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Best hardware DLNA renderer?

I've been tinkering with computer audio for about 18 months and its been somewhat exasperating, a 2 steps forward 1 step back affair. Most recently I've even tinkered with Jplay and a 2 PC setup using WS2012.

I'm finding now that this setup beats that

Control PC with JRiver MC18, DLNA enabled for audiophile 24bit DAC
Hardwire Ethernet connection between control PC and Oppo BDP-103

Coax out to Metrum Octave

Love this so much I want to figure out what better hardware DLNA solutions exist than the BDP-103 ( takes this about 2~3 minutes to setup DLNA connectivity where you see the Oppo as a new player option in JRiver).

Suggestions on a player that beats the Oppo's for DLNA horsepower as it doesn't look like the 105 is any different for DLNA?

Any recommendations
128x128davide256
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davide256 OP
400 posts
 
I've made some changes feeding the Oppo that have yielded even better results. I had dropped back to my WIN8Pro image because it supports the HP media remote with Jriver and I couldn't get it to work with a 2PC Jplay setup. I decided to give Windows server 2012 a shot in single PC setup using Tchuyev's optimization script at the link below (step 1 and step 2 for the audio PC). Wonderful improvement over using the JKmkIII for async USB, with either optimized WIN8Pro or stock server 2012. With an optimized server 2012 setup using DLNA and dedicated Ethernet to the oppo with Jriver MC18 and Jplay, what a treat with lush mid range and clean high/low transients and much simpler than a 2 PC setup. The only knock I could make was that on the loudest complex passages there was blurring but that could just be the limits of a stock oppo needing a better power supply or my amp. I'll find some other way to use a remote for theater view :<)

http://jplay.eu/forum/computer-audio/windows-server-2012-from-gui-to-core-the-easy-way/
edorr
714 posts
 
Confused. When you use JRiver as a DLNA server, it is my understanding it simply manages the library (ususally stored on a NAS) and the music files are send directly from the NAS to your DLNA rendered (the Oppo in this case). The data never passes through the PC, and there is no processing in JRiver/Jplay taking place. How can Jplay make any difference in DLNA steaming mode? I am either misunderstanding what you are doing, or misunderstanding the signal path of DLNA streaming.
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
400 posts
 
absolutely correct that Jplay isn't in the chain for DLNA. What does enter in is Windows Server 2012 optimization. In my case the audio files are on a 1TB HD on the JRMC PC (I use SOTM filters). To do NAS I'd have to get a bit more complex with switches/routers than my comfort zone as the single Ethernet port I have is tied up connected direct to the Oppo. I've tried some new cables with the JPlay/async USB setup (Wireworld Starlight 7 Coax/Supra USB) they made positive improvements but the main difference remains that spectrum seems shifted up with asynch USB and Jplay, that energy in the primary harmonic seems shifted into second order harmonic so that mid range and upper bass sound thin
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