In article , Bob Latham
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:
[snip]

Oh this is interesting.

I store flac files on a Synology NAS and then use a Sonos box (under
iPad control) to pull the data across the network and play it with spdif
into my pre-amp.

Now my definition of streaming which I assume is wrong, is that chunks
of the file is pulled or pushed just before it is needed with the
minimum amount of data stored at the player, just enough to overcome
blips on the data stream.

So I do consider what I do to be streaming.

From my POV I have a program I've written myself as an example I can use to
illusrate.

The program reads a wave file and shovels data from it to a USB DAC. First
it reads the header of the file so it finds the sample rate, etc. It then
sends to the DAC the value of the sample rate at which to operate.

Then it proceeds by grabbing successive 1-sec 'blocks' of data from the
file and dumping them into an output buffer.

The DAC reads samples from this buffer at a rate the *DAC* now controls. It
reads at regular intervals, each time taking a few samples to allow it to
play at the rate required. Once this buffer-full has been read, this is
detected and the program - which has loaded another buffer-worth ready -
gives that via the buffer.

In effect the software in the computer is just shuffling blocks of data,
and doing each new block when the DAC says it wants it.

This works either from a local hard disc, or something like a NAS or device
like a USB memory stick, say. In each case a filing system makes the file
available to be read.

I *guess* that a 'streamer' is an all-in-one chunk of hardware that
provides its own ability to access files, let the user choose one, and play
it via its own DAC. Thus saving the user the bother of having a computer
run a program to do the job. But I've only deduced this by reading what
people say.

What I don't understand and would love to is, what the blazes is the
point of dlna for audio streaming? What I do does not use dlna at all,
the Sonos just opens the file and pulls data from the NAS using good old
SMB, no dlna server needed or running. It works just fine. What does
dlna do that this doesn't?

I'm also curious about the role and point of dlna.

Jim

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