Naim newbie (well soon to be)

Posted by: T1berious on 02 October 2012

Hello, 

 

My first post here so please be gentle. I very recently auditioned an ND5 XS and Nait XS pairing with a pair of B&W CM8 Speakers. I think they were using the higher end Naim connection cables.

 

Was really impressed and then the XP5 XS was added and the gains were subtle but well worth it.

 

My question is regarding the NAS's used when partnering these type of systems. is a uPNP type multi disk unit perfectly adequate or over kill? I've seen on the forums people use Vortexbox \ Old PC based solutions and I'm a bit wowed by the options .

 

A beacon in the fog required. I'm currently using an old laptop for streaming duties via Sonos but this will be used purely for my listening room \ man cave and study.

 

Cheers for any info and advice in advance

 

T1b

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by Cbr600

Hi T1b,

    i can advise that my system comprises a 12Tb NAS with 6 drive units and is set up with Raid 5 configuration.

I took the view that i wanted to rip the CD's only once, and not have the problem of lost music through single drive failure, etc.

It is also surprising how much your love of music grows with the new system, and therefore how much storage space you need. No point buying a 1Tb NAS to find it full in a few months and having to start again.

 

Good luck with your new (pending) purchases

 

Paul

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by Iver van de Zand

Hi T1b,

 

I'd definately recommend a multi-disk NAS. It allows you to use RAID techniques, ensuring that you do not loose your music once one of the disks fails. Be aware that RAID is not back-up. For the latter you might consider an external back-up drive or a NAS with 4 disks setup in back-up mode.

 

However, a good start are 2 disk NAS systems. Popular models can be found with Qnap, Synology or AssetNas.

 

If you search this forum a bit, you will find plenty of threads explaining how to start with NAS and what is recommended to buy

 

Interested in your findings with the added XP5XS. WHat are your thoughts ? Did you think the additional psu is worth the improvement/money ?

 

Cheers,

Iver

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by T1berious

There was definitely greater coherence in the detail. was it mammoth? No, was it noticeable? Yes.


I don't think I'd go for it straight off the bat but it's nice to know it's a possible upgrade path when funds allow etc etc. 


I think I'll look at Multi Disk Raid solution and an external backup disk. Raid isn't 100% against failures but I agree, with a hot standby it's much better than just using a mirrored solution (seen way too many Raid failures in my time).

 

 

 

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Cbr600:

Hi T1b,

    i can advise that my system comprises a 12Tb NAS with 6 drive units and is set up with Raid 5 configuration.

I took the view that i wanted to rip the CD's only once, and not have the problem of lost music through single drive failure, etc.

It is also surprising how much your love of music grows with the new system, and therefore how much storage space you need. No point buying a 1Tb NAS to find it full in a few months and having to start again.

 

Good luck with your new (pending) purchases

 

Paul

If you do not have a backup of your RAID, your music is not really safe from failure. RAID does not equal backup. Many have made the assumption it is and been sorry.Your controller could go bad and you would lose everything, and there is no guarantee a replacement controller would see anything but disks in need of formatting for a new RAID.

 

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by Iver van de Zand

" RAID does not equal backup " +1

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by T1berious
Originally Posted by T1berious:

I think I'll look at Multi Disk Raid solution and an external backup disk. Raid isn't 100% against failures but I agree, with a hot standby it's much better than just using a mirrored solution (seen way too many Raid failures in my time). 

+ 2 

 

Couldn't agree more

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by Cbr600

Agree on back up. As well as the 12Tb NAS i have all music backed up (and stored in a drawer) on a series of 1Tb micro drives

 

to be sure to be sure

 

paul

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by mutterback

 there's an online music back up system that someone started. (not Apple or Amazon) forget the name of it. You back up to their cloud, then only pay if/when you need to use the backup.

Posted on: 02 October 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by mutterback:

 there's an online music back up system that someone started. (not Apple or Amazon) forget the name of it. You back up to their cloud, then only pay if/when you need to use the backup.

Personally, I don't consider anything I can't control a valid strategy for primary backup. I prefer to keep an extra backup locked in my desk at work or at a relative's house over any service controlled by some entity that doesn't really care about my stuff.

Posted on: 03 October 2012 by -goat-
Originally Posted by Iver van de Zand:

" RAID does not equal backup "

There were many firms with offices in the Christchurch CBD that had their databases backed up with IT firms also within the CDB. When the earthquake hit, the authorities erected a big fence right around the city and it was a strictly no go zone for months. The back ups weren't much use! Likewise if your house burns down... you could have 20 disks in your RAID and it wouldn't be any help.

Posted on: 04 October 2012 by MangoMonkey

My shelf that had the NAS on it plummetted to the floor. Redundancy did not help since both disks broke.

 

I rip my music to a PC. Use synctoy to sync it with a NAS. That's safe enough for me.

 

Unless my house gets hit by lightening and frys all electronics...