Tomcy6:
Two key pieces of required software are the controller software and the server software. Since I assume youre still interested in the PWD/Bridge, I would recommend that you utilize PS Audios proprietary controller software, Tag-n-Play, which you will load directly onto your iPod device (e.g.: an iTouch) via the iTunes website (simply connect your iPod device to a computer via USB to load said software -which you can now buy directly from iTunes for $10.00)
Next, youll need to decide which server software to utilize (purchase and download). If you go with a NAS, your options will be somewhat limited (i.e.: since most if not all NAS devices are preconfigured with embedded server software and you typically cannot load other third-party server software). Many NAS devices come with Twonky Server, which is merely okay as a mate with the PWD/Bridge. Logically, the forthcoming PS Audio proprietary server software, eLyric will be the ultimate solution (however, they PS Audio have not yet perfected their software). I do not believe that you will be able to embed the forthcoming eLyric in a NAS (you will need to confirm this). This would necessarily mean that you would need to load eLyric (or any other third-party server e.g.: James River Media Center, Twonky Manager or Twonky Server, Asset by dBpoweramp, etc.) onto a computer. I bought a Netbook to use as a proprietary computer for my music server, since they cost about the same as most NAS devices.
The nice thing about a NAS is that you dont need to have a computer on to listen to your music. The problem with NAS devices however as noted above, is that you may necessarily be stuck with the server that comes with the NAS
..too bad nothings perfect!! This is the reason that I opted to go with a Netbook (theyre very quiet darn near dead quiet, and theyre very small making storage easy). It is an affordable and very effective interim solution (it is working out so well however, that I may not change
.). There will be some great new solutions forthcoming by PS Audio and other companies.
I recommend that you visit the PS Audio forum to gain more information about some of their planned product such as a NAS-type device that will include the embedded eLyric software (which wont be available until late 2011).
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/I considered the same things that you are now considering
to go with a NAS, or to utilize a computer
where to place everything
how to connect everything (e.g.: how to go about running long lengths of cat 5
etc
.etc
!!! The easiest solution for me was to place a small Netbook in my listening room, along with a wireless-capable network router. This allows me to load the server software on the Netbook (Im currently using Twonky server and I will soon switch to eLyric when the beta version becomes available in a couple of weeks). By the way, Twonky works pretty good as an interim solution. I can then run a reasonable length of cat 5 from my router to my Bridge, which is located fifteen-feet away from the router. Since the Netbook is in the same room, I can access and manage all my music files via the Netbook while I listen to tunes. I loaded the T-n-P controller ap on an iTouch and all is well.
This is so cool and so utterly mind-blowing (for an old child-of-the-seventies like me) that I still cant get over it. I have every single CD I own (4,000+) ripped and loaded along with several hundred hi-rez files all accessible from my listening position with the simple swipe of a finger
including volume control. My CDs are boxed up and packed away. Oh
.by the way, with the Bridge there is no loss in fidelity. My Redbook CDs actually sound better as FLAC files played through the Bridge/PWD than they did through my dedicated CD player.
Dont hesitate to ask more questions, thats what I did. Once you learn the basic facts, its all pretty easy.
Good luck!
_Ben
