Storage Device Recommendations


I am looking for recommendations on an external hard drive for my CD collection.  I have over 3,000 CDs and want to rip and store them in one place. I have been ripping CDs to external Western Digital HDs connected by USB to my windows PC where I am using iTunes as the software for organizing and playing music. My problem is that two WD HDs have failed in the last 18 months. Both of them glitched and failed when trying to back them up. I suspect that the volume of CDs ripped to those drives is taxing them somehow. The last one that failed was 2 TBs in size (and I believe the first one was 2 TBs as well).  Also, over the last 5+ years I have been purchasing some music in digital download form (from iTunes or other sources such as Bandcamp).

For all its faults I plan to continue using iTunes as the software to play music.  My home AV system is wired to use Apple and Sonos boxes. While it appears that many of the streamers offer better audiophile quality, I also like ripping CDs to a storage device attached to my computer (as opposed to a typical streamer device that is attached to my audio system). Most streamers also require a direct ethernet connection which is very difficult (or costly) for me given my set-up.

Any suggestions on a better storage device or an audiophile quality streamer that connects to a PC?


Ag insider logo xs@2xjdooley
Vegasears, thanks for rec.  I have looked at a NAS but prefer for now a DAS. But I will check those brands (QNAP, Synology) to see if they have a DAS product.
Drobo Raid. I use these to store images. have 3 of them with a total of 84TB of storage lol -backups of backup
Drobo has kept updating the software so it continues to work with newer os, Promise Technology did not and I had to pitch to raiids that were only about 5 years old. I use WD Gold drives
I have the 5D series DAS easier to use than network attached drives

 I use a  Synology NAS in RAID configuration for music and movies. I also have all my music files backed up on a portable SSD. And I have them on a second drive in my laptop. Always have at least 1 backup. I lost everything once and had to re-rip all my music. A RAID is usually rebuild-able, but still it is best not to put all your eggs in one basket.
Heat is what kilt ’em. I put a nice 6T Seagate in my stupid Dell and it tried to assassinate it. No case fan, cheapskates. Luckily I got all the data off via a USB dock when the Dell BIOS couldn’t see it anymore. Try that.

Do what good ol’ hvymec said, Raid (1 is fine for me) and put them in a nice fanned Akitio case.
Man they are quiet. reliable for many years, since XP.
I also endorse putting all your hard work on the cloud for backup. I do.
pCloud is cheap, especially lifetime.

I keep most all my music on SSD’s. Can’t report on thier reliability but I have multiple backups.