i know it works. However with good ethernet cables and melco direct it is perhaps not necessary to have this isolator. But you will test and tell us Ants. Perhaps it will be still necessary.
@Ants, donât get me wrong itâs all good fun, and some of the most whacky things can have pleasing outcomes⌠my only comment was about attempting to describe a generalised cause and effectâŚ
Happy tinkeringâŚ
I did listening tests last evening with a low-noise (linear-PS, quiet mb etc) box with Debian Linux and Twonky 8.5.1. It also has dual LAN-ports. This is not a NAS as it only serve files via UPnP . Accessing the music store is done with SFTP.
I tested a) one LAN-port and connection via a 3560 and b) dual LAN-ports âmelco-styleâ with streamer direct connected to the second port.
To my surprise I preferred the 3560-setup. A bit disappointing as I spent lots of time and hope on the second port variety, configuring bridging and iptable. (This should not be confused with Melco whose second port is much more seriously tuned and isolated).
Then I compared against a 2019 i5 Mac-mini running 10.15 (Catalina). Again with Twonky 8.5.1 and same music files. Also via 3560.
I actually preferred the mac mini despite its SMPS powersupply. The Mac mini was somewhat tuned (wifi, bluetooth, filesharing etc. off, firewall on).
Same low-cost decent-quality 2.5m Blue Jeans Cat6a all through.
I use a Cisco Catalyst 3560 switch port to connect to my streamer⌠itâs good isnât itâŚ
If I understand things right, and your using your Mac as a media server connected to your LAN, what sort of PSU it has will be irrelevant, other than possibly different sources of noise on your mains wiring.
BTW none of the Melco products as far as I see do any actual Ethernet isolation other than possibly some very specific arp queues⌠such capability would require customer specific network configuration and would probably be beyond most consumers. I have tried to look for details on their web state and itâs all a bit vague on what they actually do in this regard⌠if it was doing anything on the network you would need it to be clearly stated so as to manage any interoperability adjustments that may be required.
According to Melco web site both current N1A/2 and N1ZH/2 have two drives.
Yes my mistake - it was the N10 that ditched the two drives. If you need to know more then best to contact MelcoâŚ
Hi Meni,
I moved from N1/A to N10 and found the change to be very significant, and, for me, value for money. I find it better in every way. I continue to be surprised every day by hearing familiar music as never before.
Based on reading this thread, it sounds like there would be demand for an HDX2 Something for Naim to think about⌠?
The HDX was a product of its time and was an ideal product to bring Naim owners into computer audio (and Multiroom via Naimnet) without all the hassles, compromised as it was. There are so many solutions available now that a market for a revised HDX would be limited (IMHO of course)
I follow what youâre saying James. Its just that it seems many Naim owners are now seeking the essential ingredients of what that product offered, but in other brands. OK, not like for like, as the Melcos and Innuoses of this world are (I think) all DAC free. But the hard disk / SSD player part is common, whilst the new streamer platform does have server capability built in. Like Core I suppose, but at a higher levelâŚ
I think youâre right that HDX was regarded as having certain failings, which probably contributed to its declining popularity and eventual demise. But falling demand may well not have been all down to a shrinking market, as Naim (probably) assumed. Just a thought anywayâŚ
Could someone who is knowledgeable give a generic description of what these devices are and what they are intended to do. And in particular, what they would add to an ND555/other?
Hmmm, I will try BH, but they can be different things to different people which complicates it. Trying to keep it simple, they may be:-
- A high quality NAS/server device (this is the context in which you might think about them for use with an ND555)
- A file player with built in storage but no DAC (usually irrelevant to ND555)
Others on here can probably provide more embellishment or accurate descriptionâŚ
Amazing systemâŚso in your opinion,what first for me second 555ps for my ND555 or MelcoN10,both of them to purchase is too big for me right now
the second ps is not liked by all. The N10 would be a certain great improvement.
The Melco N10 will make a much bigger difference than the additional power supply.
Wow a bold statement. Do you mean moving from a normal NAS to the Melco or from a Melco to the N10
Iâm using to options: ND555 server through USB and RASPBERRYPI, but I prefer USB Naim server,to me it sound better⌠thinking to buy MelcoN10,the only pain⌠it`s very expensive.
you are not obliged to take the best. The n1zh2 would be a great improvement already, vs the usb storage.
I knowI, had an audition with n1zh2 and he was much better against my Naim usb ,I can get a significant discount for the big one N10
Thanks karlosTT, I am beginning to understand the context of Melco Mania.
So for streamer only operation with no local NAS, the Melco N10 device is not needed. Is there any sound improvement to put one of these devices between a Uniti Core and the ND555? Also, if I store downloads on USB sticks and inconveniently plug them into the core or nd555, is there a sq improvement, or does the sq uplift only affect the music sourced from a NAS?