[slinkelist] CD Players vs HD observation

20 Nov 2000 12:25:43 -0800

Well, if we've proven one thing on this list it's that we can add the Changer v. HD issue to the growing list of technological debates [Windows v. Mac, Optical v. Coaxial, Dolby Digital v. DTS...]. ;]

One of the reasons that the HD solution doesn't work for me is that I don't have a stable PC to dedicate to serving music. Each of my PC's is goes down an average of 3-4 time per month. That's including all of the reasons a PC may go down [install new hardware, reboot after software install, change network settings, PC hangs for whatever reason, etc.]. 2 changers in 3 years sounds pretty good to me. It's certainly a larger MTBF than any PC I've ever owned. 

If I were going to do the .wav or .mp3 thing I would do it with multiple HDs and set them up in a RAID5 array. That would take care of much of the reliability issue with HDs. Maybe I would do backups to an optical media [one of the DVD-RAM formats] 2-4 times a year.

This whole issue is just like everything else -- both solutions are equally "good," the solution you use is going to depend on which features are more important to you. Because of the way that I use my computers, my changers are better able to deliver music when I want it -- which for me is always right now.

-Shawn

On Mon, 20 November 2000, Marc Parker wrote:

> 
> I don't know how often your players are in use, but ours run AT LEAST 6-8
> hours a day. The oldest is about 3yrs. They WILL and DO wear out. More
> important, they BREAK. You are then forced to unload all (200-400) cds, take
> it in, wait, wait, wait and then RELOAD and if you don't put them back in
> the same order, re-lookup. I currently have 8 Sony changers and have
> replaced two over the 3 years.
> 
> Not a complaint (cost of doing business), but IMO, the more mechanics, the
> less reliable. I know HD's are also mechanical and do fail, so that will
> create it's own problems. How do you back up a 100 gig drive? Should you
> have 4-5 20 gig drives (less use per drive)?
> 
> If I ever have to store cd's (about 2500) I would use the least space
> possible and put them in a utility closet, not display. The little booklets
> can be cataloged for reference.
> 
> And BTW, are you aware of the "nibble" factor. The changers do indeed nibble
> away at the cd edges. Granted it is small, but over time it does seem to
> become noticeable. I'm curious if after 5-10 years of play if the the
> nibbles will approach the play area. That's probably extreme.
> 
> > From: "Saleh W. Igal" <saleh@carnera.com>
> > Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 10:34:04 -0600
> > To: <slinkelist@nirvis.com>
> > Subject: RE: [slinkelist] MP3???  No way!
> > 
> > Besides the quality difference, which I find pretty noticeable on my home
> > system even at 320K, there's the issue of CD storage.  Once you make the
> > initial investment in the Slink-e and DXS, the incremental cost of adding
> > more changers works out to about $1 per CD.  I have about 1000 discs in my
> > collection, and buying a decent-looking cabinet to store the CDs would have
> > cost about the same as what my changers cost, and taken up a bit more floor
> > space.  Besides the convenience factor, the changers provide a relatively
> > safe home for my collection.
> > 
> > My MP3 player is great for taking to the gym, but there's a big difference
> > in my expectations for the output of a $75 MP3 player and $20 set of
> > earbuds, versus a $5000+ home audio system.
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]On
> > Behalf Of Bill Dickhaus
> > Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 8:59 pm
> > To: slinkelist@nirvis.com
> > Subject: RE: [slinkelist] MP3??? No way!
> > 
> > 
> > I agree. I have experimented with many different levels of MP3 encoding,
> > with different encoders, on different PC's, and I have yet to find one that
> > produces the same quality of sound I can get out of a CD. The difference is
> > very noticeable to me. Except for portability, MP3 is not something I am
> > interested in bothering with. When I fill up the CD changer I have I intend
> > to get another one.
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]On
> > Behalf Of dan herrmann
> > Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 20:46
> > To: slinkelist@nirvis.com
> > Subject: [slinkelist] MP3??? No way!
> > 
> > 
> > With all due respect to fellow Slink-e believers, I don't think MP3 and hard
> > drive storage is the way to go.
> > 
> > Sure, you can put an audio file on a hard drive, but most all codecs today
> > pale in comparison to a good CD (not to mention SACD)
> > 
> > When you have high-end stuf like I do, you can easily tell the difference.
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> > http://www.nirvis.com/mailman/listinfo/slinkelist
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> 
> 
> 
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