The 3TB Challenge

The other consideration is you should ideally use RAID optimised disks in your NAS (they are more expensive). This usually means they are more finely balanced and have low mechanical vibration. Otherwise standard disks in a NAS can all be vibrating as they spin and work against each other thereby shortening their working life.

Wat, thanks, it sounds like you have it sorted. Thunderbolt is also type of network of course.. not all networks need to be TCP/IP related...

Cheers

Simon

So does this mean my collection of heavy metal will wear out my NAS quicker than a collection of light classical would ?

(Gosh I never knew that... this forum is soooo useful)

Okay, not sure where I read that, some photography related thing.Something to do with seeking. I could be totally wrong and have been before (just ask my wife).

The mechanical wear on the motor drive is reduced if there exists a larger number of contiguous blocks, under the assumption that most reads would then be sustained and sequential. The magnetic surfaces of the platters are otherwise oblivious to your use case....

At cloud scale, spinning-rust drives of any size are expected to fail, and to be replaced as part of the normal course of operations. Stop-start drives would be quite different in design from those whose platters are designed to rotate continuously.

What you need to do is to ensure that there is the same amount of heavy metal music on each platter.  This helps to balance the platters and reduce vibration.  Also try to keep the tracks towards the inside of each platter to avoid differences in angular momentum. 

I also heard that it's best to have light classical music on the inside and rock and pop on the outside..

Bert - no you definitely have that the wrong way round.

Simon

Good deployment of the exploding sausage there Graham!

Platter temperatures can also be controlled by storing a copy of Handel's Water Music on each with the water acting like a heat sink.

And definitely avoid 'The Firebird' (heat) or the 'Music for the Royal Fireworks', the '1812 overture' and the 'Nutcracker' (shock waves).

You should keep all these heavy metals on your disc, they are poisonous after all...

I think I will start with Chopin's Noctures - the disc will be in full relaxed mode and will then switch to Opeth, Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, and the suggested overture 1812, if the disc is still alive I can switch back to some Satie.......

The level of IT expertise on this forum is truly formidable.

I never cease to be impressed by you guys.

Roger

While I am an IT guy, I left the bits and bytes already behind me years ago and left them to the real techies. While in my days when we studied we got acquainted with the hardware design of disks, computers etc...

So a small update in the quest, as I soon have to solve the problem. I identified finally the following alternatives which would work in my case.

1. Just exchange my 3TB drive with a 4TB drive, is relatively simple and cheap and allows me to keep on using the special power supply. Most probably the preferred solution as it will give me about 1,5 to 2 years of room. That's at least what I expect.

2. Could add a second NAS in the network. Easy to do, but a bit difficult in use as I would need to switch in the app between the two drives. Could be an additional option to the nr 1.

3. Replace my current NAS with a 2 bay system - would give me 8TB, but more noise while might not be relevant for me as I have the Nas in the closet. But the real disadvantage that I can't reuse my power supply.

4. Using an audio NAS - the Melco 1A, I have seen some good reviews of this apparently bringing the music to the next level. I will listen to this option, while I don't think I buy it as it's setting me back for 2000 Euros. Advantages are of course - it creates a decoupling point and is a audio server which is having all the goodies on board to guarantee a perfect audio result.

will keep you guys updated on my experiences.

 I wouldn't have any doubts: with less then 400 Euro you can buy 2 WD red 5 Tb HDD's (1 for your NAS and 1 for a USB HDD enclosure for the backup) and achieve the peace of mind of having all your valuable collection at your fingertips !

P.S. The world of audiophile Nas is just at the beginnin: I think that products like the Melco at much lower prices will emerge in the near future: so upgrade your HDD and wait.

...I have two of those with 37Tb each in them plus one of these ...

https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/DS1815+

...which is racked up with 6Tb WD Reds.

Phil

Doesn't fit into my closet and wouldn't have a silent power supply.

I am trying to stay at the quality level I have right now with a special power supply which has a significant impact on sound quality...

 I have a 2bay Qnap NAS powered with a very good linear power supply from HDPlex that cost about 360 USD

Bert,

You may have answered this before, but how much time per day/week/month or year do you get to listen? 

I, for one, feel very inadequate in the face of the number of downloads which you get through! Please let us know how you do it?

D.

Thanks for the tip, will check it out.

Gerne geschehen ! Grüße aus Mailand