Melco Audiophile NAS

[simoncn]

(11-01-2015 10:46)DavidHB Wrote:  We may both be getting muddled (my fault, I fear). My understanding now is that RTP/RTTP is a transport layer protocol, and so is a counterpart to TCP/IP rather than HTTP. TCP/IP is documented as being unsuitable for real-time use (as it favours reliability over timeliness), so, if UPnP actually runs in HTTP on TCP/IP (I haven't managed to check that point), you can see the need for buffering. I think I'm in danger of going off topic, so I'll leave it there.

David

I think it's the need for buffering that motivates the use of HTTP rather than the other way round. When the source stream is being read from a server HDD or a remote internet endpoint, there is no possibility of end-to-end real-time transmission, so receiver buffering is required and HTTP is the most suitable protocol.

[DavidHB]

(11-01-2015 10:57)simoncn Wrote:  I think it's the need for buffering that motivates the use of HTTP rather than the other way round. When the source stream is being read from a server HDD or a remote internet endpoint, there is no possibility of end-to-end real-time transmission, so receiver buffering is required and HTTP is the most suitable protocol.

Yes, I get that. Thank you.

Of course, getting back on topic, we still don't know why the combination of buffering and the clock on the Linn devices should not be sufficient to deal with all timing issues, assuming of course (when the stream is bit perfect) that the removal of electrical noise from the network signal somehow affects timing, and therefore sound quality.

David

[simoncn]

(11-01-2015 12:51)DavidHB Wrote:  Of course, getting back on topic, we still don't know why the combination of buffering and the clock on the Linn devices should not be sufficient to deal with all timing issues, assuming of course (when the stream is bit perfect) that the removal of electrical noise from the network signal somehow affects timing, and therefore sound quality.

David

My guess is that the sonic difference (with a Linn DS) is not related to timing issues with packet reception but to some kind of noise from the electrical signals passing through the Ethernet cable. This noise might have some effect on timing within the innards of the DS, but I don't know enough about these innards to have any insight into that.

[simoncn]

(08-01-2015 18:49)best Wrote:  One last question: When you import your files from your existing collection to the melco, does it retain the same directory structure? As in if your library is viewed in 'folder view' do you see separate folders?

I have tried the Import facility and it does allow you to use the same directory structure. The Melco appears a network share in Windows Explorer and you can create or copy any folder structure of your choosing under the network share.

One disadvantage (for readers of this forum) is that the media server is currently hard wired to Twonky. I have been experimenting with running MinimServer but this is possible only if you have a contact at Melco who will give you the root password.

[DavidHB]

(11-01-2015 15:42)simoncn Wrote:  My guess is that the sonic difference (with a Linn DS) is not related to timing issues with packet reception but to some kind of noise from the electrical signals passing through the Ethernet cable. This noise might have some effect on timing within the innards of the DS, but I don't know enough about these innards to have any insight into that.

Clearly, it's still all guesswork, but we can ask ourselves what the variance could be, if a change in the sonic experience is perceived. If the stream itself is bit perfect, is there anything other than the timing that can vary? I can't think of anything, but that may just be my lack of imagination.

David

[best]

(11-01-2015 22:00)simoncn Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 18:49)best Wrote:  One last question: When you import your files from your existing collection to the melco, does it retain the same directory structure? As in if your library is viewed in 'folder view' do you see separate folders?

I have tried the Import facility and it does allow you to use the same directory structure. The Melco appears a network share in Windows Explorer and you can create or copy any folder structure of your choosing under the network share.

One disadvantage (for readers of this forum) is that the media server is currently hard wired to Twonky. I have been experimenting with running MinimServer but this is possible only if you have a contact at Melco who will give you the root password.

Thank you Simon.

Did you test the melco with minimserver or with twonky?

Thanks again

[simoncn]

(12-01-2015 18:23)best Wrote:  Thank you Simon.

Did you test the melco with minimserver or with twonky?

Thanks again

With MinimServer, of course!

[Martin H]

(12-01-2015 18:28)simoncn Wrote:  

(12-01-2015 18:23)best Wrote:  Thank you Simon.

Did you test the melco with minimserver or with twonky?

Thanks again

With MinimServer, of course!

Hi

I am quite intrigued by this product and your thread and so thank you for posting it all. I also start from a position of cynicism until I have heard the difference 9trial on Friday) but your posts and my highly trusted Linn Dealer are both saying the same thing in the same way and so I am intrigued to say the least.

I don't pretend to understand it at the moment having only started looking a couple of hours ago but I get the physical set-up and so on. What I am not so clear on is that I had assumed from the spec that the point was that this had it's own media server built in. I was therefore expecting that a new media server would appear on my network and that I would select from this.

Simon - you seem to be using minimserver somehow? Is that because you are using minimserver to index where everything is and then the addresses are sent to the DS(M) which pulls the music. i.e. I think that's how it works anyway. But is their media server bypassed by this or is it still used somehow?

Sorry if my ignorance of exactly what happens is flaky here.

I suppose my major question is can I keep using minimserver with this device without undermining the value of either? Or would I be missing the point and some of the value?

Again apologies if my question isn't clear.

[Martin H]

Aha - I may have missed a post. You mention needing the root password. So are you uploading minimserver onto it?

[simoncn]

(13-01-2015 16:41)Martin H Wrote:  Hi

I am quite intrigued by this product and your thread and so thank you for posting it all. I also start from a position of cynicism until I have heard the difference 9trial on Friday) but your posts and my highly trusted Linn Dealer are both saying the same thing in the same way and so I am intrigued to say the least.

I don't pretend to understand it at the moment having only started looking a couple of hours ago but I get the physical set-up and so on. What I am not so clear on is that I had assumed from the spec that the point was that this had it's own media server built in. I was therefore expecting that a new media server would appear on my network and that I would select from this.

Simon - you seem to be using minimserver somehow? Is that because you are using minimserver to index where everything is and then the addresses are sent to the DS(M) which pulls the music. i.e. I think that's how it works anyway. But is their media server bypassed by this or is it still used somehow?

Sorry if my ignorance of exactly what happens is flaky here.

I suppose my major question is can I keep using minimserver with this device without undermining the value of either? Or would I be missing the point and some of the value?

Again apologies if my question isn't clear.

Your question is clear and my answer is Yes.

From my experience, you don't need to use the media server on the Melco to get the sonic benefit. I get a similar improvement if I am running MinimServer on another NAS and using the Melco dedicated port to connect my Linn DS. In this mode, the Melco is effectively acting as a very high-quality switch.

The built-in media server is Twonky and this is the only option officially supported by Melco. However, if you are using the Melco in "pass through" mode, you can still use MinimServer by running it on some other NAS.

I will be interested to hear the results from your listening trial.