Do I have to use a streamer/renderer to play music from an NAS?

I use a Raspberry Pi with Logitech Media Server, but Volumio is the popular favorite.

I use the USB interface straight. Works great, but you can also buy inexpensive S/PDIF or even analog outputs as well.

What I like about both of these solutions is the Android and iPhone support as well as a web interface.
You might also look at something based on JRiver or Media monkey, especially if you have an old laptop lying around the house.

The answer is you need to add something to the NAS/DAC como.  You have to be able to see what’s on the NAS and to be able to direct the NAS to serve up tracks.  It could be a computer or a renderer

The Interchange renderer will deliver the best SQ over DLNA connection, using freeware: Linn Kinsky/Minimserver/BubbleUPnP for playback on a PC or Mac. See these jitter measurements:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=156409.0

You can also later use the same setup to stream Tidal or Qobuz using Freeware Linn Kazoo or Lumin.

The Interchange takes Ethernet input and gives you outputs of S/PDIF coax, AES/EBU, I2S on HDMIO conn. and I2S on RJ-45 connector.

In order to get the best SQ from the network, it is wise to add the following pieces:

From your Router use any Cat5e or Cat6 cable to:
1) AQVOX switch
2) 0.5m Wireworld Platinum Ethernet cable
3) EMO EN-70e isolator
4) 1.0m Wireworld Platinum Ethernet cable
This connects to the Interchange
Then from Interchange to your DAC using my Reference BNC-BNC coax cable with RCA adapters as needed.

This is a world-class digital source.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

One other thought if you did say go the Synology route you could run a digital cable from whatever device you have Disc Station Manager on, laptop or whatever, to the dac in your preamp. You may need a usb to coax converter unless your preamp has a usb input. You can use Audio Station on DSM for playback there are also other playback options available on DSM like Plex and Minimserver.

If you want world class sound, keep any pc/Mac/music server out of the room. Put your server in another room and get a good dac with a network card in it. 
Also, you don’t need a music server/renderer to get music off a nas. If you have a good dac with a network card, use a Mac mini running Roon from another room. Roon’s Interface and SQ is so superior to other mentioned above. IMO the next best would be auralic’s DS Lightning interface.
Any good quality 1G switch will work. I have never had a switch deliver invalid data. If you can hear a difference between switches, the routers, wall plates, Ethernet ports from each device would be called into question.
I actually had a vendor tell me that they only used a specific hard drive because they could hear a difference. When I told him I worked for Seagate that made the hard drive he was using he backed off since disk drives change constantly and the drive he was buying today might be different from what he buys tomorrow.