Just getting started...

[jchoatejr]

So, I am just getting started. I have built a small audio player PC in a mini-ITX case, running Windows 10 Home Edition (speed, local storage, and bandwidth are more than adequate). I confirmed that it can successfully stream via Amazon Music out a USB 2.0 port into my USB DAC and on to the analog equipment. My USB DAC is an older Benchmark DAC1, it uses the standard windows USB 2.0 driver. I intend to purchase a four bay Synology NAS, just haven't decided which one. I want my digital music library on the NAS, so MinimServer 2 seems like a natural choice for a NAS resident music server. Amazon Music is not my end goal, just a convenient test source.

This is about as far as my research and knowledge has taken me. I know that MinimServer 2 can access the music files and send the data over my local network, but to what? I need software on my PC to pull the music data off the network (a UPnP 'renderer' if I understand the documentation) and redirect the audio data to my DAC1 via the USB. I do not want any DSP, not even volume. I tried to research UPnP and ended up wrapped around the axle with external IP addresses, port mapping, etc., which I suspect I don't need anyway. I presume that MinimWatch (or an equivalent Android app) will communicate with MinimServer 2 to browse the library and request the music I want to hear (tracks or playlists), but what software do I need on my Win10 PC to accept the data and redirect it (unmolested) to my DAC via the USB port? I would greatly appreciate any advice, or suggestions you may have to offer.