External HD VS Flash Drive Sound Quality Question


Hi have an Oppo BDP-95. I am up to around 25 Flash drives which is getting ridiculous.

2 questions (hoping for folks who know the definitive answers; I have my own guesses, bu that's all they are.)

1. HD Tracks has written that the Flash drives sound better than any spinning disc or drive due to lack of jitter from lack of a spinning disc. Is that accurate?

2. I have noticed a new generation of external hd's that get all there power through the USB port, & do not require an out board power supply.

A. Would there be any detectable sonic difference either way? If so, which is better: the cheap wall wort power supplies or getting power solely through the USB line?

B. The Western Digital USB drives with no power supply have a proprietary cable that looks quite cheap. Would the lack of an audiophile USB cable be sonically problematic?

I'm basically trying to decide whether to ditch the lash drives or a USB hard drive; & if so whether to go with a powered or unpowered drive. A couple +'s re the new WD's: they are teeny & they run cooler than the Seagates I've used.
moomoo
My post might have read like a statement, but it was a question. Has anyone tried an SSD to a USB input in place of a standard spinning hard drive? I was thinking it might be the best solution other than the high cost. Thanks all.
I have an SSD with USB power and also an ESATA hard disk with battery power. I use them on Oppo-95 with Mod-Wright tube analog stage.

The hard disk provide a better sense of dynamic while the SSD sounds a little bit dark and subdue.

But I prefer SACD over both the above options. I only listen to classical music.
Very interesting Dchan88. I would have thought the SSD to slightly outperform the spinner. Thanks
I would also have expected the SSD to sound better. Interesting.

The HD is here. It's taking several days to transfer files (partly due to the amo8unt, partly because I am trying to make 3 drives identical & the other 2 weren't quite there); should be able to report back next week. The USB chord is the same semi proprietary cable that Western Digital uses; I'm not sure if there is an audiophile option.