albert logan
Member
To answer as best I can to fellow member quicksrt query, I've decided to open this thread, this way I won't hijack the thread where he asked the question.
I don't know if I'm interpreting this right, but I'll take a shot at it. If I'm mistaken, please don't shoot me down too harshly...
Your question seems two-fold; 1st, how to decode multi-channel, and 2nd how to do with with a server.
1st: Any multi-channel receiver can do the job, but if your budget allows for it, you can use any combination of power amps, pre-amp, pre-processors (DACs) and or receiver you fancy.
Potential solutions for playback:
Source player connected to storage, Multi-channel receiver, speakers
Source player connected to storage, Multi-channel Pre-amp, power amplifier stage, speakers
Source player connected to storage, DAC, pre-amp, power amplifier stage, speakers
Note for SACD quality playback: To avoid having to use down-conversion to PCM when using a receiver, DAC or Pre-amp without DSD bitstream decoding, one has to choose an amplification option with 6 or 8 channel analog pre-amp inputs, in combination with a decoding-capable player, such as a HK DVD47, or Oppo BDP-103 or BDP-105, all of which have onboard DACs with analog pre-amp outputs.
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2nd: File severs come in many shapes and sizes, from external, networked hard-drive with onboard files sharing utilities like WD myCloud to a regular PC configured for sharing certain folders or types of files, to a full-blown NAS or dedicated hi-res file server costing many thousands of dollars.
Networked content access and usage.
The two main ways to do it is using SMB type network shares (Windows shared folders) or a device running a DLNA server, which shares a read only access to certain devices and users. You can also you special software such as "Plex" to catalog and share/use stuff across the network.
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Real-world scenario:
In my case, to avoid having to run a Microsoft server of fumble with a linux server, I bought a device called the WD TV Live Hub 1TB Media Center It had it all in one box. Unfortunately, It was expensive, and somewhat slow, which impeded it's uptake by people unfamiliar with the demands of doing what it does, and how low the price point was for a device capable of so much.
The ROKU became dominant, and now people tend to use that instead of networking, in combination with removable storage, but I digress...
The WD unit made my shared files available to anything connected to my network, and played it flawlessly on my home theater system. I backed-up all my CDs, some DVDs, picture albums etc... And mostly use the networked files now, apart for my SACDs which I still use in their original disk format. My collection is always growing, and over time, I've proceeded to acquire another WD unit, then added external hard drives to them, which never get disconnected anymore. Everything is accessed using a network connexion. I do most of the playback using my Oppo, though the Sony is sometimes used, and one of the WD units is used in the bedroom to access everything.
---
Below, is the whole picture on how my setup and the way it's all interconnected.(All, except for the turntable which has no link to the bedroom system and the HK3490's only Coax port is shared between two devices, I have to switch the cable manually between the Sony and Oppo).
Variations and possibilities are limitless; this is just to give you an idea of what can be done:
Now, I hope this post was helpful and that it was in line with your questions about this stuff. You can find further reading by typing "setting up a multi-channel home theater" in Youtube or Google, and "sharing files over a network".
I don't know if I'm interpreting this right, but I'll take a shot at it. If I'm mistaken, please don't shoot me down too harshly...
Your question seems two-fold; 1st, how to decode multi-channel, and 2nd how to do with with a server.
1st: Any multi-channel receiver can do the job, but if your budget allows for it, you can use any combination of power amps, pre-amp, pre-processors (DACs) and or receiver you fancy.
Potential solutions for playback:
Source player connected to storage, Multi-channel receiver, speakers
Source player connected to storage, Multi-channel Pre-amp, power amplifier stage, speakers
Source player connected to storage, DAC, pre-amp, power amplifier stage, speakers
Note for SACD quality playback: To avoid having to use down-conversion to PCM when using a receiver, DAC or Pre-amp without DSD bitstream decoding, one has to choose an amplification option with 6 or 8 channel analog pre-amp inputs, in combination with a decoding-capable player, such as a HK DVD47, or Oppo BDP-103 or BDP-105, all of which have onboard DACs with analog pre-amp outputs.
---------------
2nd: File severs come in many shapes and sizes, from external, networked hard-drive with onboard files sharing utilities like WD myCloud to a regular PC configured for sharing certain folders or types of files, to a full-blown NAS or dedicated hi-res file server costing many thousands of dollars.
Networked content access and usage.
The two main ways to do it is using SMB type network shares (Windows shared folders) or a device running a DLNA server, which shares a read only access to certain devices and users. You can also you special software such as "Plex" to catalog and share/use stuff across the network.
----
Real-world scenario:
In my case, to avoid having to run a Microsoft server of fumble with a linux server, I bought a device called the WD TV Live Hub 1TB Media Center It had it all in one box. Unfortunately, It was expensive, and somewhat slow, which impeded it's uptake by people unfamiliar with the demands of doing what it does, and how low the price point was for a device capable of so much.
The ROKU became dominant, and now people tend to use that instead of networking, in combination with removable storage, but I digress...
The WD unit made my shared files available to anything connected to my network, and played it flawlessly on my home theater system. I backed-up all my CDs, some DVDs, picture albums etc... And mostly use the networked files now, apart for my SACDs which I still use in their original disk format. My collection is always growing, and over time, I've proceeded to acquire another WD unit, then added external hard drives to them, which never get disconnected anymore. Everything is accessed using a network connexion. I do most of the playback using my Oppo, though the Sony is sometimes used, and one of the WD units is used in the bedroom to access everything.
---
Below, is the whole picture on how my setup and the way it's all interconnected.(All, except for the turntable which has no link to the bedroom system and the HK3490's only Coax port is shared between two devices, I have to switch the cable manually between the Sony and Oppo).
Variations and possibilities are limitless; this is just to give you an idea of what can be done:
Now, I hope this post was helpful and that it was in line with your questions about this stuff. You can find further reading by typing "setting up a multi-channel home theater" in Youtube or Google, and "sharing files over a network".
