A "Server" Conundrum - and Sonos. Advice needed.

[JohnK]

All

I've been rather smitten by the convenience of Sonos for its primary purpose: multiple sources, multiple zones, etc. And my how those zones seem to multiply like rabbits!

Anyway I am now thinking of a couple approaches to digital playback. My goal is to have a single store for all my digital files, and be able to use it for high quality, dedicated listening, and for streaming via Sonos - as the occasion dictates. Most files will be my ripped CDs (lossless of course), and over time I'd like to add hi-res download files, knowing that Sonos can't handle those.

I am thinking:
1. a DIY Mac-based approach, using Pure Music, a Halide Bridge into the BDA-1. I am experimenting with a Macbook right now, this is promising (thanks to threads here and an exchange of PMs with a few members). Sonos has no issues with this.

2. USB storage attached to a BDP-1. James said that storage connected to it can be seen as an SMB share, so in theory Sonos can detect what's there. Has anyone tried adding USB-attached storage on a BDP-1 to the Sonos library? I know the BDP-1 can't stream, but if it effectively turns the storage into a NAS, this should work. Nothing on the Sonos forums about this, though they do mention some issues with some (dedicated) NAS devices.

3. Traditional server like an Olive. Again, the main question here is - can this storage be mounted by Sonos? I sent an email to Olive last week; no response yet.

Comments, experience, welcome.

[-E-]

You are still best off with a NAS. The speed, security, reliability, and most of all, sound quality (NAS = stored in a different room so no additional noise generation) are the best with that approach.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by JohnK

All

I've been rather smitten by the convenience of Sonos for its primary purpose: multiple sources, multiple zones, etc. And my how those zones seem to multiply like rabbits!

Anyway I am now thinking of a couple approaches to digital playback. My goal is to have a single store for all my digital files, and be able to use it for high quality, dedicated listening, and for streaming via Sonos - as the occasion dictates. Most files will be my ripped CDs (lossless of course), and over time I'd like to add hi-res download files, knowing that Sonos can't handle those.

I am thinking:
1. a DIY Mac-based approach, using Pure Music, a Halide Bridge into the BDA-1. I am experimenting with a Macbook right now, this is promising (thanks to threads here and an exchange of PMs with a few members). Sonos has no issues with this.

2. USB storage attached to a BDP-1. James said that storage connected to it can be seen as an SMB share, so in theory Sonos can detect what's there. Has anyone tried adding USB-attached storage on a BDP-1 to the Sonos library? I know the BDP-1 can't stream, but if it effectively turns the storage into a NAS, this should work. Nothing on the Sonos forums about this, though they do mention some issues with some (dedicated) NAS devices.

3. Traditional server like an Olive. Again, the main question here is - can this storage be mounted by Sonos? I sent an email to Olive last week; no response yet.

Comments, experience, welcome.

The answer to #3 is no. SonoS cannot access and play the music on a Olive 4HD or 6HD.

Jim

[JohnK]

OK, so Olive is out. NAS in a separate room, and then I guess a hardwired GigE link to the Mac Mini.

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

You are still best off with a NAS. The speed, security, reliability, and most of all, sound quality (NAS = stored in a different room so no additional noise generation) are the best with that approach.

+1, all you need is a NAS with SonoS.