Digital Confusion

[johnB]

I'm very pleased with my analogue, all in one room, set up. I however have a sneaking suspicion that I'm not getting the best out of my digital set up, and could do with some help/options.

I keep music files on a hard-drive, back this up regularly on a 2nd hard-drive.i run this through my wife's P&C as it sits near the centre of the house. (I also can run the library through my Mac-book)

I use iTunes to organise the library, this is purely historic and because I shrink down the library to fit into two iPods that I use in the car.

I then stream(? If that's the term?) itunes using Logitech Meia Server via wi-fi through to two other rooms where I use Squeezebox classics through Beresford bushmaster DACs. I also pick up Spotify via this route.
I also seem to be able to pick up my iTunes library via Netflix on my telly (but I can live without this I think)

All This works ok (when the Internet and wi-fi are working) but is there a better alternative?

- I have to boot up my wife's pc every time I want to listen to music in the perpheral rooms would there be benefit in running a dedicated machine in the background?
- my son wants access to Central music library in his room
- I'd like to control the music in the peripheral rooms via an iPad or iPhone

Lots of question, but that's because I don't understand the technology options.

Would any experienced Digital-Savvy person give me the benefit of their experience?

Cheers
John

[Canetoad]

You need to install a NAS (network attached storage). It is a storage device running a processor/operating system to manage the content you install on it. Mine is a Synology with 1Tb of storage (I'm soon updating it to 3Tb). Most can have Logitech Media Server installed so you no longer need to have a laptop or PC running so your players can access your music library. You can connect it to your household network by just connecting to your broadband router with a data cable. I have an 8 port splitter as a hub for data distribution and the NAS and Router are clients attached to it. This way the router isn't a bottleneck in my internal house network, which doesn't need router access to port music round the house.

[johnB]

Thanks Bernie. That's sounds pretty straight forward.

Why does everyone seem to not like iTunes? Should I run my digital music through another library system?

[Paul Lange]

I use a dedicated PC to store and play my digital music. Although there are various alternatives to the software you can use I just use Windows Media Center, a PITA to set up but working OK now. I have the PC connected to a Rega DAC and view the music library through the TV. Not necessarily better but quite nice to use.

[Canetoad]

I only use iTunes to load files onto my iPod. I haven't compared it to LMS or JRiver so can't give an honest opinion. I just don't want to use it. :)

[Canetoad]

There are other benefits to using a NAS. You can use it to store all your personal files, music, photos and movies. Mine uses Raid2 to backup the content using 2 1Tb drives, the second a mirror image of the first. I also use another external HDD as a further backup. A lot safer than having everything on one drive. Mine has a security app that can be used for household surveillance. Just add cameras and plug them into the network. Haven't used this yet but am thinking of giving it a try. Of course the more you run on it the higher the CPU load will be.

I'm going to upgrade mine to 3Tb capacity and load MP4 movies along with my music files. I'll be able to access all anywhere in the house. My 12yo son is looking forward to to the movie access. :) He already has access to the music files via his PS3.

[struth]

I have my important stuff on 3 HDD's and also on the clouds, scattered about with G Drive, dropbox, flikr etc. I once had 2 drives go down in a week and lost a fair bit... aint gonna happen again :eyebrows:

[Werner Berghofer]

John,

Why does everyone seem to not like iTunes? […]
on a Windows computer it might be a royal pain in the rear, but on Mac OS X it’s a wonderful and efficient library and playback system, plus it can be controlled from an iOS device using the free “Remote” software available from Apple. Certain “audiophile” software players claim to offer much better sound quality, but basically all they do is move binary data, ones and zeros, to the DAC. This is a task iTunes itself already performs pretty good and reliably. The one difference is in handling files of various bit depths and resolutions in your library. The “audiophile” players automatically switch the output according to the source material’s properties, while iTunes uses the bit depth and resolution selected and set in “Audio MIDI Setup”.

However, you should be aware that iTunes is a very fast, but not reliable “ripper”: For extracting and converting data from an audio CD to a computer’s storage software like for example XLD is highly recommended.

Werner.

[337alant]

I also use a synology NAS with 4 x 1TB hard drives I store all my music in FLAC lots of movies and pictures. I can access this NAS from and UPNP DNLA device in the house ie a PC, Laptop, DVD player, SMART TVs, Tablet, squeezebox touch
For my HIFI I built a small silentpc and installed JRiverMedia, the pc is connected via async USB to my M2Tech Young DAC then to the pre amp.
Iniitially I just picked up the NAS using WIFI and it worked fine but I got the occasional drop out so I ran a 10m cat 6 cable under the floor so it now hard wired to the NAS and I think it sound better that way as well
Sound quality from my digital files is superb and on par with my anaologue Vinyl and Reel 2 Reel system's

Alan

[tiguan]

I have a synology 213j NAS with 2 3tb western digital red hardisk. They operate in RAID0. RAID0, I belive is better for HiFi purpose, because nothing works in the background and NAS just works for music. (If there is an external harddisk to secure data !!!). I have additionaly an external WD My Book Harddisk for backup, connected to NAS when I dont listen music.
NAS is connected to modem with cat 6 cable (which works as rooter as well.) HiFi dedicated Netbook is connected with cat6 cable directly to modem. Finally my Samsung LCD is connected with cat6 cable to modem.
I have jriver+linux debian in dedicated Netbook, programs for synology in Samsung TV.
Netbook is connected with Oyaide Neo A Class usb cable to usb-coaxial converter and converter is connected with silver coaxial cable from ebay to Lampucera DAC inside my DIY pre.
I reach to all my movies etc at NAS through synology programs in Samsung TV. Those seperate programms make archiving of all Movies and Photos.

As some more words for Hifi, cleaner power source made quit good improvement with my system performance at router and NAS. (battery pack or better PSU)