The shift from CD to NASDiscover the supreme sound quality of NetworkAudio for a new style of enjoying music.Network Audio is designed to be as simple aspossible so that anyone can enjoy music byselecting a track from the tablet screen of thecompact NAS connected to any of the multitudeof high-quality network audio players comingonto the market.

Excellent Audio Quality, Simple and ConvenientThe New Style of Music EntertainmentNetwork Audio offers a new style of enjoyingmusic. A single NAS (music server) storesthousands of songs ready for playback on anetwork audio player. Network Audio offers multiple benefits notpossible with a conventional audio system.

A network audio player brings you a smooth and richsound.* The audio signal on a CD is processed at a samplingfrequency of 44.1 kHz with 16 bits, giving a maximumdigital recording time of 74 minutes. * Thanks to the high-resolution sampling frequency of192 kHz and 24-bit system of Network Audio, there isfar more information than on a CD, thus producing asupremely realistic sound. High-resolution audiosources are available from music distribution services

and DVDs supplied with audio magazines.

Convert your CDs to Network Audio for noise-free listening.By copying (or ripping) the audio from your CDs to NAS and playing them back from NAS, you can enjoy accuratemusic free from the rotating noise of a CD with its read errors.

Any tracks ripped from CDs as well as music downloadedfrom the Internet can be played back on Network Audio.Audio is now available in many forms and has never beeneasier to buy:* Conventional CD playback quality using lossy schemessuch as MP3 and AAC* CD original quality (lossless audio) used for CD recording* High-resolution audio mastered with ultimate qualityhigher than CD quality

In the Network Audio system, all songs are digitally stored oncompact NAS.A single NAS server can store thousands of songs* that can beplayed back at any time by a network audio player. NASeliminates the need to store CDs in your collection.* Assuming that a single high-resolution track is 100 MB and aNAS storage server capacity of 100 GB or more.

To play a song, simply select a track from the names displayed ona tablet or album cover. You can enjoy music in new ways notpossible before: * Play back a symphony that spans multiple CDdiscs * Create a playlist of your favorite songs for continuousplaying * Listen to the same track from different audio sourcesand compare them

If you have multiple audio devices supporting Network Audio indifferent rooms, you can enjoy listening to NAS musicsimultaneously on every device via the network:* From an audio player in an audio room* From an AV amplifier in a living room

Required Equipment and Connections

* From a PC in a workshopThe selected track is distributed from a single NAS to all rooms,eliminating the need to set up music in each room. You canchoose to have different music in each room, or can listen to thesame music throughout.

PC is necessary to download musicsources to purchase them and tostore music sources on NAS. It is alsoused for ripping the CD audio sourcesbut not used during playback.

NAS is “Music Server” that storesmusic sources, creates database ofmusic sources and distributes them tonetwork audio players.

The LAN cables are used to connectthe hub and the network devices for“sending and receiving the digitalsignal”. It is recommended to use theLAN cables that have the effectiveprotection against noise since theinduced electrical noise may adverselyaffect the playback sound of networkplayers unlike the LAN connectionwith PC.

The network audio player convertsthe digital audio signal that wasdistributed from NAS, to the analogaudio signal, and sends it to amplifier.This is an important item thatdetermines audio quality.

The role of the amplifier, speakersand headphones remains the same asthe conventional audio system. Theequipment that has been used in theexisting audio system can be used asis.

The role of the hub is to separate thecommunication route between NASand network audio player from that ofthe Wi-Fi station in order to eliminatethe adverse wireless effect duringmusic playback and to stabilize the

Let's start enjoying Network Audio: First connect your audio equipment toyour network device, then try simple flow from purhcasing, storing,selecting up to program playback.Getting started the Network Audio System is easier than you think.Connect a network device to the LAN terminal of a network audio player with the LAN cable. The role of the required network audio devices and the flow from purchasing up to program playback are described below:

Role of each device

digital signal flow.

This equipment is necessary toconnect the network equipment eachother. The Wi-Fi function is requiredto use the smartphone and tablet asa remote controller, and to playbackthe music from a remote location.* When the audio network is separated from

a PC and is not connected to the Internet

line, the Wi-Fi station is necessary.

By installing the dedicated applicationfor the network audio player insmartphone and tablet, they can beused as the multiple function remotecontroller for the network audioplayer.

The role of the audio cables andspeaker cables remains the same asthe conventional audio system. Selectthe appropriate ones suited for yoursystem.

Flow from purchasing to track playback

The following two methods are available when preparing audio data.

Music data stored on CD can be copied to a PC.General ripping software* Windows: dBpoweramp, mediamonkey, exact audio copy* Mac: Songbook, X Lossless DecoderWhen the stored music data is copied to NAS, it is automatically added tothe library.Songs are sometimes supplied with magazines on DVD; simply copy themto NAS.

Audio downloaded from Internet music sites can be played back bycopying them to NAS. There are many tracks on high-resolution andlossless audio sites available for download. Select your favorite songs fromclassic, pop, club, indies, etc. * Examples of music distribution sites: HD tracks, LINN Records, etc.

Connect the NAS and the network audio player to setup a network as below: Connect the network audio player to an audio amplifier or to the headphones amplifier with the audio cable. When the name NAS is displayed on the screen of the network audio player, it indicates that preparation is complete. Select a song and press the PLAY button.* In the case where English name is displayed on the screen of the network audio player, when using a network audio player manufactured outsideJapan, set the NAS language selection to English.

Network Attached Storage

A large amount of music sources can bestored in a compact housing and distributedquietly.

Wireless LAN station

table communication with dual band

When listening to music programs with a pair of headphones, connect the headphones to the Phone terminal of the headphonesamplifier.

By installing an app on your smartphone or tablet, you can use it as a remote control for the network audio player. Operations such as selecting a NAS to connect to; selecting, playing, stopping, and pausing a track; and creating playlists canall be done via your remote control device. The easy-to-see screen and touch-panel operation assure full enjoyment of networkaudio.

LAN hub/LAN cable

LAN hub with built-in power supply, designed for silentoperation

BSL-WS-G2108M

* Most suited for audio roominstallation due to the fan-less, silent design and use ofmetallic body* Stable data transfer is realized with the 512 k largecapacity bucket buffer.* 8 units of the network devices can be connected at thesame time.

Double shielded LAN cable, strongprotection against noise

BSLS7NU series

* Double shielded structure for strong protection against thecommunication error due to the Alien Crosstalk*. * Gold-plated, shielded plug suppressing oxidation ofcontacting surface while assuring the high precision contact* The connector made of new material with high durabilitywhich does not break even when it is bent 180 degrees.

* Alien Crosstalk: The noise interference between the neighboring cableswhich occurs when multiple cables are bundledtogether.

LS-WSXS240L/R1

* The use of SSD eliminates rotating block and makes thismachine free from vibration.* The maximum operating noise is only 2.3 dB.* The world’s smallest size allows the installation of this machineat any place. *1 * The operating power consumption is only 9W,i.e., the power saving design of about US$1 per every 5 hours.* TwonkyMedia6.0 is used as the DLNA server* Can store than 2000 songs of the high resolution audio sourceof larger than 100 MB. *2

*1. Assuming the NAS contains 2 drives of SSD. (As of October 19, 2012.)*2. Assuming that one song occupies approx.. 100 MB with 192 kHz/24 bits.The amount of data per one song is different depending on sound qualityand length of audio source.

The model with built-in hard disk enables easy installation andsetup.

WZR-600DHP

* Supporting dual band: 802.11a (5 GHzban8d)/802.11g/b (2.4 GHz band). .The radio wave formusic streaming and the radio wave for smartphonecommunication are separately controlled. * The high power with 11n enables the stable Wi-Ficommunication from remote locations. * Supporting AOSS2 which assures simple initial setupwith a smartphone only.

What is Network Audio? What is Network Audio?

11ac （IEEE802.11ac）

One of the Wi-Fi （wireless LAN）standards for implementingcommunication with the highestspeed of maximum 6.9 Gbps usingthe 5 GHz frequency band. This is thenext generation standard realizingvarious advantages suited for thehigh vision motion pictures: Thecommunication speed will not reduceeven from a remote location. Thisstandard allows multi-station WLANthroughout the frequency band.

11n （IEEE802.11n）

One of the Wi-Fi （wirelessLAN）standards. This standard usesmultiple frequencies at the same timeenabling the high speedcommunication of 150 Mbps orhigher. When the base station andclient device support both standardsof 11n and11a, they can realize lessinterference and better throughputusing the 5 GHz frequency band, andcan transfer the high resolution audioand high vision signals.

Alien crosstalk

Crosstalk is a phenomenon by whicha signal transmitted on a cablecreates an undesired effect inneighboring cable creating acommunication error. It is sometimescalled “crosstalk” or “crossed-wire”phenomenon.

Bit depth

Bit depth of the high resolution audiosource is 24 bits whereas CD bitdepth is 16 bits, assuring the highquality sound close to the originalanalog sound.

Bit rate

Bit rate indicates the number of bitsthat are allocated to music data persecond. It is indicated in units of“bps” (bit per second). Higher the bitrate means better quality of thesound when analog audio signal isconverted to the digital signal of thesame audio format. On the otherhand, the data size per music databecomes larger.

Database

A database is an organized collectionof data in a way that facilities the useof the data. The network audiosystem makes a database of thesongs stored in NAS, and creates alibrary to facilitate the selection ofmusic numbers by creating librariessuch as “Music library by album”,“Music library by artist” and “Musiclibrary by genre”.

Digital audio terms for the enjoyment of Network Audio

Numerals11ac | 11n

Proper nounsDLNA | FLAC | Hub | LAN cable | NAS | TwonkyMedia | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi station | Wi-Fi client

AlphabetsAlien crosstalk | Bit depth | Bit rate | Database | DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) | High resolution audio source | Hub | LAN cable | Library | Music data | NAS（Network Attached Storage） | Network audio player| Non-reversible (lossy)compression of audio file | Online music distribution site | Online purchasing | Packet buffer | Revesible (lossless)compression of audio data | Rippling | Router Sampling frequency | Storage | Streaming | TwonkyMedia | Wi-Fi （WirelessFidelity） | Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) Client | Wi-Fi (wireless LAN）Station | Wired LAN |

* In the order of numerals and alphabets

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)

DLNA (Digital Living NetworkAlliance) refers to both anorganization and the name of thetechnology standard they created.They guarantee the basiccommunications when receiving thenetwork audio and viewing TVthrough network subject that boththe server and client are the DLNAcertified products.

FLAC

FLAC is one of the audio signalcompression systems to reduce theaudio file size. The file extensions are.flac or .fla. Unlike MP3 and AAC, thisis the completely reversible (lossless)audio data compression formatenabling recreation of the originaluncompressed music data. Thanks toits high audio quality, generally, thehigh resolution music sources andnetwork audio are sold in FLACformat.

High resolution audio source

It refers to the high quality musicdata that is digitized using a samplingfrequency and bit rate higher thanthat of CD. Generally, it refers to thereversible (lossless) audio sourcesthat are digitized with 192 kHz/24bits or 96 kHz/24 bits that can bedownloaded from music distributionsite.

Hub

Hub is a central connecting point thatconnects multiple network devices toa single communication line. Hubrefers to the switching hub in manycases where a streaming signal onthe network is analyzed and only thenecessary signals are switched andrelayed out to the respective devices.

LAN cable

The LAN cable is the digitalcommunication cable that is used toconnect the network devices eachother. Different types of the LANcable are prepared having differentphysical and technical characteristicsthat help us to decide depending onthe network environment. For anexample, category 6 LAN cable isreferred to as Cat 6. As the categorynumber gets higher, so does theprotection against noise at the high-speed communication.

Library

List of music data stored in NAS iscalled library. The library can bebrowsed on network audio player,smartphone or tablet to select asong.

Music data

Music data generally refers to theaudio file that contains the digitizedmusic. By putting (digitizing) musictogether into a file facilitates storage,control and delivery of music.

NAS (Network Attached Storage)

NAS is a dedicated hard disk storagedevice that can be directly connectedto a network. It is used as a serverthat is dedicated for storing anddelivering files when multiple networkdevices share the same file. In thenetwork audio system, it not onlystores songs but also delivers thespecified songs to the network audioplayer.

Network audio player

It refers to the device that receivesthe music data distributed by NAS vianetwork, and plays it back.

Non-reversible compression(lossy) audio file

It refers to the audio file that iscompressed by the scheme whichdoes not allow perfect reconstructionof the original data during playback.This scheme achieves a highcompression rate by thinning out thedata of hardly audible part during theaudio compression. The audio sizeper music data is reduced but theoriginal sound cannot be reproducedduring playback. The non-reversible(lossy) compression schemes such as

Online music distribution site

This is the web site that distributesmusic data. Purchasers can downloadthe music data by the sameprocedure as the shopping on theInternet, and can store in thepurchaser’s PC. The DRM-free (DigitalRights Management-free) file allowsfor free replication and formatconversion of the downloaded musicdata. * Distribution of the replicateddata is prohibited by law.

Online purchasing

It refers to the online purchasing anddownloading of music data frommusic distribution site.

MP3, AAC, WMA and ATRAC areavailable on the markets. Thisscheme is best suited for listening tomusic with small capacity devicessuch as smartphone and portableaudio player, and distributing audiofiles with small capacity distributionnetwork.

Packet buffer

A packet buffer is memory space setaside for storing the data received bythe hub, and sends the data at theoptimal timing over networks in orderto realize the smooth transmissionand reception of data between thenetwork devices.

Reversible (Lossless) compression of audio data

This is the audio data that iscompressed with the schemes withwhich the original data can beperfectly reconstructed duringdecompression. The compression rateof this scheme is smaller than thenon-reversible (Lossy) compressionscheme so that the data size permusic data becomes larger. Thereversible (lossless) compressionschemes such FLAC, Apple Lossless,AAL are released on the markets.FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) isused in the high resolution digitalaudio sources in many cases.

Ripping

Ripping is the process of extractingmusic or video stored on CD as adata file, generally using PC. Themusic data being ripped on PC can beplayed back with network audioplayer once the ripped data is copiedto NAS.

Router

A router is a device that transfersdata between networks. Router isdifferent from hub in the sense thatrouter assigns the IP address (deviceunique identification number) to eachdevice, and can respond to theinquiry from each device. When asingle router is installed in thelocation where even no Internetaccess is provided, the network audiocan be enjoyed. When a router isconnected to Internet, the multipledevices that are connected to therouter can be connected to Internetat the same time.

Sampling frequency (sampling rate)

The sampling frequency of the highresolution digital audio source is 96kHz or 192 kHz which is higher thanthe CD sampling frequency 44.1 kHz.It offers the high quality sound closeto the original analog audio.

Storage

Storage refers to the externalmemory device on which data can bestored. All the devices such as harddisk, SSD, SUB memory and SD cardare collectively called storage.

Streaming

Streaming means listening to musicor watching video in real time whilereceiving music or video that isdelivered from server. Downloading isnot necessary.

TwonkyMedia

This is one of the software to deliveraudio files to the DLNA-compliantdevices. This is the most popularsoftware in the field of network audioand widely used software worldwide.In the network audio system, itmakes a database of the songsstored in NAS, and creates a library.When a network audio player or asmartphone refers to the Twonkymedia library, select a music andspecifies playback, the song will be

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)

Wi-Fiis the cutting edge technologybased on the IEEE802.11international standard in wirelesscommunication. It is used almostinterchangeably with “Wireless LAN”.This standard enables connection ofthe network devices each other in awireless connection. IEEE802.11a(11a), IEEE802.11b (11b),IEEE802.11g (11g), IEEE802.11n(11n) and IEEE802.11ac (11ac) areused to build a wireless home LAN.

Required Equipment and Connections

delivered.

Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) Client

The Wi-Fi client is the network devicethat supports the Wi-Fi (wirelessLAN) function, and can readily beconnected to the Wi-Fi (wireless LAN)station. The Wi-Fi (wireless LAN)client sometimes refers to the devicethat adds the Wi-Fi function to thenetwork device by connected to theUSB terminal or the LAN terminalwhen the network device does notsupport the Wi-Fi function. Since thesupported Wi-Fi standard and theantenna specifications can bedifferent depending on the respectiveproducts, preparing the Wi-Fi stationthat matches the environment isrequired.

Wi-Fi (wireless LAN）Station

In most cases the Wi-Fi station is theequipment in which the function asan access point and the function as arouter are integrated at the sametime where the access point relaysradio waves of multiple devices toestablish a Wi-Fi network, and therouter connects the multiple networkdevices each other. Since thesupported Wi-Fi standard and theantenna specifications can bedifferent depending on the respectiveproducts, preparing the Wi-Fi stationthat matches the environment isrequired.

Wired network, wired LAN

It refers to the network that isconstructed using the LAN cables.The network that is constructedwithout using the LAN cable but withWi-Fi (wireless) is called Wi-Fi(wireless) network.

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