Bluesound Players come with a USB connection port situated on the rear panel. This USB port is specifically designed for hassle-free music playback from USB memory sticks.
Server Mode disabled
While it can also be used to connect mass storage devices, it is important to note that there are some limitations, when Server Mode is disabled. The BluOS firmware treats these plug-and-play storage devices differently from a Local Library, as they are intended for temporary usage rather than extended listening.
Scenario
You can utilize the USB port to link USB memory sticks containing music, allowing you to play and listen to the stored music on a local (USB-connected) Bluesound Player. Additionally, it is possible to compile the USB-stored music into playlists and stream it to other Players within the ecosystem, as long as the local Player connected to the USB storage device serves as the Primary Player in a Group.
Bluesound Players can index and play music from USB mass storage devices formatted as FAT32, NTFS, or Linux ext4. However, it's important to be aware of certain limitations. By design, the indexing of these devices is limited and sometimes becomes unstable.
USB mass storage devices are primarily designed for plug-and-play storage, not as a long-term or permanent storage solution. For a more reliable and enduring option, Bluesound recommends using network sharing from a local PC, Mac, Network Attached Storage (NAS), or Bluesound VAULT.
Recommendation
The table provided below outlines the interactions between Bluesound and USB storage, highlighting the design differences when using a portable USB device (such as a memory stick or mass storage device) and a network-configured library stored on your local network.
| Function | Network Share | USB Port (Server Mode Disabled) |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Method | One-time setup in the Settings Menu. Learn more. | Automatically recreated on inserting the USB drive. |
| Indexing | During the initial setup, a permanent index is automatically created. Users also have the option to manually update the index when they add new music. Learn more. | A temporary index is generated each time the device is inserted or when the Player is restarted. |
| Time to Index | About 1000 songs/minute on a wired-to-wired connection (depending on network performance). | About 500 songs/minute. |
| Display in Navigation Drawer / Music Sources |
Merged into your Local Library, the music becomes accessible and can be played by any Bluesound Player within the network, ensuring seamless sharing across all devices. Learn more. |
Every USB device is displayed independently as a Local Source and is visible solely on the Bluesound Player to which the USB device is physically connected. |
| Playback | Every song is accessible to every Player, and multiple Players can simultaneously play different songs. | Music can exclusively be played on the Player that has the USB device attached to it. |
| Grouping | You can create multiple Groups, and any Player can be part of any Group. | Music can be shared within a single Group, but the Player with the attached USB device must serve as the Primary Player in that Group. |
| Saved Playlists |
Saved playlists are created using songs from the Music Library and reference their current location within a permanent index. These playlists can be shared among multiple Players. |
Saved playlists will not function unless the USB device is connected. Sometimes, playlists may undergo alterations or become less stable if a different USB device with the same music is inserted. These playlists will be visible to other Players, but only the Player with the USB device connected can play them. |
| Hardware Compatibility |
Connection Windows and macOS devices. This connection also extends to most NAS devices, including but not limited to the Bluesound VAULT, QNAP, Synology, Western Digital, and D-Link.
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Connecting to a USB 2.0 device is possible. However, devices that demand more than 0.5A/1A of power will necessitate either a USB Powered Hub or an external power supply. Learn more. |