MinimServer comparison with Synology Media Server

[david]

(10-03-2014 23:00)simoncn Wrote:  Thanks for letting me know about this. Have you tried switching between test mode and normal mode? You should be able to stop a song, switch the mode, and then play the same song again in the other mode. If you keep the log window open while you are doing this, you should see a message "Writing stream using test mode" to indicate when you are using test mode.

Note: You can't switch modes when you pause and resume a song. You need to play the song again from the start.

Can you hear a consistent difference when you do this switching?

Hi Simon,

I just performed a more extensive test, listening to the same track in 4 ways:
1. Minimserver buffered (test mode)
2. Minimserver unbuffered (standard mode)
3. Synology media server transcoding aiff to wav (accidentally turned on, but still included in the results for the sake of completeness)
4. Synology media server (no transcoding)

Generally speaking Minimserver seems to offer a more "controlled" sound than Synology regardless of the test mode.
Options 2 and 4 result in the most "open" sound. Option 3 I would describe as fuzzy, option 1 as somewhat flattened compared to 2.
Options 2, 3 and 4 give the deepest sound (bass). Option 1 does seem to miss some strength in the lower frequencies.

This now results in a preference for the unbuffered Minimserver over the Synology. And that's somewhat different than the outcome of my first test. I can see a number of reasons for that:

1. Between 1st and last observations I upgraded my DAC
2. During the first observation my streamer was fairly new, so it might still have been warming up.
3. Synology does sound far from bad, as I said less controlled, but it still has a very detailed and firm sound. This might have the effect of a "Pepsi challenge" where usually the sweetest coke is preferred in the first moment, but after a glass or two it becomes "boring", compared to other tastes.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

David