Need computer audio advice.


All of my digital music is on my desktop iMac, a 500GB machine. I have only 70GB free space, so I think my drive is getting full. I was thinking of getting an external drive (say 1 or 2 TB) and simply moving all my music off the desktop and on to the external drive.
Is this a good solution ? Will there be any sonic problems ? Most of my music is CDs ripped and stored in lossless formats, FLAC or WAV. Some of my files are high res files 24/96 from HD Tracks. I stream over a network to a Logitech Squeezebox touch.
It this solution has problems, what would you recommend ?
Thanks, Matt
mabonn

Showing 3 responses by kijanki

Doggiehowser, I wonder if other reclockers are sensitive to sources too. DAC1 isn't by any means perfect (as I thought before) since DAC2 promises improved suppression. Perhaps I'll try to add reclocker. Output signal should look like standard S/Pdif stream hence reclocking it again in DAC1 will further improve jitter reduction. I know that many people prefer NOS DACs but I really like clarity of DAC1 and it has good synergy in my system.
Matt, when you use network you send data and not the music. The difference is that data has no timing - timing is recreated on the other side of network bridge. Your file format, amount of memory, type of HD, speed of computer, playback program etc. have no effect on the playback. It is remotely possible that mechanical HD will create more EMI than solid state drive but it is also possible that faster computer will do the same. I would just ignore it all. If you have choice on your Mac - get external Firewire drive (that's what I use on MacMini) - it is easier to daisy-chain them and they don't slow down main processor - minor and perhaps not important unless you use computer for other heavy tasks. External Firewire drive cost a little bit more (less common). Get two drives, as Doggiehowser suggested, and make backup. I have three drives and use "Carbon Copy". One drive is in use, one in storage and one at work. This protects me from theft/fire or computer/controller failure during backup (that could screw up both HD). I make new backup only to one drive at a time (alternate them) and only when I have more than 5-10 new CDs.
Doggiehowser, My Benchmark DAC1 does reclocking internally and have pretty good jitter suppression (very clean sound), but according to Steve external reclocker does even better job. I have to try one someday.