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Hard Drive versis Flash Drive

Hello,

I am planning to buy/build music server based on either MSB DAC or new PS Audio PWD DAC. Meanwhile, I want to start process of ripping CD's. I have not too many may be 500 or so. My question:

Is sound quality differ from storage on hard drive versus that on flash drive ? On one hand, flash drive, as far as I know has only UPS port which is not the greatest for music whereas hard drive may have other digital outputs like HDMI which is (are) much better. On other hand, solid state memory was shown to be superior (for sound again) over magnetic moving memory like a hard disc.

Also, if to use USP port then Flash drive seem to me clearly better (on paper) for one more reason - you plug and play whereas with USP based hard disc you need to use USP inferior cable.

Much appreicate if members will share their sonic experience with these two types of the storage.

Another question: what type of ripping software is the best for sound, and later on for ease of navigation? EAT, Monkey etc.... 955 of my CD collection is classical which may make a difference in navigation, I suspect....

Thank you
Rafael
dob
dob OP
577 posts
 
2chnlben,

Thank you very much for your answer. Being novice I have to ask another naive question...

PWD (and few others) is both DAC + Server . However, I saw number of excellent DA's which are .."only" DACs e.g. Weiss Minerva or MSB Platinum and let say I want to use one of these DACs...because they are excellent...

Until your answer above I thought I must buy another (and better inexpensive) server which would stream , say WAV files to it and output with some jitter data via,say coaxial digital output.... and DAC will digest it and throw out great music

Are you saying that as long as I do not use FLAC files (WAV is fine with me) I can use Buffolo both as a storage device AND a server ( you said it has build-in iTune, if I understood correctly)?

Secondary question: If true then to navigate this storage/librery I would need to buy something like iPod or iSomething?

Thank you very much
Rafael
2chnlben
595 posts
 
You got it. I think iTunes supports WAV files - if so, then your statement is correct. An iPod device (such as the iTouch) will do exactly what you want, and as long as you are using it in conjunction with a NAS (which is your storage device) then you don't need to be concerned with the storage capacity of the iTunes device (the least expensive 8 GB iPod Touch would suffice).
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Dob- MusicVault server/NAS device also functions as you describe (I think).
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