Netbook as a music source?

[Ammonite Audio]

I used to think that a netbook didn't really cut it as a music source. That was certainly true with a HiFace USB interface, when compared with other computers; however with the HiFace Evo, fed by a Paul Hynes PSU, the netbook (also powered by a Paul Hynes PSU) does a rather creditable job. There is still some way to go on my personal computer learning curve, particularly regarding Network Storage, but this little MSI netbook, running Win7 and either Foobar or J River Media Center is pretty good. Not as good as another laptop running XP, but I have an ASIO driver problem with that and am awaiting technical help. Here's a snap of the setup - you can just make out the HiFace Evo on top of the amplifier, with a little green LED showing. The fence is for dog-proofing purposes.

http://i56.tinypic.com/a2q59h.jpg

[WAD62]

I think somewhere around the 1.6gHz cpu figure, as most netbooks are (presumably it's the intel atom in there), is absolutely ideal for a player, any more would be a waste of resources (and money). All you need is the right drivers...;)

If you already have a network router just plug in a NAS device, and you should be able to play from there if you map it as a network drive. Any decent music player (I use winamp) will allow you to reference your library from there...:)

The other good thing is that you will have enough grunt to run input plugins if you wish, I'm running SoX upsampler with winamp and it works very nicely at the client end.

I think the next generation of android epads will be good options too...and even cheaper :eyebrows:

Edit; Watch out for the magnets on your speakers affecting the netbook (unless they're shielded), can cause some strange behaviour!

P.S. How do you find the hiface?

[Ammonite Audio]

I think somewhere around the 1.6gHz cpu figure, as most netbooks are (presumably it's the intel atom in there), is absolutely ideal for a player, any more would be a waste of resources (and money). All you need is the right drivers...;)

If you already have a network router just plug in a NAS device, and you should be able to play from there if you map it as a network drive. Any decent music player (I use winamp) will allow you to reference your library from there...:)

Ha! I have just bought a D-Link NAS, which set up perfectly on the computer that I used for the initial setup, but the Win7 netbook doesn't see it when plugged into the same router. There must be something simple that I'm missing here!


Edit; Watch out for the magnets on your speakers affecting the netbook (unless they're shielded), can cause some strange behaviour!

P.S. How do you find the hiface?

The Avalons are part of their AV range, and I'm pretty certain that they are shielded.

The HiFace is great. Notwithstanding my ASIO driver problem, when I have compared the Evo to the standard device, there is a world of difference. I need a digital feed for my Lyngdorf amp, and both these gadgets do the job very well. I have some 24 bit 192kHz music files that play very nicely through both HiFaces, proving that they are compatible with pretty much all digital formats.

If I needed a DAC, I'd certainly be looking at the M2Tech Young DAC, from the same stable as the HiFace.

[WAD62]

Try to find it as a named computer from windows explorer box, whatever the name is eg \\devicename

Did it come with any software? My QNAP came with some finder software, but you should be able to find it by the device's logical name.

Once you find it map it as a network drive...

[Ammonite Audio]

Thanks Will, but I am a computer mong and I'm afraid you are speaking in riddles! I really need a geek to come and show me how!

It did come with software, but as far as I can see that's only for setting up the NAS box and RAID options etc, which worked fine on the other PC.

[WAD62]

Thanks Will, but I am a computer mong and I'm afraid you are speaking in riddles! I really need a geek to come and show me how!

It did come with software, but as far as I can see that's only for setting up the NAS box and RAID options etc, which worked fine on the other PC.

...sorry chap, give me a shout if your mate can't sort you out :)

[Vincent Kars]

I’m not familiar with the D-link NAS but most of the time a NAS is configured using a web interface. If you do you see something like http://192.168.0.142:8080/indexnas.cgi?counter=1296941316 in the address bar of the browser. 192.168.0.142 is the IP address.
On the Win7 laptop:
Open My Computer
Type \\192.168.0.142 in the address bar and see what happen