USB Hard Drive

BlueFox
BlueFox Posts: 15,251
edited April 2009 in Electronics
Ripping music for my music server is resulting in my almost running out of hard drive space. I am thinking of getting 2 USB hard drives, and moving all the music to one, and use the other as a backup. Anyone have any experience with USB hard drives, models, etc.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited April 2009
    I'd go with Firewire or eSata if it's an option. Better sustained speeds makes for faster backups/transfers.

    Otherwise, any USB 2.0 external HD will do. I have a 500gb USB and 1TB Firewire external drives right now.
    I use the 500gb for backups, and the 1tb for storage.
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,260
    edited April 2009
    I have used LaCie 80GB (about four years old) and LaCie 500GB USB drives. These require a power brick. I liked them because they are quite, sleek, and totally stackable.

    The basic problem, it seems to me, is reliability: hard drives do fail (although it has never happened yet to me - touches wood). I've avoided the USB powered drives (no brick or wall outlet needed) previously since they seemed to have quirky issues with being recognized, but this seems to no longer be the case from reading the reviews (if those can be trusted!). Toshiba seem to have an excellent record for this, so, if I were shopping today I'd probably try the USB powered Toshiba drives.

    http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-FireWire-External-Poulton-301313U/dp/B00170H0O6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239816728&sr=8-2
    http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-External-Design-Poulton-301304U/dp/B0010YWPZ8/ref=pd_cp_e_1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00170H0O6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1PPR194KVJW0T5RRP8NF
    http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Portable-External-Drive-Black/dp/B001LK6XFY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239816791&sr=1-3
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  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited April 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Ripping music for my music server is resulting in my almost running out of hard drive space. I am thinking of getting 2 USB hard drives, and moving all the music to one, and use the other as a backup. Anyone have any experience with USB hard drives, models, etc.

    USB speeds can vary based on the controller in the USB enclosure and computer. The drive performance its self isn't as a big a deal as the USB controller.

    If you hit tomshardware.com, techreport.com, anandtech.com etc... You can find reviews. I know that Western Digital has some sub $70 640GB units available at sites like newegg and zipzoomfly. Most times shipping is included in the purchase cost.

    If you have a computer with eSata then you would have a quicker solution.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited April 2009
    I just bought a Western digital 500GB USb HDD for my system. Works real well. $89 at Best Buy. I believe the 1TaraByte was $149
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,249
    edited April 2009
    I have a Seagate and (2) Western Digital "notebook" types. They are a little slower (access time) than an internal and the jury is still out on failure rates/reasons. I am a bit leary but with the cost consistently coming down I'll probably get a few more to back everything up.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited April 2009
    Great answers. Thanks. I purchased 2 of the Toshibas, and a USB hub. Naturally, while I was on Amazon I ended up getting 10 more CDs while I was at it. I have gotten addicted to Amazon. Free shipping (most of the time), and no sales tax. Other than free, what more could you want.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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