Sound quality differences between NAS units

[simoncn]

(12-09-2016 22:30)ac16161 Wrote:  But, via the Synology media server on the 214 (running DSM 6), FLAC files without transcoding are very close to native WAV streamed directly from my PC through Minimserver, whereas via Minimserver on the Synology the difference in SQ is quite obvious.

I'm not quite clear on what comparisons you have made. As I understand it, your preferences are (in this order):

WAV without transcoding from MinimServer on Windows PC
FLAC without transcoding from Synology Media Server on Synology DS214+
FLAC without transcoding from MinimServer on Synology DS214+

Have you tried the following:

WAV without transcoding from MinimServer on Synology DS214+
FLAC with transcoding to WAV from MinimServer on Synology DS214+