For those like me that go for the best sound quality and don't want a computer near the
stereo, there are so called network bridges.
Very good network bridges come from Sonore and SOtM.
In this video a broad view on how to use their products.
Both Sonore and SOtM offer network bridges in different qualities.
Sonore has three models, ranging from 640 US dollars excluding power supply to 3295
US dollars with built-in power supply.
SOtM offers two network bridges, costing 450 and 1200 US dollars, including a simple switch
mode power supply.
These prices are excluding sales tax.
The SOtM prices in my country are 540 and 1400 euros including VAT.
The different products offer very accurate to extremely accurate digital audio signals
through USB 2, audio class 2.
Functionally the products of Sonore and SOtM are about the same and even the user interface
doesn't differ that much.
Or, at least that was the case when I reviewed the Sonore microRendu two years ago.
Both appeared to be initially based on the same code but later on got developed further
by each company individually.
They still seem to have the apps, needed for bridging, in common.
Since I use a SOtM network bridge, I will use that user interface as an example.
By starting up different apps the network bridges can function like a Squeezebox, a
DLNA/UPnP AV renderer, an Airplay renderer, an HQplayer network audio adaptor or a Roon
Endpoint.
As you see, each protocol has its own lingo but in fact they all mean the same: network
bridge.
Of course, there are clear technical differences, resulting in differences in setup, but for
you as consumer they all provide a USB 2 output to connect your DAC to.
Whether you want to use the network bridge as a Squeezebox, a DLNA/UPnP AV renderer,
Roon endpoint or one of the other modes, is up to you.
For as far as the hardware setup is concerned, there is little difference.
So let's start there.
First you need a computer, laptop or desktop, running an OS supported by the mode you will
use.
In almost all cases mentioned here, either Windows, Mac OS and Linux will do.
The computer can be places elsewhere in the house - the study for instance - and is connected
to the router, preferably using a network cable.
The router usually is placed where the provider's cable enters the house.
Another network cable is then connected between the router and the network bridge.
A USB 2 cable makes the connection to the digital to analog converter that in turn is
connected to your stereo.
Sometimes the digital to analog converter is integrated in the amplifier or receiver.
In stead of the computer you could often use a networked attached storage device - NAS
for short - that runs the server software of the system you chose.
If you have active loudspeakers - loudspeakers that have built-in amplifiers - the outputs
on the digital to analogue converter are connected directly to the speakers using RCA or XLR
cables.
Unless the active speaker set has a USB input, then the network bridge is connected directly
to one of the speakers using a USB cable or via an interface box that came with the speakers,
again using USB.
Then it is time to choose the system software of choice.
Let's look at them one by one.
The squeezebox has been very popular since the introduction in 2003 and despite Logitech
killed the products in 2012, many players are still around and many users are happy
with the user interface.
It also is popular amongst users of Raspberry Pi based network bridges.
The SOtM and Sonore products are for those that want to stay in the Squeezebox environment
but want a clearly higher sound quality.
An advantage is that Logitech has promised to maintain the server program that is needed
to use Squeezeboxes and Squeezebox emulators like the products mentioned here.
It is called Logitech Media Server - LMS for short - and can be downloaded for free from
mysqueezebox.com after registration.
Computer demands are quite modest, LMS even runs on NASses like those from Synology and
QNAP.
These often come with a link to LMS, so installation is a breeze.
But when your music catalog is large, say over a thousand cd's, a beefier NAS might
be advisable to keep the browsing speed acceptable.
Now you have to set the network bridge to function as a Squeezebox.
You do this using your computer: start your browser, like Internet Explorer, Edge, Safari
or Google Chrome, and type www.sonicorbiter.com for the Sonore products or Eunhasu.local for
the SOtM products.
The user interface opens and you simply click the Squeezelite icon.
Squeezelite is the Squeezebox emulation app that turns the network bridge into a Squeezebox.
To play music you run LMS on your computer or NAS, follow the instructions on the screen
and you're set.
Choosing music to play can be done on the computer, tablet or smartphone using the browser
by typing the IP address of the computer or NAS that runs LMS, followed by a colon and
9000.
If more media servers are present on your network, LMS might need to use a higher port
number than 9000, like 9001 or higher.
There are also apps for Android and iOS to control LMS.
DLNA and UPnP AV are virtually identical and the setup is largely the same as with the
Squeezebox.
There need to be a DLNA or UPnP AV server program running on a computer or NAS.
If music is the most important to you, you might want to install MinimServer for that
is optimised for music.
Most other DLNA or UPnP AV server program will function too, but often with less audio
specific metadata.
Once the DLNA or UPnP AV server is installed, it will automatically detect compatible renderers
like the Sonore and SOtM products discussed here, provided you have activated the MPD
& DLNA app in the user interface, as described earlier for Squeezebox.
Now you need a DLNA or UPnP AV app on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
I use Glider on iOS.
It's not free but it won't break the bank either.
You could also use an app that can control MPD, Music Player Deamon, the Linux version
of media player.
By the way, music apps like JRiver Media Centre and Audirvana Plus 3 will play to a DNLA/UPnP
AV network bridge too.
These programs offer DSP functions like upsampling and room correction and can send the processed
signal to the network bridge.
For people using iTunes, iPhones and iPads, Apple's streaming protocol called Airplay
might be attractive.
Activating Shareport' on the network bridges of either brand will make them Airplay stations.
Simply selecting the network bridge in question in the Airplay menu of the computer, iPhone
or iPad will send the music to the network bridge.
This is a very fine way to hear what the difference in sound Quality is between the output of
a computer - Mac or Windows - and quality of network bridges like the ones mentioned
here.
HQPlayer is a specialist player that offers upsampling, convolution and other digital
signal processing that is considered to be of very high quality.
It also works with Roon and Muso as user interface and reportedly is the way to do room correction.
It has its own protocol to communicate with network bridges.
Like with the other protocols, you simply click HQplayer NAA to have the network bridge
start in this mode.
By the way, NAA stands for network audio adaptor, another word for network bridge.
If you want to use HQPlayer you do need a relatively powerful computer that will preferably
work with nVideo Cuda for DSP functions.
Running HQPlayer on a NAS is no option.
You can store your music files on a NAS and have only HQPlayer running on a computer.
I have reported extensively on Roon since for me it is THE Multiroom music cataloguing
and playing software.
Most of my colleagues use it too, like many manufacturers and distributors on shows.
See my playlist on Roon for a number of videos on Roon.
Like HDPlayer, Roon needs to run on a sufficiently powerful computer.
Minimum demands are an Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and an SSD system disk.
Music should be stored on another drive or on a NAS.
As soon as you have started the Roon app on the network bridge, you will see it in the
Settings - Audio menu.
Give it a name and activate it.
That's all.
Although this is no review, it might be handy to know what I currently think of the audio
quality the reviewed models offer.
I first reviewed the Sonore microRendu and was heavily impressed then.
Next I reviewed the SOtM sMS-200, the silver base model, to find it only a tat better than
the microRendu.
Then the SOtM sMS-200ultra came out and I must say that it brought network audio to
a whole new level.
That was again slightly improved when the NEO version came out.
I did not review other models so there is no point in asking my opinion on those.
It also appears that the microRendu has been updated over a year ago.
The models I did review were powered by sBooster BOTW P&P Eco power supplies.
Devices of this level should not be used with 8 euros costing switch mode power supplies.
If with the sMS-200 the price of the sBooster is too steep, go for the iFi iPower.
That is a switch mode power supply done well.
See my reviews of the power supplies.
In the mean time interesting new products of all kinds are on their way, so subscribe
to this channel or following me on the social media so you know when new videos are released.
If you liked this video, give it a thumbs up.
Many thanks to all that support this channel financially, it keeps me independent and thus
trustworthy.
If you also feel like supporting my work, the links are in the comments below this video
on Youtube.
I am Hans Beekhuyzen, thank you for watching and see you in the next show or on theHBproject.com.
And whatever you do, enjoy the music.
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