Thread: Minimserver vs external USB drive

Hi,

I am a new forum member and owner of a Lumin A1. Since two weeks, I played my music files from Minimserver installed on a NUC7i3BNH. Yesterday, I connected my external USB drive to my Lumin and...wow! More relax sound, better soundstage, a tighter bass, better definition, it sounds like an expensive turntable, very analogue.

My question: Why? Am I dreaming?

Hi Blues , and welcome to the Forum

Please specify the model of the USB drive. Thumb drive? HDD? SSD? 3.5"? 2.5"?

Welcome to the forum.

Was the PC connected directly to the Lumin and using the drive in the PC (Intel NUC NUC7i3BNH Mini PC/HTPC, Intel i3-7100U 2.4GHz, 4GB DDR4, 512GB SSD Plus 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Pro, Wifi, Bluetooth, 4k Support, Dual Monitor Capable, 64Bit - Newegg.com)? If so, it would be different from the set-ups that many use with the Lumin connected via Ethernet.

Originally Posted by wklie

Please specify the model of the USB drive. Thumb drive? HDD? SSD? 3.5"? 2.5"?

My NUC has a Samsung Evo 960 2TB SSD drive. It is connected with a CAT6 Ethernet cable (Blue Jeans Belden) to a Trendnet switch 8 ports. The Nuc is not in my audio room. I connected a 20 feet CAT6 Blue Jeans Belden cable from my Trendnet switch to my Lumin A1.

My HDD USB drive (G Drive Mobile 4Tb) is directly connected to my Lumin. Is it possible that my switch or my internet cables introduce noise into the signal, and that is why the hard drive has a better sound? I definitely hear less noise. I hear details that I did not hear before. The music sounds more relaxed.

The only problem is that with an external hard drive, the Lumin is less responsive. But, I know that an external SSD drive will eliminate the slowness.

Is your CAT6 cable shielded or unshielded?

Shielded

Originally Posted by Blues

Is it possible that my switch or my internet cables introduce noise into the signal, and that is why the hard drive has a better sound? I definitely hear less noise. I hear details that I did not hear before. The music sounds more relaxed.

Please do this test: Use Lumin app to play a 16/44.1 music from MinimServer. After playback started for 30 seconds, disconnect the network cable. Although the front panel will show network error, the playback will continue for a short while. During this time, please listen carefully and check whether there is any change of SQ after the network cable disconnection.

There is a difference. It is not day and night, but there is one. On Come together (Abbey Road Super Deluxe), the bass is better defined on the hard drive, more precise.

I knew you heard a difference with the hard drive. Please test whether you hear a difference with playback from MinimServer if you disconnect the network cable. Tests like this are required for diagnosis, specifically related to your question of network noise.

The answer is yes. However, there is something strange. When I disconnect my internet cable, the music continues to play for about 30 seconds. So far, so good. After about twenty seconds, the track starts again where it stopped and continues to play for several seconds. Normal?

With a network disconnection, the playback will be affected, and it is possible there may be strange behavior.

The next test is this, please try an unshielded network cable. If you don't have one readily available, please use a tape to wrap around the metal shield of the end of your CAT6 cable that goes into the Lumin, such that the metal shield of the CAT6 is not touching the metal network socket of Lumin directly. See if this makes any difference.

Shielded network cable causes a ground loop. So it is generally not recommended for network audio, although some users like it on some setups.

Originally Posted by wklie

With a network disconnection, the playback will be affected, and it is possible there may be strange behavior.

The next test is this, please try an unshielded network cable. If you don't have one readily available, please use a tape to wrap around the metal shield of the end of your CAT6 cable that goes into the Lumin, such that the metal shield of the CAT6 is not touching the metal network socket of Lumin directly. See if this makes any difference.

Shielded network cable causes a ground loop. So it is generally not recommended for network audio, although some users like it on some setups.

Sorry Peter, I have not the knowledge you have. Finally, I think my Ethernet Cat6 are unshielded. You can take a look Data Cables at Blue Jeans Cable

Thank you for your assistance.

Yes - the Blue Jeans in unshielded (Cat 7 requires shielding not Cat 6). I have some Blue Jeans in secondary systems. Monoprice does sell Cat 7 cables that won't break the bank (I have a couple in secondary systems).

Never really listened to shielded vs. unshielded but have used (and tried) different levels of cables. My house was built in 2013 and pre-wired with Cat6 going to various rooms from my office room based on my instructions. I current have my NAS and router in the office and a Revalation Audio Labs (Revelation Audio Labs: digital cables) Cat8 going into the jack that goes to the main system ethernet jack and then another Revalations Audio Labs Cat 8 going to my Lumin U1. I have secondary systems where I have Blue Jeans or Monopirce (Cat7) or some older entry level Audioquest ethernet cables going to either a switch or equipment. While I don't use the secondary systems tons, they also have jacks behind them and in a couple of cases I have multiple devices with ethernet connections I've put linear power supplies on the switches in a couple of the rooms. In the main system, I've taken the switch out going to my Lumin. I have a wireless access point with ethernet outputs going to other devices (my main system is an integrated AV system). My 2 channel stuff is plugged into a Torus RM20 conditioner on its own 20 amp breaker and I have two 15 amp receptacles, each on their own circuit, available for the non-2 channel stuff.

I think I found the culprit. I remembered that my Minimserver transcoded my flac and alac files in wav format. I stopped this transcoding and everything seems to sound very good. Lumin A1 is truly an extraordinary streamer/dac!

I'm glad you found a solution.

Please plug in the hard drive to a NAS or computer running MinimServer.