Can you play music from a NAS?
What is a NAS?
A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a dedicated file storage device that enables multiple users and client devices to retrieve data from centralized disk capacity over a network (source). NAS devices contain one or more hard drives and a built-in network interface that allows users to access and share files remotely over an Ethernet local area network (LAN) or via the internet.
Common types of NAS devices include standalone NAS appliances, NAS servers, and NAS gateways. Standalone NAS appliances are integrated hardware/software systems designed specifically for file sharing and backups. NAS servers run NAS software on top of standard server hardware. NAS gateways are devices that connect external drives to a network.
Key capabilities offered by NAS devices include:
- Centralized storage accessible from anywhere
- File sharing between multiple users and devices
- Backups, archiving, and data protection
- Media streaming and remote access
In summary, NAS provides scalable and flexible file storage that enables data access across a network (source).
Storing Music Files on a NAS
A NAS or Network Attached Storage device is an optimal way to store a large music library while keeping the files organized and accessible (Source). When selecting a NAS for music storage, consider the following:
Capacity: Lossless audio files like FLAC and WAV can be quite large, often 25-50MB per track. Determine how many total tracks you need to store and buy a NAS with enough overall storage and room to grow. Many recommend at least 4TB or more for a decent sized music library.
Formats: Make sure the NAS supports common lossless audio formats like FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and AIFF. It should also handle lossy formats like MP3 and AAC for compatibility.
Organization: A good NAS will allow you to organize your music by genres, artists, albums etc using folders. Tag data should be preserved to enable sorting and searching. Some NAS devices have dedicated music library management software as well (Source).
With proper capacity and features, a NAS is ideal for storing even the largest digital music collections.
Streaming Protocols
There are several common protocols that enable streaming music from a NAS device to other networked devices. Three of the most popular are DLNA, AirPlay, and UPnP.
The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is an industry standard that allows devices to share media over a local network (Source 1). It uses Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for device discovery and media format negotiation. Supported formats include MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, and FLAC. DLNA works between a wide range of devices like TVs, media streamers, game consoles, and audio receivers (Source 2).
AirPlay is an Apple proprietary protocol that allows iOS devices, Macs, Apple TVs, and AirPlay-enabled speakers to stream media. It uses TCP and UDP protocols over Wi-Fi. AirPlay supports audio formats like MP3, AAC, ALAC, and lossless. There are some third-party AirPlay server apps that enable AirPlay streaming from a NAS.
UPnP is a set of networking protocols that enables seamless connectivity between devices. It is used in DLNA for device discovery and media format negotiation. UPnP helps networked devices automatically discover each other and share information and media.
DLNA Compatible Devices
The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is an industry organization that establishes standards for sharing digital media between devices over a home network. Many consumer electronics manufacturers have released DLNA certified devices that can discover and connect to each other to stream media files over the local network. Some of the most popular DLNA compatible devices include:
Media Players: Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Xbox One, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, NVIDIA Shield TV. Many smart TVs and Blu-ray players are also DLNA certified.[1]
Game Consoles: Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U.
Televisions: Most smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio, Sharp, TCL, Hisense and other brands support DLNA for connecting to media servers.[2]
Mobile Devices: Many Android and Windows phones have built-in support for DLNA streaming apps. iPhone and iPad users can download third-party apps like 8player or ArkMC to stream from a DLNA server.
Overall, DLNA certification ensures seamless interoperability between servers, TVs, game consoles, mobile devices, and more. Checking for DLNA compatibility is important when selecting components for a whole-home media network.
[1] https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-dlna-1847363
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DLNA
Streaming to AirPlay Devices
AirPlay allows you to stream audio from an iOS device or Mac to AirPlay compatible speakers, Apple TV, and other receivers. With AirPlay, the audio plays directly from an iOS device and is streamed over WiFi to the AirPlay destination device. This enables whole-home audio streaming without needing a centralized NAS.1
To use AirPlay from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the Control Center and tap the AirPlay icon. Select the AirPlay device you want to stream to. AirPlay audio will begin playing from that device. Multiple AirPlay devices can be grouped together for multi-room streaming.2
The latest Apple TV 4K models include robust AirPlay support and can be used as AirPlay receivers. Audio played from an iOS device can be streamed directly to an Apple TV connected to speakers. Apple TV integrates with HomeKit for easy smart home control.
Overall, AirPlay offers a convenient way to stream audio wirelessly from iOS and Mac devices without requiring a centralized NAS media server.
Controlling Playback Remotely
One of the key benefits of streaming music from a NAS is the ability to control playback from anywhere. There are various apps that allow remote control of music playback from NAS devices.
Plexamp (https://plexamp.com) is a dedicated music player app for Plex that provides remote playback control and syncing across devices. With Plexamp you can browse your music library on the NAS, create playlists, and control playback even when away from home.
If you use Kodi for media playback, the Kodi remote control apps for Android and iOS allow remote control of music playback from the NAS. You can browse your library, play/pause, adjust volume etc. Kodi remote apps connect over the local network or over the Internet.
There are also apps like mconnect from Marantz and Denon AVR Remote for Denon/Marantz receivers that allow remote playback control of music from a DLNA server or NAS. These integrate with the media player hardware over IP and give a remote for your smartphone.
Using remote control apps can provide quick access to your music library on the NAS without having to be in front of the playback device.
Multi-Room Audio
One of the major benefits of streaming music from a NAS is the ability to enable synchronized multi-room audio playback across different devices in your home. With multi-room audio, you can play the same song or playlist in multiple rooms at the same time, all in perfect sync.
Many NAS devices like those from Synology support multi-room audio standards like AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and DLNA. This allows you to stream music to AirPlay 2 or Chromecast enabled speakers placed around your home and control playback from your phone. All connected speakers will stay in sync as you play, pause, or skip tracks.
Besides simultaneous playback, multi-room audio also enables independent playback in different zones. You can play jazz in the living room, pop music in the kitchen, and a podcast in the bedroom all from the NAS. With a controller app, you can manage playback in each zone independently.
Overall, a NAS makes it simple to set up multi-room, whole-home audio. With a range of compatible speakers available, you can fill your home with synchronized music streaming from a central media repository.
Audio Quality Considerations
When streaming music from a NAS, audio quality depends on several factors like compression, bitrate, and file format. Lossless formats like FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) offer the highest quality by preserving all the original data from the audio source. According to users on Reddit, FLAC files streamed from a NAS can sound nearly indistinguishable from the CD source.
Compressed formats like MP3 use “lossy” compression, which removes some data to shrink file sizes. Higher bitrate MP3s (320kbps) may retain enough detail for most listeners, while lower bitrates (128kbps and below) can degrade quality. According to Audiophile Style forums, even 256kbps can sound noticeably worse than CD quality depending on your audio equipment.
Beyond file format, the NAS hardware and network infrastructure impact streaming quality. For example, some NAS devices utilize flash memory or SSD caches to enable smooth streaming of high bitrate files. Streaming over WiFi can also introduce latency or dropouts compared to wired Ethernet connections according to a Synology forum discussion.
In summary, FLAC and other lossless formats deliver the best audio quality from a NAS, while high bitrate lossy formats may suffice for casual listening. Factors like network infrastructure and NAS hardware optimizations also affect the streaming experience.
Caching for Performance
When streaming music from a NAS, caching strategies can help reduce lag and buffering issues. Music applications will often cache songs locally on the device that is streaming, so that subsequent listens don’t require re-downloading the full track from the NAS (1). This greatly reduces bandwidth usage and speeds up playback, as only small amounts of metadata need to be transferred on repeats.
For example, Spotify caches over 1GB of music data locally by default, to significantly cut down on buffering and stream songs instantly even with spotty connections (2). Some applications like Plex also allow you to specify a dedicated cache location on your local device or network, which can boost performance. When selecting your NAS device, note that some models have built-in SSD caches or support adding SSD pools, which helps serve media faster.
Strategically caching the most frequently accessed tracks locally and configuring your NAS to utilize fast SSD pools for caching can help provide a smooth, lag-free streaming experience from your networked audio library.
(1) http://www.planetoftunes.com/computer/caching-and-streaming.php
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/spotify/comments/14kqpl5/why_is_spotifys_cache_so_crazy_big_mine_is_over/
NAS Selection for Music
When choosing a NAS specifically for storing and streaming music files, there are some key factors to consider:
Storage capacity – Since music files take up a lot of space, especially lossless formats like FLAC, you’ll want a NAS with ample storage bays that can hold multiple high-capacity hard drives. Many enthusiasts recommend at least 4 bays.
Processor – A faster processor will allow the NAS to better index and manage a large music library without lag or delays when browsing. Look for NAS devices with Intel or ARM processors designed for multi-tasking.
Memory – More RAM allows better simultanous handling of streaming, transcoding and other tasks. Aim for at least 4GB RAM if you plan to stream to multiple devices and rooms.
Network connectivity – Choose a NAS with gigabit ethernet at minimum for smooth streaming, but even better is 2.5GbE or 10GbE if your network supports it. Wifi connectivity can also be useful as a secondary option.
Audio outputs – Some NAS devices offer HDMI or digital audio outputs to connect directly to a stereo or AV receiver. This avoids the need for a separate streamer device.
Customizability – Many enthusiasts recommend QNAP or Synology NAS devices which allow installing custom apps and software to optimize the experience for music.