Network Streamer Network Attached Storage

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 M1.0t, M200t, TX2, C2, Marantz 2230, Rega Brio, Marantz Imperial 7's, Klipsch Quartets, KG4's, KG1's, 'The Sixes', R-12SW, Polk SDA 2a's, Polk Monitor 7cTL's, Polk 4a's, Zu Audio Dirty Weekends, Pro-ject Acryl TT, Cambridge 851N, 351C, Panamax 5300PM
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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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
USB helper: w4s Recovery
Living Room Teac AI-3000, LSI25, SDA 3.1TL, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11
Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T
USB helper: w4s Recovery
Living Room Teac AI-3000, LSI25, SDA 3.1TL, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11
Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T
Tell the Mighty B I said Hi..
USB helper: w4s Recovery
Living Room Teac AI-3000, LSI25, SDA 3.1TL, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11
Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T
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.
Speakers: Harbeth: 30.2, SHL5+; Usher: Be-10, T-515; Rosso Fiorentino: Elba, Pienza, Certaldo, Fiesole, Volterra; Polk: T50, Signature S15, RTA 15tl, RTi12; Sonner Audio Allegro Unum, Legato Unum, Legato Semis, Legato Duo; Emerald Physics CS-2.8; Klipsch KLF-20
Preamps: Shuguang S200MK, Dayens Ampino, Parasound P5
Amps: Shuguang S845MK, Dayens Ampino Monoblocks, Parasound A23
Integrateds: Triode Corporation TRV-88SER, MastersounD: BoX, Dueventi, Compact 845, Evolution 845; North Star Design Blue Diamond
Sources: AURALiC Aries, Denon HEOS Link, North Star Design: Magnifico, Supremo, Incanto, Intenso, Venti
Cabling: Wireworld
TV: Sony XBR-75X940C
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?
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> MIT AVT2 IC's --> Adcom GFA-555ii --> MIT EXP S2 Cables --> LSiM-705's
Visuals
http://StretchPhotography.com
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto
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.
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.
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
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> MIT AVT2 IC's --> Adcom GFA-555ii --> MIT EXP S2 Cables --> LSiM-705's
Visuals
http://StretchPhotography.com
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto