Melco Audiophile NAS

[dan46]

(27-03-2016 14:10)Mihaylov Wrote:  

(27-03-2016 11:06)dan46 Wrote:  It would be good if and when Melco release better white paper style explanations as to why the Direct Mode could be better. I have been playing with the various settings and apologies to all here for probably repeating some observations in earlier posts, as I learn myself the best setting up.

For CP use (NAIM app or others like Kinsky) then I have streamer connected via player out, network mode is set, and LAN is connected to 1GbE switch and thus the network (DHCP on). This gives best overall access to the library allowing for the CP access with playback.

Now setting to Direct Mode in the settings, the LAN/Player network bridge I believe is disconnected, thus allowing for one network cable from Player out and into the streamer.

I have assumed that Direct Mode through the Player out network is the best playback mode (for isolation/noise reasoning) and for me it is the best way to playback the files for quality (lower noise floor. slightly airier around everything, longer ringing out of higher frequencies) but you loose that CP access.

There isn't as such a definitive answer as to the option of selecting Direct Mode producing much better playback quality, some seem to suggest it isn't, and that network mode is just as good. But for me why is it there then as an option. More testing needs doing so I can hear for myself.

And what about this: https://forum.minimserver.com/showthread...9#pid20309
Did you try it?

Hi Mihaylov,

I did try this and had everything running smoothly kit and network wise but only briefly could really check audio quality playback properly hence why I haven't posted as yet. I had the N1A LAN and Player ports set to manual with static IP address, with both routing as per their addresses.
Player has a static IP in the N1A settings/network list which I used and LAN can be set in menus to manual IP and DHCP off. I noticed no obvious improvement, but it wasn't so fair as I wasn't giving it enough before and after playback testing to hear any difference, so I wish to go back and start over to do this better. I have Synology with SSD running MinimServer also so wish to check all the playback and routing options in one proper session as I would like to know myself for sure. I also convert FLAC - WAV via Minim which I also believe is better overall.

Initially though when playing back N1A for very first time a few weeks ago it was the noise floor level, this was very noticeable to me then, and then when playing Direct Mode for first time I felt another improvement in that airiness and longer high frequencies, it felt at the time quite noticeable also, but not as much as that initial noise floor on first network playback not the same level of difference. I wish to now repeat this experience so I do need to go back a step or two to repeat it and be sure.

Another poster elsewhere has described how the noise and general traffic pollution in Direct Mode is reduced to zero, so if any traffic is polluting the network this is removed which could potentially enhance the playback quality by removing all the potential unwanted noise from that extra traffic.