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Network Streamer Network Attached Storage

ThomasDThomasD Posts: 251
in Going Digital
Decided to pull the trigger on the Cambridge 851D. Can't stand having my Iphone tied up when streaming my playlists or Spotify anymore. All reviews were pretty positive & they seem to be out of stock everywhere (hoping that is a good thing). Have one on back order from Cru...field. Still need to figure out the stand alone NAS issue. Something other than memory sticks. Need to have a solid storage media apart from any laptop etc. Anyone chime in with experience in this matter? Looking for just a couple Terabits of storage. And simplicity is key because I'm not digitally talented. :)
Carver M4.0t, M1.0t, M200t, TX2, C1, C2, Marantz 2230, 2010, Rega Brio, Marantz Imperial 7's, Klipsch Heresy III, Quartets, KG4's, KG1's, 'The Sixes', R-12SW, Polk SDA 2a's, Monitor 7cTL's, SDA CRS's, 4a's, Zu Audio Dirty Weekends, Pro-ject Acryl TT, Cambridge 851N, 351C, Panamax 5300PM

Comments

  • billbillwbillbillw Posts: 5,813
    edited August 2018
    I'd think about the future before setting up any NAS. Do you want to use it for anything other than music? Photos, documents, videos? Do you want it to run Plex or other apps? Do you want it to be redundant (RAID mirrored)? There are literally dozens, if not more options when it comes to stand alone NAS boxes. You an also build a small PC to run as an NAS for about the same cost, but the PC would tend to have better performance and more ability to run apps like Plex.

    I started with a Buffalo Linkstation with two drives. I used it for streaming video rips to Kodi, music streaming to various devices, and backup/central location for photos/documents/install files.

    I used that for a long time and it started to fill up (it was mirrored pair of 3TB drives). So, I added a 2nd NAS with a pair of 2TB drives and split my music/photos from my videos (which are space hogs). That was actually doing well until I decided I wanted to have a server which could run Plex and do other things.
    Eventually I landed at the server I have now (pair of hex core CPU, four 4TB drives in ZFS format). Now, I don't see you going that far, but it does show how things can evolve.

    All that said, I'd probably start with a stand alone box from Buffalo, QNAP, Synology, WD/Netgear, etc. I would avoid a single disc device. Dual-bay minimum, but consider at a 4-bay for expansion ability. There is a huge price jump going from a dual bay to a 4-bay, but it is less than getting a 2nd device and they hold their value more.

    Most of the time you can save money by getting your discs separately and installing them vs getting one that already has discs installed.

    A good resource for NAS information/testing is at this website: https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas
    Main 2-ch:
    Sony SS-M9; LSA Statement Amplifier; VPI HW-19 Mk3/Sumiko Premier FT-4/Audio Technica AT15SA; Pass Labs DIY Pearl Phono; Sony SCD-C333ES SACD Changer; TEAC UD-301 DAC; Dell/WYSE 5010 (running Daphile); Sony ST-SA5ES Tuner; Nanotec Golden Strada speaker cables (SR+#79 Shotgun); Audioquest Coral interconnects
  • steveinazsteveinaz Posts: 18,952
    edited August 2018
    I have been considering the Western Digital MyCloud mirrored NAS. It looks simple, like me. I don't stream movies and I'm not looking at setting up a "super network" just a more convenient, accessable (and backed up) storage solution.

    Currently I have a WD external usb HDD connected directly to my Oppo BDP-103 via usb cable, but I'm also looking at a wireless solution.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i | Preamp/DAC: PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell | Power Amp: Parasound Halo A21 | Speakers: PSB Imagine T2 | Cables: Signal Cable Analog 2 XLR; Kimber 8VS Bi-Wire; DH Labs D-75 Dig Coax | AC Power: Panamax M5300-PM
  • honestaquarianhonestaquarian Posts: 2,395
    I got a Western Digital 3 Terabyte network back up hard drive years ago. I use it to back up my computer and also store movies and music. All of my Hi Rez music is on it and it streams to my Oppo via DLNA as well as via SMB (the only way I can get stereo and multichannel DSD files to stream without having to resort to using a USB stick) Works flawlessly.
    Living room Home theater: Upgrade Company modified Onkyo PR-SC5509,Sunfire Cinema grand Signature 5 channel amp(1st gen),Carver TFM-45,Carver M-400a,Panasonic TC-P50ST60 50" Plasma(last gen before Plasma production stopped)Pioneer Elite DVL-91,Meridian 519 Dolby AC-3 RF Demodulator,Oppo Digital UDP-205,TiVo Bolt VOX,Nakamich BX-300,Technics SL-1200MKII,Shure V15 Type VxMR cartridge,Polk SDA-SRS 3.1 TL(with RD-0198 tweeters, upgraded with Larry's rings, black hole5,an Avel-Lindberg 1000VA isolation transformer, VR3 customer crossovers and internal wiring),Polk CS-1000P(with SL-6506 tweeter),Polk Monitor 5jr(with RD-0194 tweeters),Polk RT-35i (1),Polk Mini Monitors,Polk PSW150(4)Monster Power HTPS 7000 MKII Signature series,Monster Power AVS 2000 Signature Series,Various MIT,Monster,Upgrade Company and Belden interconnect,power,HDMI,Coax and Toslink Digital and speaker cables.

    Bedroom 2 channel system:Integra DTM 40.4,Nakamichi BX-100,TiVo mini,Musical Fidelity X-LPS,X-PSU,Carver TFM-25,Sony KV-34XBR970(last of the widescreen tube sets before production stopped)Technics SL-1200MKII,Shure V15 Type V MR cartridge,Polk RT-55(with SL-6506 tweeters),Polk PSW-200 in plexiglass(2),Sony Playstation 3 slim.Monster Power HTPS-7000,Monster AVS-2000, PowerVarious Kimber,Audioquest and MIT interconnects and speaker cables.
  • steveinazsteveinaz Posts: 18,952
    Very cool. The WD's seem like a good value.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i | Preamp/DAC: PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell | Power Amp: Parasound Halo A21 | Speakers: PSB Imagine T2 | Cables: Signal Cable Analog 2 XLR; Kimber 8VS Bi-Wire; DH Labs D-75 Dig Coax | AC Power: Panamax M5300-PM
  • billbillwbillbillw Posts: 5,813
    edited August 2018
    If I had it to do over again, I'd take a used/refurb business PC, throw in a pair of decent sized drives, load FreeNAS (on a USB stick), and go with that. It would easily out perform any 2-bay stand alone NAS and be cheaper.

    Something like this:
    Ebay HP i5 mini-desktop

    And a couple of these:
    Amazon 4TB WD Red (NAS) drives

    You might need a 2nd drive caddy. Lots of tutorials on the web to setup FreeNAS.
    Main 2-ch:
    Sony SS-M9; LSA Statement Amplifier; VPI HW-19 Mk3/Sumiko Premier FT-4/Audio Technica AT15SA; Pass Labs DIY Pearl Phono; Sony SCD-C333ES SACD Changer; TEAC UD-301 DAC; Dell/WYSE 5010 (running Daphile); Sony ST-SA5ES Tuner; Nanotec Golden Strada speaker cables (SR+#79 Shotgun); Audioquest Coral interconnects
  • recoveryonerecoveryone Posts: 735
    edited August 2018
    can't go to wrong with this option, I've had mine for a year now no issues to speak of.

    hg7edicxaa8n.jpg
    Family Room HT 7.2/i]:
    Vizio P55-E1UHD Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Pioneer Elite N-50 Panamax M5300-EX
    Living room 2ch:
    Integra ADM 2.1 Teac EQ MKII Squeezebox Touch Fluance SX Speakers Panamax M5100-EX
    Upstairs media room:
    Vizio D1 32" Pioneer Elite VSX 32 Sony PS4 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio Rti 6's fronts Polk CSR Center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax M5300-EX
    Master bedroom:
    Vizio VF550M Pioneer Elite VSX 33 Pioneer Elite BDP 80FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio Monitor 40 II fronts, Rears Optimus LX5s Jensen CCS center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax 5100
  • Viking64Viking64 Posts: 3,819
    Hey, you! Get off of that! ^^^^^
  • msgmsg Posts: 4,885
    And Paint it Black instead!
    I disabled signatures.
  • erniejadeerniejade Posts: 4,851
    edited August 2018
    I have a western digital ex2 nas for about 4 years now. No issues except i cannot run minimserver native on it like i can with a qnap. The wd. Is simple to use, and can run plex without having another oiece in the mix.
    Den: Lumin D1,Wireworld Silver Eclipse, KEF LS50 Wireless, Velodyne SPL1200, Technics 1200, Denon DL160, Jolida D9,
    USB helper: w4s Recovery
    Living Room: Teac AI-3000,T+A PA 1530R, Tyler Highland H2, Aries Mini, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11
    Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T

  • erniejadeerniejade Posts: 4,851
    Almost forgot, if your not worried about backuo, why not oick up an aries mini from skip and put a 2 tb drive in it?
    Den: Lumin D1,Wireworld Silver Eclipse, KEF LS50 Wireless, Velodyne SPL1200, Technics 1200, Denon DL160, Jolida D9,
    USB helper: w4s Recovery
    Living Room: Teac AI-3000,T+A PA 1530R, Tyler Highland H2, Aries Mini, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11
    Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T

  • lightman1lightman1 Posts: 10,320
    Brian has discovered the wondrous effects of alcohol and posting without proofreading.


    Tell the Mighty B I said Hi..
  • erniejadeerniejade Posts: 4,851
    Too funny and she says hi back.
    Den: Lumin D1,Wireworld Silver Eclipse, KEF LS50 Wireless, Velodyne SPL1200, Technics 1200, Denon DL160, Jolida D9,
    USB helper: w4s Recovery
    Living Room: Teac AI-3000,T+A PA 1530R, Tyler Highland H2, Aries Mini, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11
    Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T

  • DSkipDSkip Posts: 15,753
    erniejade wrote: »
    Almost forgot, if your not worried about backuo, why not oick up an aries mini from skip and put a 2 tb drive in it?

    The Mini is only available used and only takes an SSD as far as I know. Honestly, just adding your music to a computer on your network is easy and accomplishes the same thing as a nas.
    audiothesis.com/
  • stretchlstretchl Posts: 1,294
    DSkip wrote: »
    Honestly, just adding your music to a computer on your network is easy and accomplishes the same thing as a nas.

    That’s what I’ve been thinking, reading this thread. How is a network attached storage device different from simply having a dedicated hard drive on one’s computer and streaming the files wirelessly or via ethernet to the system?
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Yaqin MC-10t --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    http://StretchPhotography.com
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
  • ThomasDThomasD Posts: 251
    Lots of great suggestions. Hadn't considered just using a computer other than my laptop which I can't dedicate to the cause because it travels with me all the time.
    But again, what about a 'mirror' drive for the computer? Was thinking of something that would just sit on a shelf in the audio rack for convenience. Some of this seems to get easier to comprehend while some doesn't. And it's my ignorance and lack of experience that is to blame.
    Carver M4.0t, M1.0t, M200t, TX2, C1, C2, Marantz 2230, 2010, Rega Brio, Marantz Imperial 7's, Klipsch Heresy III, Quartets, KG4's, KG1's, 'The Sixes', R-12SW, Polk SDA 2a's, Monitor 7cTL's, SDA CRS's, 4a's, Zu Audio Dirty Weekends, Pro-ject Acryl TT, Cambridge 851N, 351C, Panamax 5300PM
  • steveinazsteveinaz Posts: 18,952
    edited August 2018
    Well, with a simple NAS the software is already there; minimal configuration, and uses far less power..and the COST is relatively low. The WD MyCloud starts at about $179, and gets very good reviews.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i | Preamp/DAC: PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell | Power Amp: Parasound Halo A21 | Speakers: PSB Imagine T2 | Cables: Signal Cable Analog 2 XLR; Kimber 8VS Bi-Wire; DH Labs D-75 Dig Coax | AC Power: Panamax M5300-PM
  • billbillwbillbillw Posts: 5,813
    edited August 2018
    It is possible to just share from a PC drive that runs 24/7, but Windows OS doesn't always cooperate when it comes to sharing files. It works sometimes, but then for unexplained reasons it doesn't work at other times or with certain devices.

    With a stand alone NAS, you should be able to see those files from just about any device on the network. That goes for something off the shelf like the WD/QNAP/Synology devices, or with a built FreeNAS server.

    You also don't have to worry about the NAS/FreeNAS server rebooting to install updates like a Windows machine. They may have firmware/software/OS updates, but they won't force them on you. It will be your choice when to install/reboot.

    I should point out one benefit of building your own (ie: FreeNAS) is that if the hardware fails (CPU/Mainboard) fails on a stand alone NAS, you typically can't take the drive and put it in another device and salvage the data. With a FreeNAS machine, you could easily use those drives in a new FreeNAS build and not loose data.

    Unfortunately, I did have one of my NAS boxes (a Zyxel) die suddenly and unexpectedly. It went into a boot loop that couldn't be fixed. I was never able to get the data off those drives. Luckily I had most of it stored on my PC, but I did loose a few things.
    Main 2-ch:
    Sony SS-M9; LSA Statement Amplifier; VPI HW-19 Mk3/Sumiko Premier FT-4/Audio Technica AT15SA; Pass Labs DIY Pearl Phono; Sony SCD-C333ES SACD Changer; TEAC UD-301 DAC; Dell/WYSE 5010 (running Daphile); Sony ST-SA5ES Tuner; Nanotec Golden Strada speaker cables (SR+#79 Shotgun); Audioquest Coral interconnects
  • stretchlstretchl Posts: 1,294
    Ah. Seems to work fine using my Mac as a server, though I do wonder if I’d get better/cleaner/faster data via Ethernet rather than WiFi.
    “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
    - Isaac Asimov
    Hi-Fi
    Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Yaqin MC-10t --> LSiM-705's
    Cabling by Groneberg
    Visuals
    http://StretchPhotography.com
    http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
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