After some time testing some hdds for Playback Drive Iīve come to some conclusions:
First, let me tell you that I compared the following units:
- USB 3.0 32Gb pen drive
- WD Elements USB 3.0 1Tb, self powered
- LaCie (Seagate Barracuda), 230Gb, 7200rpm, 8Mb cache, USB 2.0, externally powered.
- WD RE4 WD5003ABYX, 500Gb, 7200rpm, 64Mb cache, externally powered.
I tested the WD RE4 with some different connections like SATA, eSATA, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. The LaCie was connected with the USB 2.0 directly to the computer and through an USB 3.0 hub.
To do that I used some Sharkoon SATA QuickDeck, one with eSATA and USB 2.0 connections and other with USB 3.0 connection (I returned the one with USB 3.0 because I canīt reboot the computer with it connected and I used in place of it a TooQ Prodata Series USB 3.0 external case that works flawlessly)
*1. The USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 were connected to a powered USB 3.0 hub and directly to the computer. The SATA and eSATA were connected directly to the computer.
Soon I discarded the two first ones in the list because the sound seemed too cold and lifeless, so I concentrate in the other two.
The WD makes a sound that is really clear, vigorous, clean, it seems to me that it is more true to the real music, in other words less euphonic. It doesnīt mean in any way that the sound is cold or something like that, no, the sound seems to be like the real recorded sound is, thatīs the feeling I get listening this WD RE4.
The LaCie hdd, on the other hand is a little more veiled or, better Iīd say smoother, but I wouldnīt use that word because the WD is also smooth if the recorded music is that way, Iīd better say that the LaCie reproduce the music giving the sense that there is some less information than with the WD.
The information with the WD RE4 is outstanding, I heard things in some albums that I listened hundreds of times that never heard before, some details, subtle sounds...
In my opinion this WD RE4 makes a fantastic hdd for Playback Drive.
Iīm going to use also the LaCie as Playback Drive. In fact Iīm using both drives as it is very easy and fast to change from one to the other in XXHighEnd. When I use the LaCie?, well not very often really because Iīm in love with the WD sound, however Iīd say that I sympathize with the LaCie in some way. Iīd use it e.g. if I had a party or a casual reunion in my home and Iīd have some background music. If Iīm alone listening music Iīd use the WD RE4 unless...I wanted to listen an album that would be very brilliant, and even so...
So in my opinion it is a great discovery this WD RE4, but let me tell you that, as Peter says in the tutorial, the Playback Drive sound depends on many things like where it is connected and I guess it depends also on the other components you have in your computer. But anyway I recommend it, just read the specification and youīll see that all can be for the better like e.g. the control of vibrations and in general the way it is built.
I posted this test here, and not in the topic "Playback Drive drive" because I have some other parts that now I use in my Music Pc like the SSD for Galleries. It doesnīt have any influence in sound but it makes the selection of music much faster. Mine is a 128GB Crucial m4 SATA 6Gb/s (SATA III). I connected it to a SATA 6Gb port and goes really fast.
Btw there is not different SATA cables for Sata I, II, III or for 6Gb/s. All SATA cables can work with all SATA connections, the only think you must take care of is to buy a good quality one, thatīs it. For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATAIīd like also to give some ideas to the ones that use a laptop as Music Pc, they also can make big improvements for no much money.
- Buy an USB 3.0 card if your laptop doesnīt have any USB 3.0 port, with maybe two ports and if itīs possible look for an externally powered card. Maybe youīll need also a powered USB 3.0 hub to connect some other drives (for Playback Drive or for a hdd with your music files).
- Get an old hdd no matter if it is only 200 Gb or so, and use it for Playback Drive. If it is USB 2.0 or IDE use an adaptor to connect it to the USB 3.0 ports. Of course you can buy for less than 100 a very good external hdd USB 3.0, no need more than 500Gb, it is important that this hdd be externally powered (as a general rule use always devices with external power).
- You can put your Galleries in an USB 3.0 pen drive connected to one of the hub ports.
Total cost?, depends on the hdd you get but Iīd say that even with a good external USB 3.0 the total wouldnīt surpass 200. If you use an old IDE hdd with an USB adaptor the total cost could be around 120.
With just that you can play a lot and enjoy the music in a way that probably you havenīt imagined before.
Best regards,
Juan
*1Sharkoon adapters:
http://www.sharkoon.com/?q=en/content/sata-quickdeck-prohttp://www.sharkoon.com/?q=en/content/sata-quickdeckTooQ Prodata Series USB 3.0 external case:
http://www.tooq.es/product_detail.php?id=1463