MSB The Network Renderer V2

MSB Renderer blev udviklet ved hjælp af et internt hardwaredesign, der kører en ultra støjsvag A5-processor for optimal lydafspilning. MSB Renderer V2-interface er MQA og Roon Ready og har en maksimal samplinghastighed på 32/768 kHz og 4xDSD. Hele rendereropløsningen er galvanisk isoleret fra DAC'en inklusive isoleret strøm. Den største fordel ved Renderer Input-modulet er, at det gør DAC'en til et endpoint for mange aktuelle afspilningstjenester og tillader computerstyring af DAC-lydstyrken.

Superior streaming

There are many renderer interfaces in the industry. The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. Our Renderer V2 interface is MQA and Roon Ready and has a maximum sample rate of 32/768kHz and 4xDSD. The entire renderer solution is galvanically isolated from the DAC including isolated power. The main advantage of the Renderer Input module is it makes the DAC into a network endpoint for many current playback software packages and allows computer control of the DAC volume.

Advantages

- Lower noise than most music servers or direct USB connections
- Offers software control of the DAC from the host source (Volume, etc…)
- Can be wired directly to most home computer network
- Works at rates up to 32/768kHz* and 4xDSD
   – MQA decoding
   – Roon endpoint
   – Up to 4X DSD*
   – UPnP protocol
   – DLNA protocol
   – Bit-perfect data transmission
   – Isolation from sensitive DAC processing
   – Support for gapless playback (depends on UPnP server and controller software)
- DAC master clock synchronization
- Ethernet RJ45 input
- Compact and low EMI design

Limitations

-Only provides a medium level of isolation between the DAC and the typically noisy home network
-Prone to network issues

* Analog DAC, DAC IV/IV+ and DAC V models have limited format support

About network audio

There are many naming conventions and terminology used with this class of product. Although the MSB Renderer module is physically small, it is a key part of a networked audio system, which can be quite complicated and multifaceted.

In simple terms, audio files are stored on a server, which can be a computer, Roon Core or network attached storage (NAS) device.

A controller is a program that runs on a mobile device and accesses your music library and asks the computer/server to serve the files to your MSB DAC.

The renderer receives and converts the audio files into a digital audio stream for your DAC or Digital Director to decode.

The server, controller and renderer are all connected on your home network.

Computer / Media Server / Roon Core

The media server can be seen as two entities combined into one–the physical hardware and the software side. Physically, it is the main location for your music library and contains all of your music files. Your audio library can be stored on a computer (Apple, Windows or Linux) or on a NAS (Network Attached Storage–a specialized, often Linux-based, file sharing computer).

From the UPnP software perspective, the media server is an UPnP media server program, which needs to be running continuously in the background on the computer or NAS. It will need to be connected to your home network. The job of the UPnP media server is to advertise itself on the network and to ‘serve’ the audio files to the ‘renderer’ when asked to do so by the controller. It will also provide the controller with audio file metadata and format.

Hardware and network reliability–as well as UPnP media server program stability and file handling capability–are crucial. A gigabit network is highly recommended to avoid dropouts.

Controller / Mobile Device

Every system needs a way to find and select the music you want to play. This is the controller or media server control point in UPnP terminology, which is essentially a program running on a handheld device like a phone, pad, laptop or tablet. Think of it as the remote control for your music library.

The controller does not get involved with the actual processing or playback of the file, but it acts as a traffic controller for your music files, and provides the user-friendly music library interface for you. Because it only communicates with the server and the renderer and sends instructions between the two, it has nothing to do with audio quality.

The controller checks for any available UPnP media servers that are on the network. The controller also shows you what music you have in your library and helps you find the music you want to play. When you have made your selection, it tells the ‘server’ to send the audio file to the ‘renderer’ for processing.

It is the controller’s task to keep track of the song position, communicate commands such as play, pause, or skip forward. Additionally, it allows for the creation of playlists for sequential playback.

Gapless playback, where sequential songs–like a live concert, for example–blend seamlessly from one song to the next, is important but tricky. Gapless playback requires both the ‘controller’ and ‘renderer’ to communicate at the right time. The MSB Renderer V2 module is capable of gapless playback, but there are very few UPnP controller programs that do this well.

Network Renderer

This is the heart of the network audio system. The renderer receives the audio file from the media server and creates a digital music stream, where it’s sent and converted into analog audio by a DAC. It communicates with the controller and acts on transport commands such as play, pause, or skip forward. It also provides the controller with information concerning formats it can accept.

The renderer needs a low jitter clock and clean power, provided by the MSB DAC’s master Femtosecond clock and its multi-rail isolated linear power supply.

UPnP (Universal Plug an Play)

UPnP stands for Universal Plug and Play and is one of the most common networked audio architectures, allowing devices to communicate with each other using common Internet technologies. It is a common protocol, or set of rules, that governs the communication between computers and devices on a network. In other words, in order for two devices to talk to each other, they must speak a common language. UPnP provides this language.

A UPnP compatible device from any vendor can dynamically join a network, obtain an IP address, advertise its name and capabilities, and learn about the presence and capabilities of other devices in order to communicate.

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a trade organization established by Sony, and is responsible for defining interoperability guidelines and certification to enable the ease of sharing digital media between multimedia devices on a local network.

DLNA uses Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for media management, discovery and control, but then applies a layer of restrictions over various media file formats, encodings, resolutions and audio file transcoding that a device must support to achieve interoperability. Generally, DLNA certified devices will work with UPnP devices, but not always vice versa.

Electrical Isolation

The Renderer input module features an isolation barrier that keeps the sensitive DAC processing separated from the low noise processor located in the renderer module. This provides extra isolation from the network and other computer devices.