Lumin and Melco

**nonesup** · January 16, 2017, 07:06 PM

Hi.
I'm thinking of replacing my Sinology DS 214 Play with a Melco N1ZH. I know that you can install MininServer, but what I would like to know is if the Lumin works smoothly with Melco + MininServer.
Peter, I would be very interested in hearing your opinion.

**kimurastanley** · January 16, 2017, 07:17 PM

I am using lumin A1 with melco N1A with good result

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**joeinid** · January 16, 2017, 07:21 PM

Hi Francisco,

I think if you have the Lumin, the Melco will be redundant. Someone please correct me if I am wrong but the Melco is a server like part of the Lumin. It's not necessarily meant as a music storage device.

**joeinid** · January 16, 2017, 07:21 PM

Isn't the Meclo a server on its own?

I'm all confused.

Originally Posted by kimurastanley

I am using lumin A1 with melco N1A with good result

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**kimurastanley** · January 16, 2017, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Isn't the Meclo a server on its own?

Ya. I play files directly from melco. Improvements as compared to NAS are lower noise level, increase in transparency and more dynamic.

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**joeinid** · January 16, 2017, 07:27 PM

That's great. Thank you.

Melco N1A Review - HiFi World - March 2015.pdf

**nonesup** · January 16, 2017, 07:27 PM

Hi Joe. As I see it, Melco is a very sophisticated NAS, with low noise, two RJ45 ports (one dedicated to the direct connection to the streamer) and with the advantage that it has a very good USB port in case I decide to buy a DAC USB.

**nonesup** · January 16, 2017, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by kimurastanley

I am using lumin A1 with melco N1A with good result

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Hi. I would like to know if you have found the sound with the Melco, more "analog" than with the NAS

**Milk_vanilla** · January 16, 2017, 08:35 PM

It turned out that even a simple modified headless mac mini ( bigger ram, ssd, remove unnecessary services, etc) consider few step up from my syno 1512+

**nicoludio** · January 16, 2017, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by nonesup

Hi. I would like to know if you have found the sound with the Melco, more "analog" than with the NAS

Yes, the Melco is better than the Synology when used with the Lumin A1. See my post in the Melco thread.

If you are thinking of getting one, wait for the Melco Series 2. That is already out in Japan and now comes with a dedicated USB output for DACs.

Originally Posted by nicoludio

When used with the Lumin A1, the Melco N1A (which replaced the Synology NAS) brought a quieter, more relaxed presentation to the sound. The sound stage was bigger and, generally, more airy. I was quite skeptical at first but the proof is in the sound!

Since it has a USB output, it can also be used as a USB server. Compared to the SPDIF output from the Lumin A1, fresh out from the box and using generic USB cables, sound from the USB output is almost as good as the SPDIF output from the Lumin.

The sound from the Lumin is more detailed and defined, tighter in the bass but does not flow as well as the USB output from the N1A. The sound from the USB output mirrors the LAN output - the soundstage was bigger and, generally, more airy. Smoother and less grainy. All relative, of course. When I tried the Ansuz A USB cable with the Melco N1A, the sound was better still with, for example, the texture on snare drums being more discernible, and a more immediate and dynamic sound.

Once MinimServer is installed (in place of the default Twonky), the Lumin and Kinsky apps can be used. Very useful though I have yet to find a way to save playlists.

I would think that the N1ZH (with HDDs) would be the sweet spot of the range, with the better and more solidly built casing of the N1Z series but without the exorbitant cost of the SSDs in the N1ZA. Plus, the N1ZH has dual power supplies (compared to single power supply the N1A), which are supposedly "medical grade". If only they could sub-contract the design and manufacture of the case to Aurender, that would be fantastic! Wishful thinking though...

**wklie** · January 17, 2017, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by nonesup

Peter, I would be very interested in hearing your opinion.

I'm not familiar with Melco products - my primary concern is whether it runs MinimServer or not. Here's the report from the author of MinimServer, and the installation instructions seem to be longer:
http://forum.minimserver.com/showthread.php?tid=2032
http://minimserver.com/install-melco.html

In case you purchase a model newer than the ones already supported by MinimServer, make sure the new model also supports it.

If you want to improve sound quality from the network source, also check out other options at comparatively lower costs, such as fibre converter + LPS or iPower setup (note that you need a pair of 100Mbps converter for Lumin A1, not 1000Mbps which would not work):
http://www.audiostream.com/content/e...KK8vFpEvwmk.97
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f2...rations-24641/

And PPA switch:
http://ppaproduct.blogspot.com/2015/...-switcher.html

All these are FYI, not recommendations. These are mentioned because I read positive reports from Lumin users using them.

**nonesup** · January 17, 2017, 10:14 AM

Thanks everyone for your help. On Saturday I will make a comparison of my Synology with the N1ZH

**nonesup** · January 17, 2017, 10:17 AM

Thanks everyone for your help. On Saturday I will make a comparison between the Melco N1HZ and my Synology + LPSU

**Elem79** · January 17, 2017, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by wklie

I'm not familiar with Melco products - my primary concern is whether it runs MinimServer or not. Here's the report from the author of MinimServer, and the installation instructions seem to be longer:
http://forum.minimserver.com/showthread.php?tid=2032
http://minimserver.com/install-melco.html

In case you purchase a model newer than the ones already supported by MinimServer, make sure the new model also supports it.

If you want to improve sound quality from the network source, also check out other options at comparatively lower costs, such as fibre converter + LPS or iPower setup (note that you need a pair of 100Mbps converter for Lumin A1, not 1000Mbps which would not work):
http://www.audiostream.com/content/e...KK8vFpEvwmk.97
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f2...rations-24641/

And PPA switch:
http://ppaproduct.blogspot.com/2015/...-switcher.html

All these are FYI, not recommendations. These are mentioned because I read positive reports from Lumin users using them.

I can also confirm the 100Mbps fiber convertor makes a noticeable improvement!

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**arthurs** · January 17, 2017, 04:38 PM

So if today I am running Synology NAS through my switch to LUMIN, how would I reconfigure with fiber converter? What sequence would chain be?

**Elem79** · January 17, 2017, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by arthurs

So if today I am running Synology NAS through my switch to LUMIN, how would I reconfigure with fiber converter? What sequence would chain be?

Place the fiber convertor just before the Lumïn.

LUMIN < TP-Link < SWITCH/ROUTER

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**Elem79** · January 17, 2017, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by arthurs

So if today I am running Synology NAS through my switch to LUMIN, how would I reconfigure with fiber converter? What sequence would chain be?

This is the one you need to buy.

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Ether...+%28MC110CS%29

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**arthurs** · January 17, 2017, 06:14 PM

Thanks!

**Milk_vanilla** · January 17, 2017, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Elem79

I can also confirm the 100Mbps fiber convertor makes a noticeable improvement!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

+1

**nonesup** · January 19, 2017, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by wklie

I'm not familiar with Melco products - my primary concern is whether it runs MinimServer or not. Here's the report from the author of MinimServer, and the installation instructions seem to be longer:
http://forum.minimserver.com/showthread.php?tid=2032
http://minimserver.com/install-melco.html

In case you purchase a model newer than the ones already supported by MinimServer, make sure the new model also supports it.

If you want to improve sound quality from the network source, also check out other options at comparatively lower costs, such as fibre converter + LPS or iPower setup (note that you need a pair of 100Mbps converter for Lumin A1, not 1000Mbps which would not work):
http://www.audiostream.com/content/e...KK8vFpEvwmk.97
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f2...rations-24641/

And PPA switch:
http://ppaproduct.blogspot.com/2015/...-switcher.html

All these are FYI, not recommendations. These are mentioned because I read positive reports from Lumin users using them.

Hi Peter. When reading your post comes the following question, maybe you have heard that the new models of Dela that are already available in Japan, have some problem installing MinimServer?

**nonesup** · January 19, 2017, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Elem79

This is the one you need to buy.

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Ether...+%28MC110CS%29

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Can you tell me the Volt and Amperes values of the switched power supply that comes with the TP Link

**wklie** · January 20, 2017, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by nonesup

Hi Peter. When reading your post comes the following question, maybe you have heard that the new models of Dela that are already available in Japan, have some problem installing MinimServer?

No. It was just a general recommendation about checking MinimServer compatibility before anyone buys a new model of NAS - regardless of brand.

**nonesup** · January 26, 2017, 03:02 PM

I have had since Thursday of last week until yesterday, a Melco N1ZS (the seller did not have the N1ZH). I can only say that it has been a wonderful experience. Listening to the music stored in my NAS Synology, with a LPSU made by Kenneth Lau, through the Melco, already produces e a great improvement in sound. There is much less noise and more details are heard, but the listening of the music stored in the Melco is of a softness, a delicacy and a detail, that I had never heard before. It's absolutely addictive. Unfortunately I have to wait to receive mine, because I want to have the MKll model and it is still not available. Today I went back to my Synology and it's been a hard day.

**arthurs** · January 26, 2017, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the update! Was the Melco plug and play with your LUMIN?

**nonesup** · January 27, 2017, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by arthurs

Thanks for the update! Was the Melco plug and play with your LUMIN?

Hi.
Yes, once the Melco Network is connected, it appears in the Lumin app.
The only problem is that it did not have Minimserver installed, and with Twonky
The searches for composer, artist ... were very bad, there were also covers, which could not be seen. I had to navigate Folder. With Mininserver that problem disappears.

**arthurs** · January 27, 2017, 09:20 AM

I'll have to try and get a demo and see difference between running into Lumin U1 (instead of Synology NAS) and into DAC or Melco straight into DAC.

**nonesup** · January 27, 2017, 10:29 AM

That can be a very interesting comparison.

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