FLAC file size and disk sizing?

You will need around 350MB per CD stored as FLAC, so 1000 cds = 350GB

Using dBpoweramp, probably the most popular CD ripper, there are several options re encoding FLAC, but if using default level 5 compression then a typical CD might be around 400MB, though can vary according to the music from maybe 250-450 - I suggest err on 400-450. HD might be double when you buy them. 

You don't say how many CDs you have, but you can calculate required capacity from this. Always a good idea to have spare capacity, and as you observe, 3TB are better value per unit storage and not mipuch more than 2TB. WEstern Digital Red are recommended for NAS use.

I'd suggest considering a combined music store and renderer feeding a separate DAC (your Marantz for now) to avoid any network issues, but you seem to be committed to NAS.

A CD can be up to 700MB.   This is uncompressed & would be that size if ripped to WAV.  FLAC is essentially the same but able to be stored compressed to save space,  it unpacks back to uncompressed for replay.   You can select the compression with the ripping software,  with dBpoweramp the default is FLAC Level 5 which gives a compression ratio of around 40 to 60%  (I believe) o 350MB for a CD rip to FLAC is a good rule of thumb for a max'd out play time CD size.

Thanks for the input.  That is helpful.  Not sure how many CDs I have - it's not a vast collection, I just haven't added it all up for a while.

A pair of 3TB disks will keep you going for a good while. A 24 bit download can easily be 1GB, or more if it's a long album or in 192k. If you get a nas, get a Synology or Qnap. There are loads of threads on here that you can read, to help you choose. 

Judge posted:

 . . . I am thinking 2 x 2TB disks would be okay, but 2 x 3TB disks aren't that much more expensive and represent a better choice.  . . . 

Are you contemplating some sort of RAID setup, or JBOD ('just a bunch of discs').  RAID 2 x 2TB gives you 2TB of storage, whereas JBOD 2x2TB gives you 4 TB of storage.

And of course you need an external backup (another nas and/or a usb drive in an enclosure).

I have 2 nas's; one is RAID and the other is JBOD.  I'm not convinced I need RAID, but 'storage is cheap.'

If possible try ripping and buying in an uncompressed format like WAV or AIFF. 

As to storage size - if you think you will need at least 1.5 TB, than I would double the disk sizes now. So 2 x 3TB in a RAID mode. Once you discover a joy of streaming I can assure you, your CD and download collection will grow faster than before.

Another thing worth remembering: off-line backup for your NAS is essential.

Adam Zielinski posted:

If possible try ripping and buying in an uncompressed format like WAV or AIFF. 

 

Adam, any particular reason you suggest this rather than using FLAC?

ChrisSU posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

If possible try ripping and buying in an uncompressed format like WAV or AIFF. 

 

Adam, any particular reason you suggest this rather than using FLAC?

Given that disk space is now cheap, I feel storing compressed FLAC files is no longer needed. Of course most UPnP servers can now transcode FLAC to WAV and serve NAIM renderers in that format.

Some forum members report hearing a significant difference between FLAC and WAV / AIFF (as in FLAC sounding worse).  Personally I cannot hear a difference.

But... why make life a little bit more complicated and run an extra process decompressing the files (computational loads can cause additional system noise, which may be deteimental to the sound quality)?

Hence my recommendation.

I agree with Adam & would have said as much in my first post but I didn't want to drift off subject.  

I've always used WAV (& DSD when I can get it & now Naim have enabled the player firmware).  I rip CD's only if I have to or am given one,   I try to buy only 24-bit & DSD downloads.   When I first started I tried them all,  I didn't want to get into iTunes but did try both the 'A' formats & I found ALAC almost indistinguishable from WAV.    FLAC is excellent & has a lot of upsides,  but to my ears in my system it is a touch 'softer' (hard to choose right word) than WAV.   But when transcoded to WAV (a NAS process) before feeding to the Naim its virtually indistinguishable.  Transcoding with NAS & its UPnP software is another consideration,  but that is more thread drift.

Thanks again.  I have gone for 2 x 3TB WD Red in a Synology 216j.

I will be running a RAID protocol, and have external backup arranged.

Arrives this evening, so looking forward to a long weekend - oh there's one now...

That'll future-proof you pretty well. I use 2*4TB WD Reds in a 216j partnered with a 4TB WD Red 115j, the twin bay just acting as my music server. My 1,200 or so CDs ripped to WAV take up less than 1TB, at about 1.5GB for a high-res download, you've plenty of space.

i found hyper-backup, the Synology backup tool was too processor-heavy for the single CPU 115j, and locked it up, it was better on the 216j but I still found it very slow. ( In retrospect trying to back up the whole HDX backup folder as well as the re-tagged WAVs in a different  folder  in one go was a mistake, 1.5TB was going to take 7 days if the NAS hadn't crashed, incremental backups from the start would have been smarter.) The 216j was a lot better, but in the end I decided it wasn't adding a lot using hyper backup and just rotate folder copies on a 4TB Seagate USB drive.

Well that led to an evening of "fun"...  it appears to be set up, but next I need to see if the network device can see it, load some music and then see if I can play it.

The setup put the unit in Synolgy's own RAID mode, and I don't seem to be able to change that, although I can't see why I would.

The most annoying bit is not getting the account activation email - probably something daft I've done but can't see right now!