Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming QNAP issues

Longitude0

Thank you for your kind words, I find myself increasingly frustrated with Meridian, a company who's products I have invested heavily in, this forum is a significant reason I continue to own any going forward.

Russ

My concern with a QNAP/MS200 (or QNAP/218) combo is the near future possibility of the QNAP component part being made effectively obsolete by Meridian's failure to update their software sufficiently as part of QNAP firmware updates.

My concern is not with using QNAP purely as a back-up device.

Therefore, an MC200, whose software/firmware and hardware characteristics are wholly under the control of Meridian, appears to be the more robust option.

Clearly, you must do what you feel comfortable with. My point was not at all about a nas as backup (though I do use RAID which gives some robustness though a true backup is wise as well - stored off-site in case of fire or theft).

My point is that there is no requirement to update QNAP firmware. Just leave it alone on 4.2.0 and, in my experience, everything works fine. Meridian specify that you should disable automatic updating.

Actually, although I have no experience with an MC200, from having repaired a fellow Hiker's TwinStore, which is based on a Windows x86 motherboard, if the MC200 is similar I would be rather more concerned about the MC200 motherboard failing and becoming hard/expensive (through Meridian)/not possible to repair. At least a QNAP is cheap enough to just buy another. In fact, because I like the QNAP as a nas, but I don't use it for general nas duties, restricting it to Sooloos, I am going to buy a second QNAP (another TS-253A) to use as a general nas - including for keeping an on site backup of my music files. I will still be usefully in pocket compared with buying just one MC200 and I will have more functionality (such as almost instantaneous hardware substitution if I do get a failure).

Be careful about relying too heavily on things under the control of Meridian. With hardware you typically pay rather handsomely for repairs and in some cases they no longer repair things (which is why, purely as a hobby, I like to do it).

You're missing my point: if, for example, a future QNAP model is not designed to use QTS 4.2.0 firmware, then utilising it for Meridian Sooloos functionality becomes redundant.

Although I alluded to MC200 being the better future bet; excluding Roon, Audirvana (with MQA), on a Mac looks to be the more realistic option - with one's preferred choice of NAS back-up.

Ok, sorry if I missed your point.

Russ

Well, that seems an easy problem to solve. Just buy a QNAP now. Do you think that buying an MC200 now will be supported for long enough by Meridian? I hope so, but who can say whether it will outlast a QNAP (I never had a Control:10, but I like my cheapo Packard Bell Touchscreen PC with TouchPC on it and I can maintain it myself).

I use a QNAP TVS 471 i3 with Roon. Works a treat.

Audirvana plan on including network streaming in v3.1. This will be a welcome Roon alternative.

Why not offer Sooloos as a Docker image with a real lightweight Alpine (5MB) Linux kernel.

It would be immensely more portable and standardized (QNAP/Synology/Whatever) and probably more stable as a result.

Meridian won't have to worry about the "next" QNAP update screwing their application no more as they are running in a "perfect" docker VM container according to their specification with their own tested Alpine lightweight linux kernel.

This means less work and headscratches for their application development team and testing costs. It really makes business sense.

Hi Again Guys,

Well then, my original post has stimulated quite a debate. Most of which goes straight over my head!

In the meantime I've contacted Qnap support and they've asked which firmware version I require to rollback too. I can't remember nor can I find reference to earlier firmware on the machine. So, which firmware version does the forum think would be most suitable with my TS 453A and when I've got an earlier version what do I do with it to make it all work again?

Regards

Paul

From this thread, my understanding is that QTS 4.2.0 is required for optimal Sooloos functionality.

The caveat is that QNAP have withdrawn access to v4.2.0. So, if you buy a new QNAP device, with the latest QTS firmware, you cannot utilise v4.2.0.

On that basis, it's pointless buying the latest QNAP as part of an integrated Sooloos system.

In which case how can Meridian offer the Sooloos core for the QNAP as a solution?

It should be removed and they should clearly state the only available Sooloos core is the MC200, and a link to the Roon site maybe.

Russ