HDX hidef redux

quote:

From David Dever

Super-clock is old tech, 'cos it doesn't bring the expected real-world performance to the table. Your money, though...given the reference system they show on their site and the build quality, I'm not so sure.

Dave,

To be precise about the components used, you can employ a Superclock-4, or two of them.... They add about $650 to the equation.

That way the USB before getting converted has a modified superclock, then is converted to I2S, and reclocked again in the DAC, with anoth 2 superclocks if wanted.

Not sure how this is old tech. But, i know it sure sounds wonderful to the ear.

I have not demo'ed every permutation, but what I have is exceptional.

lastly,
I take major exceptions to the notion/suggestion that the HDX, and Naim, are the ONLY way to do PC audio properly.

Maybe Empirical Audio is not your cup of tea. But to constantly imply that every other suggestion posted on the Naim forum is inferior, is suspicious to me.

I would LOVE for once to hear someone from Naim say, "that is a nice product". After all, many Naim users (perhaps yourself) have a TT that Naim would admit to be a nice product. And Naim goes so far as to create components for use with a TT. Same goes for the Headline etc....

So i am not sure why the need for a nice external DAC, when the HDX obviously DOES NOT fit the bill, is so frowned upon.

If I asked about what kind of cart to use with my LP12, i would have plenty of responses, most likely including Adam.

But if I ask the same question about a DAC, I only get "Get an HDX", or a Supernait.

Let me have a go at the NAS question/issue:

A NAS is a disk storage system connected direct to a network which is operated independently of any computer. A NAS has an onboard CPU etc. The disk subsystem can either be RAID (which means you potentially have redundancy in the event of a disk failure, but does depend on which RAID level you use) or JBOD (just a bunch of disks). JBOD devices are cheaper and offer no inbuilt redundancy.

If you have a bunch of disks connected to a PC you can make them visible to external computers and devices by exporting the various file systems. In Windows this is done by "sharing" the disks and in Linux/Unix this is done using "exports" and possibly CIFS.

Therefore, if the HDX is able to access NAS devices it will be able to access data exported from a PC.

A NAS device is typically left on all the time to it is accessible independently of computers being turned on and off. If you wish to make the local PC disks visible the PC obviously needs to be powered on.

I have a 4TB RAID NAS box in my photography studio at the end of my garden which I use as my off-site backup device for important data and storage for music and movies. I have a gigabit LAN connecting back to the house.

I hope this helps (a bit)

Graham.

Graham,

May I ask how much the 4tb RAID array set you back???

Also, what is your actual usuable drive space, not including back-up space. I realize this depends on which level of RAID you employ.

Curious how much you have in your scenario.

Lastly, because I never edit any of the data on my drives, RAID is not really needed for me.

I have no problem backing up 10-20 albums to a DVD once every few months.

The 4TB RAID was approx £1100 a few months ago. It's a Buffalo TeraStation. It uses 4 x 1TB SATA disks. Using RAID5 and allowing for file system overheads I have approx 2.9TB of usable capacity.

The issue of RAID vs JBOD isn't necessarily important until you get a disk failure.

With RAID you are able to replace a failed disk without losing data or the storage service. If a second disk fails before the RAID volume is repaired then you've lost the lot.

With JBOD is you lose a disk you've lost the lot. A key question to ask yourself is how long will it take to restore data from backup and do you really want the agrovation?

Many users forget about the headache of restoring data. Backup is always the easy bit!!

Graham,

Oh yes... I've had HDs fail, they always will in some period of time.

Luckily it was within the 5 year warranty period, and was replaced without cost to me.

IN terms of restoring the data.... I had to reload the data from a combination of DVD backups and other external drives I use for back-up.

It took about 3 hours.

Now, if a drive fails, I have 750GB of each 1tb drive, backed up to a 750 seagate. The other 250 would sit on my dvds until I desire to listen to them. Then they would be loaded back on to my "listening" drives. SOOOO, to reload a new/fixed drive would only take about 30 minutes, or as long as it takes for the data to transfer.

FYI, about 1/3 of my TOTAL music is now on DVD only. I think in total I have over 4.5 TB of music. Of course not all of it is needed to be available instantly.

I have no problems loading a disc from time to time. Just like the good ole days.

The real necessity in a collection as large as mine, is having a nice album list (i use an excel spreadsheet) to keep track of everything. Especially when you have 2 or 3 versions of the same release.

My 3 TB drives now are set up "alphabetically" by artist. Drive #1 is A-H, drive #2 is I-R, and drive #3 is S-Z.

So if I lose a drive, I simply refer to my excel sheet and sort for the artists "lost". Then reloading the drive is fairly easy... Sure it isn't a RAID, but all told I have spent about half what your array costs. Not that price is the final answer. It is just that I already have 3x1TB drives, and now 3x750BG drives for back-up only. (just bought a new 750 last night to back-up more of the collection to HD rather than solely using DVDs) Plus a 320 and a handful of smaller drives.

My next step will definitely be VERY similar to yours. But I am waiting for drive space to come down a little more in price.

3 TB of usuable space is pretty good for my needs.

thanks for the info,
Patrick

I have all my data backed up to JBOD disks connected to my main PC. I have 2 x 750GB SATA disks internally connected to a RAID controller on the motherboard that are backed up to external USB drives. So all data is duplicated on the one machine and I'm protected against a disk failure. However, if the unspeakable happens and we have a fire or something similar then all that data will be lost. By backing up to the RAID in my stuio at the end of the garden I figure that's a reasonable offsite strategy.

All backups are automatic every few hours.

Gosh... I work for IBM and I think I'm gonna send a few technicians down to this forum!



Just joking!

I've had 15+ years in the HPC industry so unfortunately I know a bit about storage systems and disaster recovery

quote:

Originally posted by KTMax:
Gosh... I work for IBM and I think I'm gonna send a few technicians down to this forum!



Just joking!

Surely you have your own training programs in place ?

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:


I have EVERY SINGLE ALBUM backed up once to DVD. Then I have 1.5TB of the most important stuff (vinyl rips that I cannot remake easily, favorites, etc) backed up to my 2x750s. If I happen to lose a drive, I only need to transfer the files back onto a new one.

Patrick,

I have a similar setup to yours. Fortunately all my CDs just fit on a 1TB drive. With two more for back up.

How did you convert your vinyl? I suppose that if you use the "right" ADC you can rip to high def audio? The term ripping vinyl does sound a bit unfortunate. ;-)

Gusi,

A variety of ways actually. I have 2 friends with nice kits that have turntables.

One is a decent Music Hall 9.1 TT.

The other had a Linn TT, not sure which one but I think it was a LP12. It looked like one. Keep in mind much of this was done before I ever knew anything about Naim, Linn or British hifi in general.

I started transferring my vinyl a long time ago (late 90s?) as both of these people were vinyl junkies and learned how to do it.

Over the years they got much better at it. Some of my early transfers are a little "produced".

People tend to go overboard at first with a program to remove pop, clicks, general vinyl replay "noise". Eqing etc....

They started out transferring rare old school hip hop, and the SQ might not have been of utmost importance at first.

Then they figured out that if using good clean vinyl, and nicely appointed TTs (which I know nothing of still), they didnt need to do anything to it.

I saw use of Adobe Audition alot. Not sure of other software used.

One of the had a Benchmark ADC for a while. Then had a really expensive soundcard. Then something else I dont recall.

Not sure what phono pres they were using either. If i was doing it now, i would surely know.

sorry I cant be of much help. I haven't bought much vinyl in the last 6-7 years. Anything I did, I already had on CD most likely.

-Patrick

No worries, I was just curious how it was done. I imagine it would have been much more time consuming than ripping CDs as each album has to be played in real time.

Maybe one day I'll give it a go.

Gusi,

Any proper rip of a CD will likely take just as long. The drawback it you usually cant (or shouldn't) be listening to it.

-Patrick