of going to improve the sound than just buying an all-in-one streamer/DAC like the Marantz NA8005? Thanks!

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

Well, there's the Auralic Aries, for example, which was sounding pretty good at the audio show over the weekend.

 

[cheeseboy]

Well, there's the Auralic Aries, for example, which was sounding pretty good at the audio show over the weekend.

as nice as that looks, there's absolutely no reason for it to cost that much. none whatsoever apart from stupid "hifi" markup.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

as nice as that looks, there's absolutely no reason for it to cost that much. none whatsoever apart from stupid "hifi" markup.

Damn! Forgot it was Predictability Monday.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Hi,

where are your tunes stored? In a PC, NAS, HDD?

And how much do you want to spend in the Network player?

 

[cheeseboy]

as nice as that looks, there's absolutely no reason for it to cost that much. none whatsoever apart from stupid "hifi" markup.

Damn! Forgot it was Predictability Monday.

not as predictable as stupid hifi markups for a device that doesn't even contain a dac (I know the op is not after one with a dac, but the price of this I would expect a dac at least, there are plenty of decent standalone streamers with really good quality dac's in at that price).

This is just a little low powered computer in a fancy box. It doesn't do anything other pass info from a network source to a dac.

Thread that what started the other week about streamers here http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/what-do-streamers-actually-do

 

[siudai8888]

They will be placed in an NAS. Basically, all I need is a device that does 3 things:

(a) fetch the music files (FLAC or WAV) from the NAS (Ethernet/Wifi);

(b) provide an interface for me to choose songs (preferably either on a TV or on an App); and

(c) deliver the music data to an external DAC for analog conversion and output via speakers.

Do such a thing exist? It does not make sense for me to buy a network player with an in-built (but average) DAC, and then to buy an external DAC. If it is possible, I would rather save money on the network player, and use the money saved on a more decent DAC. Hope I have expressed myself clearly as to what I am after. Cheers!

 

[cheeseboy]

if you haven't purchased a nas already, it's possible with some of them - the synology iirc, to plug the dac directly in to that nas, and control from an app, thus negating the need to buy a dedicated streamer.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Like cheeseboy said, it is possible with a synology NAS it works as a streamer and a good one may I add! It plays galpless, bit perfect 24/192 pcm.

It has a nice ithing interface and it streams through USB, you can connected a plug and play USB DAC (those who don't need to have a driver instaled ) like Rega DAC, Naim V1DAC, or you can buy a USB/Coax converter and buy any DAC you want.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Read this, might help...

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/computer-based-media/synology-ds-audio-users

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

not as predictable as stupid hifi markups for a device that doesn't even contain a dac (I know the op is not after one with a dac, but the price of this I would expect a dac at least, there are plenty of decent standalone streamers with really good quality dac's in at that price).

Funny - like watching a dog chase its own tail and tying itself in knots: it hasn't even got a DAC even though the OP doesn't want one with a DAC but this one hasn't even got one and yeah but no but yeah but no but. 🙂

 

[cheeseboy]

Funny - like watching a dog chase its own tail and tying itself in knots: it hasn't even got a DAC even though the OP doesn't want one with a DAC but this one hasn't even got one and yeah but no but yeah but no but. 🙂

think your definition of funny and mine must be different then.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

It's really not surprising that the number of people willing to contribute and offer suggestions on this forum is declining so sharply when anti-hi-fi attack-gerbils roam the threads ready to shoot down anything with which they don't agree.

The OP asked if there was such a device as the one he was looking for, and I merely suggested one I had heard over the weekend and quite enjoyed: there was really no need for you to go on the offensive.

And I do mean offensive.

 

[cheeseboy]

It's really not surprising that the number of people willing to contribute and offer suggestions on this forum is declining so sharply when anti-hi-fi attack-gerbils roam the threads ready to shoot down anything with which they don't agree.

The OP asked if there was such a device as the one he was looking for, and I merely suggested one I had heard over the weekend and quite enjoyed: there was really no need for you to go on the offensive.

And I do mean offensive.

one should heed their own advice - saying that somebody is chasing their own tail when trying to explain why I thought it was over priced, doesn't help in this isntance now does it?

If you wish, I can give you a breakdown on why I feel the device you linked to is very over-priced? Would that help, or woud i still be called a anti-hi-fi attack-gerbil? (again, not the best way to try and elevate yourself is it by namecalling?)

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

one should heed their own advice - saying that somebody is chasing their own tail when trying to explain why I thought it was over priced, doesn't help in this isntance now does it?

If you wish, I can give you a breakdown on why I feel the device you linked to is very over-priced? Would that help, or woud i still be called a anti-hi-fi attack-gerbil? (again, not the best way to try and elevate yourself is it by namecalling?)

So many questions. Some of which actually are questions, rather than just statements with a point d'interrogation on the end of them.

But there seems little point in attempting to answer them when it appears the supposed questioner already seems to know all the answers.

Anyway, I'm out of this one, as everything beyond two paper cups linked with a piece of string is apparently stupid.

 

[cheeseboy]

So many questions. Some of which actually are questions, rather than just statements with a point d'interrogation on the end of them.

But there seems little point in attempting to answer them when it appears the supposed questioner already seems to know all the answers.

I attacked the price of the equipment, *not you*. I tried to explain briefly why I thought it was overpriced, at which point you decided to get personal and attack me, whilst at the same time as trying to get on your high horse about how people are agressive and this forum has gone down hill yadda yadda yadda (even though you seemingly only joined in july). Pot kettle black. If you want to ask questions, ask them, and I will answer, just please don't try to come off all superior and say things like there's no point in asking questions as the quesioner knows all the answers. Passive agressive rubbish like that gets my goat something chronic.

Anyway, I'm out of this one, as everything beyond two paper cups linked with a piece of string is apparently stupid.

no, that statement is the most stupid thing I've read on here in a long time. Nobody has ever said that, nobody would ever say that.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

(even though you seemingly only joined in july).

I have been a member here for some time, but my original account became lost/inaccessible after the last website upgrade, so in common with some others I was forced to create a new identity.

If you want to ask questions, ask them, and I will answer, just please don't try to come off all superior and say things like there's no point in asking questions as the quesioner knows all the answers. Passive agressive rubbish like that gets my goat something chronic.

I didn't mention any desire to ask questions, but was discussing the futility of attempting to answer questions seemingly posed by others when apparently they already know the answer. People not reading what is written before choosing to condemn it is rather annoying.

Anyway, back on topic, the OP might choose not to have his or her NAS in the same room as the listening system, as these storage devices can be rather noisy. In which case a sensible alternative would be something like a MacMini as the player device, run 'headless' (ie without a screen or keyboard) under the control of an iOS tablet or smartphone (or even an old iPod touch) and connected to the DAC via USB.

And though I haven't yet tried it myself, I've heard good reports of using Raspberry Pi DIY computers as streaming players, although setting up and configuring these may be too much of a hassle for those wanting a simple plug and play solution. In which case buying a discounted last-gen hi-fi streamer, such as the Marantz NA7004 or the like, and using that via its digital output into a DAC, might prove a more user-friendly option, and a sensibly-priced one, too.

 

[chebby]

Anyway, I'm out of this one, as everything beyond two paper cups linked with a piece of string is apparently stupid.

What kind of string? Sisal, jute, Rayon, cotton, polyester, flax, polished flax, 2-ply, 3-ply ? What diameter?

How long? (Very important.)

 

[The_Lhc]

Anyway, I'm out of this one, as everything beyond two paper cups linked with a piece of string is apparently stupid.

What kind of string? Sisal, jute, Rayon, cotton, polyester, flax, polished flax, 2-ply, 3-ply ? What diameter?

How long? (Very important.)

Julie H Christie, this isn't "What Telephone" you know!

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

What kind of string? Sisal, jute, Rayon, cotton, polyester, flax, polished flax, 2-ply, 3-ply ? What diameter?

Surely by now you know that anything more than the cheapest possible string, preferably stolen from a busker's dog, is a case of stringfoolery, not to mention stupid hi-fi tie-ups.

After all, Rick from Stringandpapercupcraft only ever uses the cheapest string sold by Wilko (at 50p for a 40m ball) and says it's more than good enough even when using the most expensive paper cups on the market. 🙂

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

(even though you seemingly only joined in july).

I have been a member here for some time, but my original account became lost/inaccessible after the last website upgrade, so in common with some others I was forced to create a new identity.

Anyway, back on topic, the OP might choose not to have his or her NAS in the same room as the listening system, as these storage devices can be rather noisy. In which case a sensible alternative would be something like a MacMini as the player device, run 'headless' (ie without a screen or keyboard) under the control of an iOS tablet or smartphone (or even an old iPod touch) and connected to the DAC via USB.

Noisy...? Do you have a Synology NAS? Mine is in my living room, in a open cabinet behind my central speaker and I can only hear it in the morning when everything is in silent, as soon as i start the music the noise is no longer there!!!

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

Noisy...? Do you have a Synology NAS? Mine is in my living room, in a open cabinet behind my central speaker and I can only hear it in the morning when everything is in silent, as soon as i start the music the noise is no longer there!!!

It's still there, and contributing to the noise-floor in the room, even when the music is drowning it out. If you're happy with the low level of noise produced, then fine, but I have to say that once I noticed the noise being made by some of the NAS devices I have tried, it became hard to 'dial it out' while listening, and some visitors with clearly greater acuity of hearing than I commented that the set-up was all very clever and convenient, but they couldn't listen with that background noise.

For that reason, and for electrical isolation (as such devices can be a bit noisy in the 'putting hash on the mains' sense, due to the design of power supplies they use), my storage is now physically separated from the playback systems, and on a different ring-main.

It's also been my experience that the hard drives within NAS devices can get a bit noisy as they age, as can the fans some units use for cooling. The former is often a precursor to drive failure (and they will all fail eventually); the latter can often be addressed by stripping down the NAS unit and removing accumulated dust, which seems to get sucked in in even the cleanest house.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Sorry but we are not talking about the same device!!! My NAS has 2 years and the 16/17 db that produce are hardly heard at 1m and at 2m not heard at all!!!

otherwise audiophiles all over the world were not using NAS in they systems!

I live with my NAS in the same room, and I forget complitely that is there! But you don't need to have it in the same room!

The updates provided by synology are constants, and the device is always updated!

The interface is the most user frendly that you can find.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

Sorry but we are not talking about the same device!!!

Well, I did say that different NAS devices produce different levels of noise, and this can be affected by a number of things including the choice of hard drives, the temperature and thus fan operation and so on. But I am happy that you are happy with your chosen device, even if quite a few enthusiasts I know choose to keep their NAS some distance from their hi-fi system.

By the way, sorry about the lack of exclamation points on the end of every sentence in this post: I'm having an economy drive at the moment. ;-)

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

This is a small piece of the review of a Synology NAS with two fans...

full review here

http://www.audiostream.com/content/synology-ds412-nas

"Even though the DS412+ has two rear-mounted fans, I never heard them. I had the DS412+ sitting on my equipment rack which is about 10' from the listening chair. I also went right up to the 412+ and put my ear next to the fans, close enough so they blew my hair, and still could only hear a very, very, very slight whoosh. I'd call that silent. In terms of serving music, the Synology DS412+ works flawlessly, as does my older DS212, and I found the newer version of DSM a pleasure to use."