NAS and P3 players in the home

Hi

Just bought a Western Digital NAS device (250gb) to use together with my laptop. This will work fine (I think) for streaming music/media etc. I intend to buy a PC to sit under my TV sometime and again it will be able to use the NAS storage. What I'd really like to do is have something like the ROKU or Squeezebox available witha HI-FI to use it as hi-fi etc. and access the mp3 files on the NAS. But, typically having bought the NAS and started looking for the player I find that it's not that easy! I think the SONOS can use any NAS device but it's bloody expensive!

So, anyone had any experience of a player which can use any NAS device (and require LINUX server software etc.)?! Surely, as NAS device become more and more affordable, so will the availability of the required players? Seems to make perfect sense to me.

Anyone?

Cheers
WoB

[extremelydodgy]

The SB's etc need specific software running on a PC to do the job. A NAS alone isn't going to do it... a compact PC would have more sense to buy. There's a slew of devices coming out which will work as a network audio centre, talk to NAS's, rip their own CD's etc but they wont' be anywhere near the price of the Squeezebox.

[pinecooler]

You can actually run slimserver (the software required) on certain NASs. Not sure about your one though if you go to the slimdevices website and then check the forums to see if there is any mention. I've just ordered a £300Gb Linkstation which i'm going to install slimserver on.

For those that haven't bought a NAS yet but are thinking about it Qnap make a product that can be bought with slimserver preinstalled from either multitask computing or advanced mp3.

Your'e other option and probably the simplest is Sonos. works straight out of teh box will comunicate with a NAS, and most importantly has a really really cool remote. Only problem is for a two zone system look at parting with a grand whereas you can buy two squeezeboxes direct form slimdevices in the states for £340 including carraige, duty and VAT. just add an amp.

[Rush2112]

Qnap do make a NAS that works with the Squeezebox

I have one running here with 200Gb hard disk. Look like the NAS runs some sort of embeded version of debian linux.

Easy to setup, all you need to do is map a network drive on your PC, and use iTunes (or something) to rip your CD's to the mapped network drive.

The only thing I've found is the response when navigating the menu system, it's not as responsive form the NAS, as when I had slimserver running on my PC (how ever the PC's a x2 4400+, so no supprise), but no problems with the audio streaming.

Qnap, also do a diskless version, but as far a I know it doesn't have slimserver installed (as this installs to the hard disk)... and qnap don't sppear to have any instruction on what to download, and how to install the slimserver...unless someone know different

[andrew1810]

I have a list of compatible NAS boxes for the Squeezebox here:
http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/sb3.html with instructions where needed.

and the Roku here:
http://www.audiofi.co.uk/reviews/m1000.html