Hi @berlin, what is the exact model number of your nas, as I might think about getting one. Many thanks
I can confirm the LUMIN app sounds great when connected to the Auralic Aries G2, it sound better than its native LDS app in fact
My nas is a synology ds-413.
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How do you select non-lumin equipment in the lumin app? I can only select a lumin.
You have to install an open home server to work together with the minim server. BubbleUpnp has one for free.
https://bubblesoftapps.com/bubbleupnpserver2/
It will install in any Asustor or Qnap NAS, as will minimserver.
Once installed, you have to configure your endpoint (I believe the Bridge in you case) as an OpenHome device.
Or you can use the kazoo server. It will substitute both minimserver and bubbleupnp server. But it is clearly inferior to minimserver in terms of options and configuration. https://www.linn.co.uk/software
As for the control point software, I’ve gone through all the hassle. There are no audible improvements regarding the control point you use. It is just a matter of user experience. And for this matter, the LinnKazoo is the best in my opinion for iOS, as bubbleupnp app is the best for Android
Cheers.
It just finds the Aries on the network and selects it. I don’t know what would happen if you had 2 compatible devices, maybe it would ask you.
I currently use JRiver upnp server on a Windows fanless nuc pc -> iPad Control Point -> Auralic Aries G2 -> aq diamond usb -> Ps dac snr.
By default I started of with Auralic LDS iPad control point.
I then tried Asset instead of JRiver and that sounded really grainy by comparison.
I then tried Aries straight to shared pc SMB folder (bypassing JRiver) and that did not sound as good, treble sounded muted)
I then tried Linn Kazoo control point instead of LDS and that also had muted treble.
I then tried LUMIN Control point and that sounds amazing, much better than LDS, more bass, smoother sound.
So for me, different control point software definitely effects sound quality.
I have absolutely no idea why, it just does, and everything passes the bit test check on the dac (green tick) so nothing is changing bits.
The only thing I can think of is that different apps cause different process noise from the pc nuc, like different pic code inside the dac makes a difference
I have used MininServer on my Melco for years. I recently installed MinimServer 2. Great sounding server software, but it is nowhere near as user friendly as, say, Roon.
Also, I am not sure I follow your comment about MinimServer ‘beating’ the Matrix. When I had my DS Sr. and Matrix, I used them in conjunction with the MinimServer-enabled Melco.
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Agreed. @berlin is comparing apples to oranges.
I am using a sonicTransporter i9 with Roon and HQPlayer over the network to an ultraRendu as an HQPlayer NAA. Then I go from the ultraRendu via USB to the Matrix and from the Matrix to the DirectStream via I2S. The Matrix is a piece of hardware that cannot be replaced by a piece of software.
This setup is FAR superior to anything I tried using the Bridge II card.
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MinimServer 2 is now available for Synology. If you installed MS v0.8, you may want to consider updating to MS2:
Also, I would not use a NAS of any type for my music setup as all it does it increase the complexity of the network, add another failure point to diagnose, and increase network traffic. All of my music is stored on a spinning disk inside my sonicTransporter i9.
The NAS would replace your sonictransporter. It is a good and reliable setup, since you can have the disks in mirrored raid, preventing disk failure, and keep it away from the music room. It makes even more sense if you have a built in endpoint (as dcs, msb, bridge and others do). In fact, I keep the Roon server at my nas in one room and my dcs upsampler in my music room
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That is indeed weird, since de control point is not in the audio chain. It is simply telling the server what to deliver to the endpoint (except when using minimserver with tidal/qobuz, when the control point acts as a server for the streaming music). Anyway, there are a lot of things in this hobby logic alone cannot explain
You are right that my remark ‘matrix beaten by minimserver’ is not very accurate and more a kind of a sound bite. I observed that the hardware chain:
- NAS-ethernet-tplink - ethernet - nuc - usb - matrix (with uptone) - i2s - DSsr
(With audirvana on nuc and ipad)
Sounds inferior to the hardware chain:
2.NAS - ethernet - bridge II - DSsr
(With minimserver on nas and mconnect on ipad).
I suspect that this is caused by the Nuc, because all the other items in chain 1 should improve sound from the nas. Still have the nas right, so it looks like the matrix is not capable of isolating or correcting the bad things of my nuc.
I hope that somebody else could do the comparison by exchanging their pc connected to their bridge to a direct ethernet link with minimserver.
And yes, my nuc pc connected to the bridge sounded inferior to the matrix solution. So I was happy to implement the matrix! So, the best sound i got:
- Minimserver solution (see above)
- Matrix solution (see above)
- Nuc to bridge solution.
NB my nas is located far away from my audio system.
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Still no support for cue sheets after all these years? FAIL
CUE sheets? 2015 just called … it wants its technology back!
https://forum.minimserver.com/showthread.php?tid=138&pid=18808#pid18808
Seriously, if one’s music library is dependent on CUE sheets then MinimServer is not the right program to use.
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Thx. I already had 2.09 for synology installed.
And concerning your Melco: I had to inform myself what a Melco does. But now I see that it has a usb out, so it makes sense to use a matrix. I would have a similar setup if the lumin mini makes it for xmas. Could/ should be better than my nas- direct option.
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I have a Directstream dac, Innuous Zenith 3 and Matrix, connected to the I2s input on my Directstream. I’m thinking of adding the Innuous Phoenix reclocker. Can anyone tell me how I would hook up the Phoenix in this configuration… what cables would run where and whether I could keep using the I2s input in the DS (since the Phoenix doesn’t have I2s). As you can tell, I’m not technically inclined and would appreciate any help/advice.
I have the same set up as you. You would connect the Phoenix like this:
Zenith -> USB -> Phoenix -> USB -> Matrix -> i2S -> DSD DAC
So basically you need another USB cable along with the Phoenix.
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Thanks very much. How do you like this setup? Does the Phoenix make a significant improvement over the same setup without the Phoenix? I’m trying to decide whether to get one.