Enable Playback On Other Devices Besides the Built-in Computer Speakers

I support Synology NASes. These are amazing little file servers that are a little more expensive than a typical NAS, but they can do so many things that I still discover new uses for them. I have such a Synology NAS that has a pair of Logitech USB speakers attached to the NAS's USB port. These are puny speakers, but they are on my desk so their sound output is adequate. They get all their power from a single USB2 connector connected to the NAS.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-S-0194B-Notebook-Speakers/dp/B005FXOEYK

Using a web-browser, I would log into the Audio Station at http://192.168.1.11:5000/audio/. (Your Synology may have a different IP address). I log in as a non-admin account that has Read permission to the Music share and use permission to the Audio Station service. While under this user, music files can play to the headphone or speakers attached to the computer, there is no option to play to the Logitec speakers attached to the Synology itself. This is annoying because I have to leave the computer on to play music. I only want is the music to be played from the Synology and the USB speakers. This way, I can turn off the computer and still can listen to the music.

It turns out by default, a non-admin user on the Synology cannot play to physically attached USB speakers or to another DLNA or Airplay playback device on the same network such as a network speaker. Incidentally, Synology supports both DLNA and Airplay.

The solution is to log into the Synology DSM as the admin. Click on the Main Menu at the top. Select Audio Station. Click on Settings. Click on Privileges. Check the box where it says USB/DLNA Render for the non admin user you want to use the USB speakers attached to the Disk Station.

Now when you log in as this non-admin user, you will see additional options for playback devices from the Audio Station. This includes when using the DS Audio app on the iPhone.

A search for DLNA and Airplay speakers on Amazon shows dozens of such speakers. In theory, any of these speakers can be used as the target for the Audio Station. If you have a favorite non-network speaker, you can buy this device to enable DLNA and Airplay for it.

Sabrent Wifi Audio Receiver
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Receiver-Supports-Portable-WF-RADU/dp/B00L26YDA4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1412569527&sr=8-2&keywords=dlna+speakers