Sound quality differences between NAS units

[tgb]

(04-09-2016 15:55)robt Wrote:  I've ordered two MC100cms and interconnect to decouple my Synology DS1511+ from my Cyrus XP2 QX.

on cumputeraudiophile thread it has been found that single-mode fibers "sounds" better than multi-mode fibers ; thus the MC110CSshould be prefered. Not a big deal anyhow.

(04-09-2016 15:55)robt Wrote:  I ordered the MC100cms as my renderer doesn't support gigabit, and there obviously wont be an issue even streaming 192/24 flacs as wav files.

you're right. No trouble to deal with audio files, even the biggest through 100Mb ethernet. That's why most of renderers have 100Mb ethernet interfaces.

(04-09-2016 15:55)robt Wrote:  I'm hoping that someone can actually spec the linear mode power supplies for the TP Link adapters and a supplier as I have no idea what's required, volts amps or even the plug on the end!

tp-link FMC are delivered with a 9V PS, but can work witha 5V PS too
=> stated here : http://static.tp-link.com/res/down/doc/M..._V4_UG.pdf
5V PS are usually more numerous & less expensive on the market.
Only the one next to the renderer is key, the other ones can keep their SMPS.
A 5.5mm*2.5mm plug works.
Rgds

[robt]

Thanks for that. I did see the comments about the single mode but if I'm honest I didn't really understand the difference! Its an Amazon purchase so I suppose I could return and re order.

If you find an actual item for the power supply, please feel free to link it - that's me being lazy!

I shall be sure to give my feedback next week when I have this installed.

[tgb]

single mode vs multimode is no the issue in fact. it is more the PS on the FMC next to the renderer that is key ; Teradak produces good PS for instance.
Rgds

[Mihaylov]

(04-09-2016 17:16)robt Wrote:  If you find an actual item for the power supply, please feel free to link it - that's me being lazy!

MC200cm:
   
For example here is linear psu (two in one) for two MC200cms:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Way-25W-25W-Li...pU1ndBTBOw

Output voltage / current:
2: DC-9V/2.2A
DC Head Size: Outer diameter 5.5mm, internal diameter 2.5mm

[robt]

(04-09-2016 20:12)Mihaylov Wrote:  

(04-09-2016 17:16)robt Wrote:  If you find an actual item for the power supply, please feel free to link it - that's me being lazy!

MC200cm:

For example here is linear psu (two in one) for two MC200cms:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Way-25W-25W-Li...pU1ndBTBOw

Output voltage / current:
2: DC-9V/2.2A
DC Head Size: Outer diameter 5.5mm, internal diameter 2.5mm

Thank you for finding that. Unfortunately I'm in the UK and the cost of importing would be quite high. But it shows me what to look for

[ac16161]

Another option I am now exploring is putting a Russ Andrews upgraded DC supply on my Netgear switch and also on my MyBook (upgrading the PSU on my Synology DS214 looks harder). They offer extended home-demos. If anyone has any tips on good-quality alternative DC supplies feedback welcome. I wonder if this might realise some of the benefit of a Melco's noise isolation for much less expense.

[robt]

Thanks for the advice so far. I now have received two MC110CS adapters (changed my order before dispatch) and an appropriate cable. Haven't yet installed...

I have found this power supply, can anyone confirm if it appears appropriate please?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanskrit-LPS-Re...V+DC+Outpu

I've chosen this as it looks good, has two outputs and is available in the UK. Most alternatives are in China, will take ages to arrive and will incur customs charges too!

[Expresso]

After reading the various posts in the Melco & NAS sections, I have upgraded 2 things in my Synology/Naim UnitiQute 2 system, this is my setup & observations.

I changed the power supply of the Synology NAS using a 12v 3.5A unit which I purchased from CPC Farnell several years ago (for a project that didn't materialise), I don't think it's a linear one but a low noise medical one.

The second upgrade is adding the aforementioned fibre optic link to my network. I opted for 2 TP-Link MC100CM* for the link between the router & streamer using 10 metres of OM3 sc-sc fibre optic cable. I added 2 RS linear power supplies to the TP-Link boxes initially. Short runs of Lindy Cat6 are used for all the ethernet links.

The biggest change came from changing the NAS power supply, the shut-in sound came alive, wide soundstage & good separation of instruments. The fibre optic link added a noticeable depth to bass, more definition to instruments & vocal clarity. I am able to hear instruments & rhythms in familiar songs which I hadn't picked up before.

Changing the power supplies to the TP-Link boxes didn't make an audible difference. I have left one of the RS linear ones at the streamer side but the router end has been switched back to the TP-Link supplied one (I couldn't notice any difference). I will play around further with the combinations of these power supplies in due course just in case I missed any improvement.

In conclusion, both the changes made a considerable difference & are well worth the upgrade. If you want a quick & simple upgrade, go with the NAS power supply although I'm not sure how much more I could wring out of the system by having an even better (more expensive) power supply.

Everything else in the system is stock, no fancy mains conditioners, exotic power cables or unfeasibly expensive gizmos.


* The TP-Link MC200CM did not work in my Naim system, the MC200CM is fixed at 1000 base-t (gigabit) & the Naim is fixed at 100 base-t (megabit) speeds, additionally you can't mix MC100s & MC200s without the use of a network switch in between.

[ac16161]

I've made some progress in assessing sound quality differences, in particular the somewhat harsh/shut-in vocals when running Minimserver on a Synology DS214+, and it's not what I expected: sound improves quite clearly when running Synology's own media server, quite consistently across the same FLAC files with all transcoding switched off. I never considered trying Synology's own media server, since the control point experience is beyond rubbish, and when I set up a Synology NAS for my brother last year serving an on-loan Naim NDX (I can't recall the NAS model, it was an even lower spec than the 214), Minimserver was so far ahead in SQ over Synology's media server that without it the NDX purchase would not have gone through. 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 appreciate that this could be a controversial post, but I'm just reporting what I'm hearing. I've every reason to be biased in favour of Minimserver (I love the control-point experience), and have heard it do great things. But for some reason, it's not doing great things on a DS214.

[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+