XXHighEnd

Ultimate Audio Playback => XXHighEnd Support => Topic started by: JohanZ on November 11, 2007, 05:36:30 pm



Title: Harddisk noise
Post by: JohanZ on November 11, 2007, 05:36:30 pm
Hi Peter,

All the time I am using an external SATA harddisk (Samsung SpinPoint HD501LJ via a USB2 connection). During music playback I have noticed that the music in not allways capless. So I have decided to build the HD in mine PC. Then the big surprise : very often when XX is loading a track I can hear the very noisy starting sound of clicks and starting HD rotation and after some seconds the track is in memory. Then again no capless playback! Another moment I did not hear any sound of Harddisk access and the next track is playing.Then capless! After some Internet search on the Samsung HD501LJ I found that the Samsung had a Power Save mode. That means that, when there are no commands on the HD this feature automatically switches on power saving mode and cuts down on electricity through the sata cable. So I think that thats the explanation of the starting sound. In Standby mode there is no disk rotation. Very quiet!

Is it possible to introduce a new user settings:
  • "Loading all tracks in one time" ;
  • "loading track by track".

Some cd's I have are more than 55 minutes long, so its possible... :yes:...?

Regards, Johan


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2007, 07:38:47 pm
Well, for 55 minute tracks you don't need gapless. So that's settled. :smirk:

Then, I have the same disks, internally connected, and indeed they (relais) click. What to do with that ? I don't know ...
It is true, however, that when they spun down gapless does not work. I always thought it would be a setting somewhere. In fact, I still think so. Could even be a jumper setting.


Less important for now :

1:
Quote
All the time I am using an external SATA harddisk (Samsung SpinPoint HD501LJ via a USB2 connection).
2:
Quote
USB2=> nos dddac1543

Wrong ! But I guess you knew that.


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2007, 08:18:52 pm
Btw Johan,

HDD power down afaik cannot be controlled over an USB connection (for me one of the reasons not to want such a connection).


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: JohanZ on November 11, 2007, 08:32:00 pm
Hi Peter,

Quote
HDD power down afaik cannot be controlled over an USB connection (for me one of the reasons not to want such a connection).

I have the Samsung drive internally connected! There start all the problems with the spinning sound of the harddisk. I can hear it from a distance of 5 m! Almost every track! The relais are not the main problem.

Quote
Is it possible to introduce a new user settings:

"Loading all tracks in one time" ;
"loading track by track".

Is it an possibility?

Quote
USB2 ==> DDDAC1543 Wrong ! But I guess you knew that.

Whats wrong? How to fix 'it/what'?

Regards, Johan


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2007, 09:35:03 pm
Hi Johan,

Quote
There start all the problems with the spinning sound of the harddisk. I can hear it from a distance of 5 m!

Hmm ... I don't hear any spinning sound of the harddisk. The relais clicks, yes (probably 20 meters haha).

Quote
Is it an possibility?

Not a realistic one. Currently, everything which is added will degrade SQ or not make it better the least while that - right now - is needed first. So effectively, no.

Quote
Whats wrong? How to fix 'it/what'?

Both types of USB connection officially don't go together. The HDD connection will prevale over the DAC connection. That's how USB is organized.
Nothing to do about that.


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2007, 10:25:47 pm
Oh, I forgot ... when I play at normal levels, I don't hear the clicks. Not at 5-6 meters distance.
I will look into the gapless though (already for my own sake :))


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: SeVeReD on November 11, 2007, 10:41:37 pm
I think this is an important factor to state again.  If you're using a usb-dac, then you should connect your external hdd via firewire.  If you're using a firewire dac, then connect your external hdd via usb.  If I don't have that right peter correct me.


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: JohanZ on November 11, 2007, 11:01:46 pm
Quote
If you're using a usb-dac, then you should connect your external hdd via firewire.  If you're using a firewire dac, then connect your external hdd via usb.

I am using the USB DAC via .....USB and all the HDD's via internal SATA (room for four)

Johan


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2007, 11:35:47 pm
As long as you are not using isoschroneous USB (towards the DAC) and synchroneous (the HDD) together, it's ok.

A SATA connected HDD incurs for power down of the HDD (which IMO can be set for uptime; I just did not try it). This by itself is just good.


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: PeterSt on November 12, 2007, 12:34:03 am
http://forums.microsoft.com/technet/showpost.aspx?postid=2361232&siteid=17&sb=0&d=1&at=7&ft=11&tf=0&pageid=0

I must stress that I have shut off Windows Updates always.
You wouldn't be suffering from this, would you ?


Title: Re: Harddisk noise
Post by: JohanZ on November 12, 2007, 07:26:29 pm
Hi Peter,

Quote
.......I think I've got it. It appears to be update 938979 that was causing the problems. The weird thing is it sounded like my drive was starting from a dead stop every time. It's like it was shutting my drive down after every read/write or something Oh well, it's working fine now, and I don't have to hear that stupid drive spinning up all of the time

Above is a quote from the link you send! After I uninstall update 938979 the problems are solved. Thanks, you are great! :clapping:

Regards, Johan