Hi all
What is the shortest way to connect the Bridge to an small network ?
My idea is a (quiet, perhaps modified with silent fan) NAS near the PWD with a Router and Wifi - inside - and connect it with a High End Ethernet Cable ( Audioquest Diamond ) to the Bridge.
Any suggestions ?
Does a “Synology DS213air” work ?
Thanks
Chris
chris said: Does a "Synology DS213air" work ?
If it ain't broken, it should work, shouldn't it? ;) But if it works for you (convenience, noise, vibration, sound quality) only you can tell. Also, what set up are you comparing it with?
chris said: My idea is a (quiet, perhaps modified with silent fan) NAS near the PWD with a Router and Wifi - inside - and connect it with a High End Ethernet Cable ( Audioquest Diamond ) to the Bridge.
That's very similar to what I have been running for a while, and it has worked well for me. I have a DS213 (not "Air"). Synology's DSM gives you an option to run the fan at a lower speed, which is how I run it; no issues with overheating. I have to be pretty close to hear the fan--certainly not from the listening chair. With Synology, you just want to avoid the lower-end models (usually with a 'j' suffix, as DS112j). They don't have enough computing power to do things like transcode from one file format to another. I decided that it wasn't necessary to spend money on the 213+, and the 213 has done everything I need. I don't have the specs on the Air, but I suggest you compare processor speed and memory carefully with the models one or two steps up in the Synology line and consider what you will be asking the NAS to do.
I have a wired network connection in the music room, feeding an Apple Airport Extreme in bridged mode (i.e., it acts only as a switch, not a router); from it, with short ethernet cables (Audioquest Cinnamon) I connect the Synology and the PW Bridge. I use MinimServer on the Synology (set to transcode FLAC to WAV on the fly) with very good results.
Some folks here suggested that using a high-quality switch such as the Apple gives more stable results with the Bridge, as opposed to cheap routers/switches from the office supply store. The Airport Extreme has worked well for me and I use its wi-fi capability to connect my iPad to control MinimServer. Do set up static IP addresses for all your components, as many of us have found that the Bridge is more reliable this way.
I just bought the DS214Play… Should have it up and running this week… My older Nas has about 25% the horsepower of the Synology…
I also just upgraded my router to the Netgear Nighthawk, definite improvements in speed and range.
I know people here use wireless for routing music. I can say it works but if you live around other people as in a apartment building or city dweller. You are looking to aggravate yourself. Now if you are alone on an acre or two then I guess it would be fine. Also a ss drive is much faster . Although people say it sounds better I have never taken the time to compare. I cannot see spending the money on a specialty cable for data , although people swear buy it. I use a cat6a shielded or cat shielded . It has a much higher data rTing then most all the specialty cables. As well as i2s data transports use just a cat6a shielded . Now given they are looking to get the most out of the gear they sell, why not try it. I think keeping the CPU , nas and bridge all on one giga switch makes good sense. All I have stated is what I use but I am not saying any changes made are wrong.
Al
Hi
I dont want to compare … as you can See I use a very fast 5 Bay Synology, - but - between this NAS and the Bridge there are 30 Meter Cat 7 Network Connection. My idea is a separate little Network only for the Bridge with max. 1 Meter High End Network Cable and clean Electric current for the NAS from the PP5.
But I have two questions:
1. Can I use the RJ45 out from the 213 to connect the Bridge directly ?
2. Is it possible to control the PWD with DS Audio over the Wifi function of the 213air ?
Perhaps I have an error in reasoning … 
but it sounds like a high end Network for me …
Thanks a lot !!
Chris
… or is it better to by a “real” musicserver in case of sound quality ?
chris said: 1. Can I use the RJ45 out from the 213 to connect the Bridge directly ?
2. Is it possible to control the PWD with DS Audio over the Wifi function of the 213air ?
1. No, you need a switch between the two.
2. DS Audio works only to control Synology's music server, Audio Station. I don't use Audio Station because I prefer the flexibility that MinimServer provides with my classical music files, but I played with it a little and it seems like a decent app--certainly worth trying. The DS Audio/Audio Station combo will work fine with the PWD.
chris said: ... or is it better to by a "real" musicserver in case of sound quality ?
I'm not sure what you mean by a "real" music server--one of those one-box devices that have a disc drive for ripping, HD for storage, and player software? I can tell you that my Synology running MinimServer feeding the Bridge provides outstanding sound, and there are several other folks on this forum who run a similar setup with the PWD. If you've already bought the Synology I see no reason to look elsewhere, at least for SQ reasons.
chris said: 1. Can I use the RJ45 out from the 213 to connect the Bridge directly ?
Yes. If the Ethernet interface in the NAS supports auto mdix, you can use a straight-through (normal) patch cable. If not, then you will need a cross-cable (always works).
The question is how are you going to control the Bridge? All UPnP devices must be located in the same network, so unless your NAS has the ability to bridge several interfaces together, no other devices can reach the Bridge. In other words, there will be only two devices on the network: the NAS and the Bridge.
Very interesting thread! I was wondering, whether it would be possible to connect my NAS Synology 214+ directly to the Bridge.
The 214+ has two (!) ethernet ports. My question is: If I use both of these ports - one to the router and one to the PWD - will it be possible to control my UPnP Player (minimserver, which is running on the NAS) with my ipad (with 8player. The ipad is connected to the router as well)?
Or is this simply not possible, because it isn’t the same network (with the 214+ and the Bridge being one network and the 214+ and the ipad being “the other” network)?
Thank you very much for an answer!
@magister0 , yes I mean a musicserver with ripping etc.
chris said: 1. Can I use the RJ45 out from the 213 to connect the Bridge directly ?
Yes. If the Ethernet interface in the NAS supports auto mdix, you can use a straight-through (normal) patch cable. If not, then you will need a cross-cable (always works).
The question is how are you going to control the Bridge? All UPnP devices must be located in the same network, so unless your NAS has the ability to bridge several interfaces together, no other devices can reach the Bridge. In other words, there will be only two devices on the network: the NAS and the Bridge.
Found nothing wether this NAS supports auto mdix
Thats why I am asking wether its possible to control the Bridge over the Wifi function of the 213 air … /
If I have only two devices I only need one good ethernet cable and get a small audionetwork without connection to the internet.
Furthermore I am asking me why there is no silent musicserver to buy whichever has:
HD for storage (no CD ROM for ripping)
Integrated router with rj45 output
Wifi for controlling
Software Interface
All powered by a good (high end) power supply (and operated from the PP5)
Thanks for your help
chris
bene said: The 214+ has two (!) ethernet ports. My question is: If I use both of these ports - one to the router and one to the PWD - will it be possible to control my UPnP Player (minimserver, which is running on the NAS) with my ipad (with 8player. The ipad is connected to the router as well)?
chris said: Thats why I am asking wether its possible to control the Bridge over the Wifi function of the 213 air ...
If it's possible to bridge the ports (so they belong to the same broadcast domain and the same IP-network) then it should be theoretically possible to use UPnP devices on "both sides" of the NAS. Linux has this ability but I've never tried it.
chris said: Found nothing wether this NAS supports auto mdix
Then use a cross-cable. It always works.
chris said: Furthermore I am asking me why there is no silent musicserver to buy whichever has:
HD for storage (no CD ROM for ripping)
Integrated router with rj45 output
Wifi for controlling
Software Interface
All powered by a good (high end) power supply (and operated from the PP5)
There are some devices on the market (at least one of them was discussed here, remember, it has an H-shaped chassis). Some use MaBook Air. But usually it's a DIY project. Designing/building computers is a fun, isn't it? :) And usually DIY comps cost much less than similar prebuilt/assembled ones.
I have a music server. It has no storage inside and interfaces with a nas. The CPU to offramp into the i2s is better and I use jremote to control the jriver . I hope the USB on whatever comes next for the dac is much better than now .
Al
Alekz said: Then use a cross-cable. It always works.
... but that means no high end ethernet cable like the audioquest vodka or diamond ?
Can you try a usual straight-through patch cable to see if it works?
I try a straight-though patchkabel with my old lacie Gigabit NAS direct in the PWD. The PWD showed me the"connected" sign with meansit seams to work. Someone told me that Gigabit always supports auto mdix.
Now I have to know if the Wlan function is to controll the PWD.
Does anyone know if getting a better PSU for the network switches we use will have a better sound when using the network.
Al
Some say yes…