Melco Audiophile NAS

[Peter@57m]

(14-04-2015 21:59)simoncn Wrote:  I think I have solved the mystery of why you prefer 2) to 1) and I prefer 1) to 2). My preference is based on using a Cisco switch to connect MinimServer (running on QNAP or Synology) with the KDS/1. I also have a NETGEAR GS108Tv2 and I tried the comparison again using the NETGEAR switch in place of the Cisco. This reversed the order of preference, with the RLI-1 now having a positive effect. For this comparison, I wasn't using the N1A.

It seems the effect of the RLI-1 depends on which switch is being used.

I also tried putting the RLI-1 inline into the connection between the N1A and the KDS/1. This made the sound worse.

The best combination for me is 5) using the NETGEAR switch to connect the N1A to my LAN. This is slightly better than 5) using the Cisco switch to connect the N1A to my LAN.

The LAN switch connection to the N1A does matter because it appears that audio packets sent by MinimServer[N1A] to the KDS/1 are routed via the LAN switch even when the player port of the N1A is connected directly to the KDS/1. If the cable from the N1A to the LAN switch is removed while audio is playing, the audio stops. I will do some further investigation to try to find out why this is happening.

Well we seem to have reached the same conclusion.

I had tried removing the cable from the LAN socket to see if that improved the sound but, like you, found it stopped playback. I am wondering whether this is the Melco or KDSM losing its IP address and getting upset (technical term). You can run the Melco in disconnected mode, it will then provide IP address to the KDSM, but with a Linn player you then have no way to select the playlist as the KDSM is not visible on the network to Kinsky etc.. Some players have controls on the front which would allow you to use this mode.

So given that the LAN socket needed to be connected, I tried using the RLI-1 on the N1A end of the cable from my NetGear switch and found this beneficial.

So I am currently using GS108 - cat7 - RLI-1 - Melco N1A LAN socket - MinimServer - Melco Ethernet cable from player socket - KDSM/1