sonos nas alternatives?

[neil-c]

I have read with interest the thread looking for a user friendly way of having an easily accessible music collection on a hard disk.

I have recently moved towards Sonos with a couple of play3s with a view to adding more, probably a playbar and other plays. Despite having Napster I would like to add a nas to have my collection on the system in a high quality format. I think I have a few options to achieve this and would appreciate advice on what sounds best for my needs. The household use iphones and ipads to control and store with the laptop rarely on. Ideally simpler the better and requiring as little PC based management as possible.

Option 1. A traditional nas. Not an IT expert so not sure this is for me.
Option 2. A router connected to current Virgin superhub with a usb hard drive connected to the new router. Sounds simple but would this be accessible to my current Sonos set up? Also would my laptop be able to see this drive when using itunes?
Option 3. Cocktail Audio X10. Though this is a bit left field and more expensive it looks quite user friendly. Again is it compatible with my current Sonos set up as an accessible drive (wired or wireless)? And would my PC be able to see this drive when using itunes
Option 4. Vortexbox. Looks good but perhaps not quite so user friendly as the X10.

Thanks in advance for any replies

[ASK1974]

The problem that you need to solve is the process for managing updates to the library. There are several systems out there (a la X10) that provide a ripping service so you pop your disc in and it rips to HDD, then encodes one file lossless and one MP3 for iTunes integration. This assumes you're still buying CDs and for many this is not the case but it's a fairly decent solution.

For those who use iTunes and don't buy CDs much these days I like the following;

NAS

1TB NAS (Western digital etc.) as directory for Sonos playback with Goodsync installed in your PC / Mac to sync iTunes with a folder on the NAS. If you have multiple users you can set up a folder on the NAS for each and sync multiple computers. This works fine if you understand the mechanism and only takes moments to update the NAS after purchasing new music. I use this at home.

Mac Mini

Set up a Mac mini as one of your authorised computers and use it as a server / NAS. You can update via iTunes Match, Home Sharing etc and remote in via other Macs for control, so you don't need a screen. When we do this for clients we connect the Mini to a TV or video system so it can serve as a media player as well.

[neil-c]

Thanks for your thoughts, really interesting ideas especially from someone who installs them.

The Mac mini sounds interesting. Would fulfil my requirements and then some. Would it have to be "on" all the time?

A NAS, properly set up, sounds like it may be more cost effective though googling throws up all sorts of NAS failures.

Does my initial thought on a USB external hard drive connected to a router stack up? I understand that Sonos will be able to play of this drive? Would you be able to write/read to this drive from a laptop though?

Apologies if this is venturing into another forum area!

[ASK1974]

I've had a WD NAS for several years without fault and I've yet to have a client report a failure, so they're pretty reliable, as for the MAC mini they seem almost bullet proof and can be left on for ever. Savant use them as CPUs to run huge Smart systems so reliability and 'always on' is not an issue. To better leverage a Mini connect it to your telly and you can use it as a media player as well.

I got given an old 2010 Mini by a client a year or so back, wiped it, reinstalled 10.6 and it's been churning away ever since. Lovely little things...

What ever you do just make sure you have a good back-up system in place.

[ASK1974]

Sorry, I missed the question about connecting a USB HDD to your router. TBH I've never actually done this but I know it to be possible with some routers, Draytek for example. I did give it a go once and couldn't make it work within five minutes so I got board, haven't bothered trying since. NAS are so cheap and easy it doesn't seem worth the bother.