How many computer based systems...

dBe · « **on:** 5 Aug 2009, 02:38 pm »

are out there in use as a main music server?

I have two new products in mind and I am curious as to how many are using or considering going to a computer or hard drive based system.

I am personally considering going to a combination OPPO 983H/MacMini or PC with a high bit M-Audio or equivalent sound card interface archive playback system.

What I want to know is why or why are you not using this type of format?

Thank you. I look forward to seeing your reponses.

Dave

TomS · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 02:43 pm »

Dave,

Probably a gazillion here...

Check out this circle

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=133.0

Good luck!

Tom

santacore · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 02:44 pm »

+1 for a hard disc based rig. For me, convenience is king here. I have all my library at the touch of a button. Another advantage is that I listen to a lot more of my collection then I ever have before. Plus my wife loves not having CD's all over the living room. Win, win!

pardales · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 02:49 pm »

Quote from: santacore on 5 Aug 2009, 02:44 pm

+1 for a hard disc based rig. For me, convenience is king here. I have all my library at the touch of a button. Another advantage is that I listen to a lot more of my collection then I ever have before. Plus my wife loves not having CD's all over the living room. Win, win!

Me too. Set mine up 5 years ago.

WGH · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 03:50 pm »

I've been set up for almost 3 years, it's been great to not have any CD's to store.

ebag4 · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 04:56 pm »

Had mine for nearly 8 years now. Still use the M-Audio card for music in the HT, I am using a MHDT Havana USB DAC for my 2 channel system. Currently experimenting with a Linux based player.

Best,
Ed

corndog71 · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 05:33 pm »

I think I'll wait until I can fit all of my music uncompressed onto one great big solid state drive.

Hard drives with moving parts fail so I won't be going that way.

Nick77 · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 05:37 pm »

Computer with wireless Squeezebox and upgraded PS make a killer source.

ebag4 · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 06:21 pm »

Quote from: corndog71 on 5 Aug 2009, 05:33 pm

I think I'll wait until I can fit all of my music uncompressed onto one great big solid state drive.

Hard drives with moving parts fail so I won't be going that way.

True, and I have had a couple of drives fail. I keep a second drive as my backup so I don't loose my database. Drive space is cheap so it is a cost effective way to go IMHO.

Best,
Ed

persisting1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 06:49 pm »

Quote from: ebag4 on 5 Aug 2009, 04:56 pm

Had mine for nearly 8 years now. Still use the M-Audio card for music in the HT, I am using a MHDT Havana USB DAC for my 2 channel system. Currently experimenting with a Linux based player.

Best,
Ed

I'm a fan of Songbird. I'm sure most are familiar with it, but it's worth checking out if you haven't. It's open sourced so you can use it on any o/s.

Regalma · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 07:05 pm »

I have been using a Squeezebox and HDDs for a few years now. It's great, though the Squeezebox is less than robust. I am trying remote Winamp and a Linksys Music bridge, which seem to work just fine.

To the person who is waiting for a huge SS drive. It is going to be a while, and it is going to be very expensive. Just keep a backup. HDD space is so cheap now.

sl_1800 · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 08:46 pm »

I use iTunes on a Macbook, with files stored on a Drobo, (DroboShare ordered today). I will never go back to cd's!!!

Danny Richie · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 10:15 pm »

I just picked up a Mac Mini myself. I am copying CD's now, one right after another on it. My fiber optical cable will be here tomorrow so I can go straight into my highly modded DAC-60.

I already tried this with Steve's lap top and it blew away the feed from my CEC transport.

Next there is a new company founded with a few of the industries leaders in D to A converter technology. They have several USB based DAC's on the way. One is suppose to offer thee best analog sound for under a grand. Their top level DAC might be in the $5,000 range but promises to beat anything on the market hands down. I am looking forward to getting one myself.

Another little tip. The guru's say that this free software (that you can download) sounds notably better than iTunes. http://sbooth.org/Play/

Anyone want a really good deal on a CEC transport?

Brucemck · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Aug 2009, 10:34 pm »

Dave,

I use XP and Vista laptops running J River. All music is on external hard drive in FLAC format. Almost all my source material is redbook 16/44.

My laptop based system beat my Meridian 800 transport on pure audio basis, and trounces it on form factor.

dBe · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Aug 2009, 02:54 am »

Wow! Thanks everybody for their input. I'm such a die hard old schooler that I am slow to embrace new technology and usually don't get there until it is obsolete. All fo this is very helpful.

Dave

dBe · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Aug 2009, 02:56 am »

Quote from: Danny on 5 Aug 2009, 10:15 pm

Next there is a new company founded with a few of the industries leaders in D to A converter technology. They have several USB based DAC's on the way. One is suppose to offer thee best analog sound for under a grand. Their top level DAC might be in the $5,000 range but promises to beat anything on the market hands down. I am looking forward to getting one myself.

Okay, you goy our attention: WHO IS IT!!! pant, pant, pant......

Dave

BrianH · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Aug 2009, 05:49 am »

Quote from: corndog71 on 5 Aug 2009, 05:33 pm

I think I'll wait until I can fit all of my music uncompressed onto one great big solid state drive.

Hard drives with moving parts fail so I won't be going that way.

Currently the best solid state drives have mtbf's in the same general range as enterprise class regular disk drives ie. ~ 1,500,000 hours or over 600 years. Of course some drives of either type will only last 15 minutes or more likely just untill you get everything loaded on them. They will both fail, do you feel lucky?

However, currently there is no comparable capacity match, so using an enterprise class disk drive is still by far the best bet for a large quantity (1 terabyte +) of data purely based on mtbf figures 1 drive against multiple, smaller, solid state drives.

Also be sceptical still of the write cycle limits of flash drives, unfortunately they are so new (both large chips as well as drives) we don't have a lot of real data points to use only projections based on very short real periods of testing. Normally we need at least a year of real data to be truely accurate on the calculations especially with time estimates this high.

Your best best is still anything in an enhanced raid 5 configuration (hot spre). MTBF is estimated at over 45,000 years with regular old disk drives. Solid state drives have their place, but they are not a cure all.

I know .... too much information, I couldn't resist though.

Brian

kyrill · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Aug 2009, 09:15 am »

Quote from: Nick77 on 5 Aug 2009, 05:37 pm

Computer with wireless (modded*) Squeezebox and upgraded PS make a killer source.

yep, same for me
*added by me

WerTicus · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 Aug 2009, 10:07 am »

i'm running a dual core system with 2tb of backed up storage and lynx L22 + s video 720p HD.

I'll eventually go for a HDMI or display port setup when i get a bigger tv for 1080p or if it takes me long enough 4096p.

Its for HT and music.

I've had this setup for nearly 4yrs now. CD's are about as convenient as vinyl relative to a hard drive system.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Aug 2009, 01:20 pm »

I have been running FLAC off a PC exclusively for closing on 4 years now. Have had HD failures, but have always had a backup.

Modded Squeezebox and power supply running strong, never had an issue with that gear in over 3 years.