bsarpolis wrote:

What is the best way to listen to digital music through my Oppo BDP-105D? I have a Macbook Pro and my music library resides on a NAS. I connected my router to the Oppo via ethernet and I found the sound a little harsh and flat and navigating through the network folders was arduous.

I was considering the following:
1) New ethernet cable
2) Putting library on usb drive and connecting to Oppo
3) bypassing Oppo and stream Airplay to receiver (Pioneer SC-55)
4) Connecting a Mac Mini and setting up a music server

Do these make sense? What should I be doing to get the best sound utilizing the Oppo?

1- No joy there

2-That will work fine; use 320K if you use MP3 files. You can put 50 CDs or more on one 8GB USB stick and then use them in the car audio system or portable device too.

3- Might work

4- Don't recommend

I recommend connecting the NAS direct to the OPPO via a digital link.

Connect a TV/monitor to the OPPO with an HDMI cable and you should be able to see and use the file structure using the OPPO remote

...is to employ DLNA.

Your Pioneer SC-55 is DLNA 1.5 Certified, which means you can pull your MP3, WMA, AAC, and even high-resolution FLAC and WAV. All you need to do is install and configure a compatible server solution on the Macbook, and then you should be able to enjoy your content through the receiver’s UI. Check out this list of media servers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_UPnP_AV_media_servers

(FWIW, I've tried several of them but have found myself using Universal Media Server for the last 5 years. 100% free.)

QUESTION: What make/model NAS do you have? Some of them come with media server capabilities built-in so you might be able to utilize those features instead of installing one on the Macbook and having to incorporate it in to your delivery stream.

RE: the mac mini, echo the "Don't recommend" sentiment. If you take the software approach, you should already have everything you need. No need to buy more crApple. ;-)

I believe the BDP-105D also supports DLNA, so once you have a media server up (whether it'd be your NAS or Macbook), you'll be able to stream directly to the Oppo as well. Double-check manual/online to ensure the BDP-105D supports DLNA.

NOTE: If you have any high-res audio, you'll definitely want to use DLNA since AirPlay downsamples 96kHz and 192kHz files.

Yes - you can keep the same setup you have now. As long as you have a DLNA-compliant media server (NAS or Macbook), you should be able to stream to either the Pioneer or the Oppo -- whichever suits your preferences (GUI or otherwise).

Check out: http://setup.wd2go.com/?mod=faqs&device=mc&faq=streamHd

If your NAS does NOT have a DLNA-compliant media server built-in, install one on the Macbook from the previously mentioned list (my fave is Universal Media Server). You can then configure it to share/serve files from the NAS. By adding the NAS as a share, you can leave your library content and structure intact on the NAS, and make any newly added content readily available to any/all DLNA-capable clients.

That said (and back to the original issue), if you still experience "...the sound a little harsh and flat..." then try streaming directly to the Pioneer to see if there is a difference in SQ. If after streaming trials with the combos of DLNA/Airplay and Oppo/Pioneer all sound less than expected, then at least you have some evidence that may suggest other places to tweak in your delivery stream. (If you think wired could be the root cause, then try wireless - assuming everything in your delivery stream and home network support it.)

Let us know how it goes, what you tried, and which method delivered the best SQ.

Am willing to bet your issue is with AirPlay. ;-)

*JUST* thought of something: how is the Oppo connected to the Pioneer? HDMI/Optical/Analog? If a digital connection, you might have double-DAC-duty going on and you'll have to go through your manuals to stop that. Can also test with an analog connection from Oppo to Pioneer to hear diffs in SQ. Analog from Oppo to Pioneer will truly ensure only the Oppo DACs are utilized.

...am glad you were able to stand up UMS quickly! It will take some time to tinker through all of the options that UMS has, but then again, that's part of the fun in this hobby.

When you say "I haven't figured out how to direct the Oppo, from my Macbook, to play music...", are you trying to direct music to the Oppo by controlling it from the Macbook? (What gives? I thought you wanted to use Oppo's UI!) If so, the only program that I know could do that was Skifta, but alas, Skifta is no longer. (Skifta even had Android/FBiOS apps out there that would allow you to "shift" your media via DLNA/UPnP.) RIP Skifta.

If you want to control with Android/FBiOS devices, Oppo has that MediaControl app for the respective platforms.

Anyway, please update this post with the details if/when you achieve your sonic Nirvana - personally, I like to hear the details about others' delivery streams, and am sure others in the silent majority may be seeking a similar solution approach.

Happy listening!

bsarpolis wrote:

Thank you for for the advice. I did download Universal Media Server and was toying around with it last night. I haven't figured out how to direct the Oppo, from my Macbook, to play music. I was able to SEE the UMS within the Oppo network menu and I was able to select and play music from there. I need to do some more reading...

FYI - I do have the Oppo connected analog and HDMI to the Pioneer. I used the signal select function to switch back and forth to see the sound different. I prefer the analog connection but I do not notice any signal degradation using HDMI.

Did you ever achieve the SQ and functionality you were seeking?