UnitiServe and USB stick capacity

I have a couple of Lexar 64gb sticks that work fine in my uServe.  I can't imagine that they use MUCH more current than smaller ones.  Nor have I heard of this prohibition before.  Maybe you're thinking about the issues using usb hard drives, as they require more power than that usb port is intended to deliver(?)

I think you'll be fine

HI Bart,

Many thanks, perhaps I am imagining things. I too can't see why a larger capacity stick would use more power than a smaller one. I know it's an issue for disk drives, but I thought I read something somewhere about the USB sticks.

I'll keep taking the tablets and go and get myself a couple of 64GB sticks !....

Cheers, Paul

The only limitation I am aware off is that you can only use fat32, but  not ntfs format. I used a 64 gb  stick on my ns01  before I converted to a Nas.

1 64 gb stick is cheaper than a nas but with the price of a Readynas   with a 2 tb disk or higher  being low, I would not invest in too many sticks.

Claus

Is it true that USB flash sticks have a life expectancy of 10 years after which the data stored is subject to being lost forever?

As posted above the stick must be formatted to FAT32.

You can still store up to the capacity of the stick. The problem is, that the audio device will not recognize any music files beyond 32 GB.

If your library is 50 GB it will show you and play the first 32 GB that were copied onto the stick. The rest will be ignored. It may even show the complete folder structure, but not the files inside these folders.

Phil from Naim has posted that USB sticks are ok but larger USB drives have noisy USB buses and should be avoided - or something like that!

Keith

What a lame excuse for not implementing other, more capable file systems than FAT32!

I have seen no excuses for using fat32, and I could not care less about other formats unless it made a practical difference.

Claus

The practical difference would be that one could employ the most modern flash drives with up to 500 GB. this would save half of the community from having to maintain an NAS! That enough practical use?

PinkHamster,

Many thanks, very clear, so the power story was a bit of a red herring, and the real culprit is FAT 32

Cheers, Paul

It's not w.r.t. using external hdd's vs. solid state storage.  I think that's what you were thinking of.

Hi Bart,

Do you have in excess of 32GB on your USB stick, and if so is all the music playable ?

Cheers, Paul

Yes and you can get them for a few pounds, a really good deal, let us all go and sell our expensive unusable nas units!

Claus

Paul I'm not sure -- I don't use sticks any more since I bought a nas.  But I can try when I'm home just to do the experiment!

Hello Claus 

I don't think that is what PH is suggesting. I think there are many ways to achieve a great sound and using a NAS is certainly one way. My problem with a NAS is the wiring ... it means installing Ethernet around the house. My abilities in this area are mediocre to say the least ... sure I know my way around a network, but wiring now that is kangaroo of a different colour. 

I was reading about the Bryston player and it is designed to meet PH's requirements ... you can put four 500 MB silent SSD drives on it and enjoy music (bit expensive and only support USB2 which may be an issue) ... you would then connect it to the Naim DAC or a digital input on a suitable Naim streamer/amp. No network required unless you want to control it from an iPad or similar, but even then no wires. 

It is just an alternative to a NAS not a replacement - in the same way I currently use a Mac Mini adjacent to my Naim DAC ... not because I think it is better, but because it easy for me in my particular set-up. 

I do think lots of folk are put off Naim streamers because they are quite hard to use. I'm sure Naim will improve this and do have solutions like the HDX (once you music is on there then it is no network required). 

However, a NAS is an excellent way to feed music to devices. 

All the best, Guy 

True, I also wouldn't trade in my NAS for a USB stick - now that I already have a NAS. But generally speaking I don't really need a NAS, only for the music. And that might just as well sit on a USB stick or just a regular USB HDD attached to a player/server device. This would make the whole installation a lot more compact.

My criticism about that lack of implementing proper file systems isn't directed to Naim only btw. If I look around, many of the other manufactures are doing the same crap. And worst of all, my car radio has the exact same problem, which forces me to make a selection, even in heavily compressed formats. How nice an easy it would be to just copy my whole library (the compressed, lossy version) onto my 128 GB stick (which I bought especially for this purpose) and have it available in the car. Maybe I should start reading user manuals before buying accessories ...