Rimbaud

mfin: More useful info - thanks for taking the time.

mfin: This is excellent and useful info. I think it will be of help to the OP and others as well. For my system I may still try the NUC and NAS near the router as I ultimately want to feed three endpoints. I expect I'll end up wanting a switch near the router or wherever I end up connecting the NUC/NAS, so you've given me a great head-start. That HDplex multi-PSU is really cool as well. Do you have any static IP addresses set in your system?

mfin: I'm also trying to sort out how to set up a network for Roon and my sense is that the end solution will be something similar to your setup. I like the idea of a wireless brige as my home is not hard-wired for ethernet and I don't want all the hardware in one location. Could you clarify which components of your system are co-located and wired together? The components you've described so far sound like they are all in the same spot, so I'm not sure what's on the other end(s) of the wireless bridge? Right now I'm using an Airport Extreme as my wireless router, and was thinking of getting an Airport Express to locate at my main hi-fi rack. I also just received a NUC7i5BNH + fanless case that I will use for Roon Rock. I haven't decided if that will be located at the hi-fi rack or near the router. I'm leaning towards getting an SMS-200 as well. Next question: Could I not just connect the Airport Express or other wireless bridge via LAN cable to the SMS-200 and skip the switch? In this model I would plug the NUC and NAS into the Airport Extreme and forego a switch on that end as well. Would that work? (I'm a networking newbie). Perhaps I should look at a wireless bridge with more than one LAN port (if such a thing exists) for more flexibility, if I want to avoid a switch + additional PSU at my hi-fi rack? I'd like to avoid too many boxes and particularly the corresponding PSU's, although I'm also intrigued by what sounds like one LPSU powering both a switch and the NUC in your system.

Krobar- Has the cooling fan come on during your use? Have you taken a peek at the guts?

It looks like if I were to add a Global Cache GC-100 I could control 12v relays from that, obviating the need for a 12v trigger out on the DAC/preamp. In that case the NAD M51 will do what I want. I have to decide how complex I want to get with this...

Forgot to add it needs to have remote input switching. Digital-only inputs OK. Basically I'm aiming for total system control via iPad.

Are there any DAC/preamps available that combine all of the following features?: 1- Asynch USB input 2- Remote volume control. If digital, at least 32 bit. If analog, something more precise than a regular pot. 3- A rear jack for remote integration using iRule: Ethernet, RS232, or an IR code jack. 4- 12v trigger output. 5- $2000 or less. Prefer not made in China. Items 3 and 4 are where the hangup lies. W4S DAC2 would be perfect if #3 were present (trying to avoid IR blasters or emitters). NAD M51 has RS232 and IR jacks, 12v trigger in, but no trigger out (plus made in China, but I could possibly live with that).

Boy that edit timer is quick! Panelhead: does the KRK software have to be installed to use the basic functions (no room correction)? How do you switch between the line and firewire inputs? I'm already feeding my tuner into a Nano Patch volume control via phono plugs, so the KRK could slide right in.

The KRK Ergo is an interesting option. Possibly more complexity than I'd want but I'll look into it some more. The Nuforce address didn't work for me, but I'm guessing you were thinking of the Icon HDP? That would meet my requirements perfectly; however, I've heard mixed reports on Nuforce quality. Do you have any first-hand experience?

I'm looking for an cheap-ish DAC that has a USB and an analog input/output, plus a volume control for the output. It doesn't have to be the last word in sound quality, I'm more interested in functionality and build quality/longevity. Headphone amp not a necessity. I have a Sony digital tuner that I'd like to plug into the analog input. CEntrance has the Dacmini that meets these specs if you get the version modified with a variable output. It looks like it can be picked up at $795 w/ the variable out (used to be $895). That's more than I was hoping to spend, but I'd stretch for it if it's a great unit. I'd like to develop more options along these lines.

Well, I broke the budget and ordered a Synology 413 + 3 WD Red 2 tb drives (will set up RAID 5). I feel like it's more than I need at the moment, but hopefully it will last a long time and I'll grow into it. I will be plugging it into the Airport Extreme using CAT6. Which backup software are you using?

I picked up the new Airport Extreme last night - Best Buy just got the first few in that day. The one thing I'm dissapointed about is that it has a USB 2.0 port. I'm now considering mimicking your setup, bplexico, by buying a Synology NAS. It will end up being in my listening room so I'd want the queitest possible configuration. Perhaps a four bay unt with two drives installed (RAID 1) would vent well to lessen fan use, and would give me the option to expand later. I'd just have to pick out some quiet drives. Thanks for the tip on setting up the Mac Mini for shared control.

I happily abandoned my efforts to use XLD as an editor. I wasn't fully satisfied with iTunes for this application either.I ended up paying for Metadatics and it's well worth the $10 to me. I actually enjoy using it, and was hunting for more files to tweak just to keep using it!Thanks for all the feedback.

Barr - thanks for the great response! The Airport Extreme + USB hub + 2 USB drives may be the way to go for me. I don't have the Airport yet, although I see that Apple just came out with a new one. I'm thinking I could run hardwire ethernet to the Mac Mini which would be in the rack for my main system. I'd like to be able to control the Mini with my Macbook Pro via wifi to keep the Mini headless - don't know how that works. The Mini would be running JRMC, and I'd have JRemote on an iPad. Another key component of this would be good software to have one drive backup the other (the ones plugged into the Airport). Down the road, I'd want to figure out how to access the JRMC library via wifi at a second system upstairs. I don't know if I'd have to have JRMC loaded on a 2nd Mac Mini, or if there is something along the lines of an Apple TV that would work for JRMC. Either way, I'd want to control that zone with the same iPad/JRemote. I wonder if the USB hub should be powered? The drives I'm planning on are Lacie powered drives (Thunderbolt/USB 3.0).

I'm attracted to this idea, as it would bypass any server software issues associated with the NAS (I think - I'm a network newbie). Could you attach a USB hub to the router, then plug in two drives and set one to back up the other one automatically (using Carbon Copy Cloner or Chrono Sync)? What model router do you have?