USB versus NAS

[mightymonoped]

First off, this is just initial impressions after some noodling around having temporarily replaced my usual NAS based files server with a directly attached USB 3 hard disk.

Original configuration:-

• RPi/Allo Boss connected by CAT5 Ethernet cable to BT Home Hub Router, Buffalo Dual Disk NAS connected via CAT5 Ethernet cable to Home Hub Router.
• Media Library on NAS is controlled via Macbook Pro running JJRiver Media Centre wirelessly.
• RPi running Volumio 2 connected (via CAT5) to NAS

No problems to speak of, everything works and sounds pretty damn good in comparison to the CDP using Xiang Sheng DAC01a

New Configuration:-

• RPi/Allo Boss connected via CAT5 Ethernet cable to BT Home Hub Router
• Media Library copied to USB Hard Drive connected via USB3 cable to RPi

Sound seems to have come alive! Clearer, more detail, deeper bass (that Allo Boss signature sound) and just, well more going on!

Initial impressions are that such a difference means I will have to use the NAS as a backup device, not the USB player! I can't see myself swapping the USB drive out, even if it means it's more of a pain to update the Media Library.

In effect, I'm using the network to manage the 'headless' aspects of RPi/Volumio setup, but the actual FLAC files are as directly connected as they can be to the DAC, and it appears (to me at least) to make a significant difference in the quality of the sound that ensues.

[struth]

i can samba music to the external hdd on rpi although its slow. if you have a few to do its quicker going and taking hdd to pc

[mightymonoped]

i can samba music to the external hdd on rpi although its slow. if you have a few to do its quicker going and taking hdd to pc

Along the lines of what I need to look at next Grant. I want to find the easiest way of keeping all the components online (for ease of admin and backup purposes) but keep the USB connection direct to the RPi. If I can get both the NAS drives and the USB drive accessible at the same time on the Macbook, it'll be sorted.

[mikmas]

Along the lines of what I need to look at next Grant. I want to find the easiest way of keeping all the components online (for ease of admin and backup purposes) but keep the USB connection direct to the RPi. If I can get both the NAS drives and the USB drive accessible at the same time on the Macbook, it'll be sorted.

I only use USB with my Pi - found setting up a NAS a chore so didn't bother.
I access the drive on the Pi via my Mac Mini over WiFi in the Finder menu by:

GO>Connect to Server>cifs://moode/USB or
GO>Connect to Server>smb://moode/USB

Log in as Guest and this should mount the USB drive on your desktop so you can transfer files, etc.

I presume this would work equally well with Volumio instead of Moode in the path

[mightymonoped]

I only use USB with my Pi - found setting up a NAS a chore so didn't bother.
I access the drive on the Pi via my Mac Mini over WiFi in the Finder menu by:

GO>Connect to Server>cifs://moode/USB or
GO>Connect to Server>smb://moode/USB

Log in as Guest and this should mount the USB drive on your desktop so you can transfer files, etc.

I presume this would work equally well with Volumio instead of Moode in the path

Nice! I’ll give that a whirl a bit later


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Clive]

I use a Windows Share with my Pi over ethernet. It's certainly a step up from a USB connected drive.

[struth]

I use a Windows Share with my Pi over ethernet. It's certainly a step up from a USB connected drive.

I can do that too from either pc or files on router. Prefer the direct wired USB I think but will give it another try

[Clive]

I can do that too from either pc or files on router. Prefer the direct wired USB I think but will give it another try

I find USB to be softer sounding which might preferable depending on the system. Windows Share is more incisive.

[mikmas]

I use a Windows Share with my Pi over ethernet. It's certainly a step up from a USB connected drive.

That is essentially what Tony was doing before - Windows Share (and the Mac equivalent) is basically NAS by a different name

[Clive]

That is essentially what Tony was doing before - Windows Share (and the Mac equivalent) is basically NAS by a different name

Yep, it's probably even the same CIFS protocol.