Sorry, yes you´re right it is 4Gb and not 4000Gb.
Juan

PbD=Playback Drive  . Still testing the RAMdisk but the sound is great, as I said in a previous post it seems smoother than with my external drive but I need to listen some more time to be sure which option is the best one.
Juan

Hi Stanley,

This is what George (nik.d) told me:

I did not change any initial parameter except disk size, so the RAMDISK image (RAMDISK.iso) sits right at OS/XXHE disk root.
In case you use same software as I did (Dataram RamDisk Free: http://memory.dataram.com/products-and-services/software/ramdisk) you have to bring back PC from minimized into normal mode as installer complains and cannot proceed w/instalation because some services are not running. Second thing to do is to install
Microsoft .NET 4 platform. My PC is not connected to internet so I downloaded 'offline' installation found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24872

So:
- Bring back W7 from minimized mode
- Install .NET 4
- Install RamDisk sw and choose either FAT16 or FAT32 filesystem. For free version disk capacity must be below 4000 GB
   (o/wise it will complain and not install ramdisk at all) I have named disk 'RAMDISK' so I know disk by name.
- Windows should report and list new HDD. Rightclick mouse format HDD to NTFS and 512b clusters (smallest)
- Try new HDD in XXHE (choose it for 'playback drive')
- Engage 'minimize OS' again


Juan

I´ve been trying the Playback Drive in RAMDisk and the first impressions are that the sound is also very good, it seems smoother even than with my external hdd (WD RE4 WD5003ABYX) but the differences are subtle, I´m not sure yet if it is more detailed or not, I need to listen some more time but what I can say by now is that the RAMDisk makes another great PbD.

Thanks Georg, for bringing again the RAMDisk to the scene.

Juan

PS: Thanks also to George (nik.d) for pushing me to try the RAMDisck and remind me how to install it.

Hi nik.d,

Thanks for the link, it is very useful to know who´s the real PS manufacturer. In my case I use a Corsair AX750 and although it is not in the list (must be a more recent product) the AX650 it is, and it doesn´t have any ".1" after the "Ecos IDE#", so I presume that the AX750 is also made by Corsair and not by other company.

Best regards,
Juan

Another good fanless power supply, for the ones who want to build their own silent music pc: Rosewill SilentNight 500 W Power Supply

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Rosewill-SilentNight-500-W-Power-Supply-Review/1666/1

Juan

I was listening today the STOCKFISCH RECORDS "CLOSER TO THE MUSIC" VOL. 1 Sampler SACD and particularly the song n.4 "The Painter" from Sara K when I realized that the sound at SFS 60 seemed blurred and dark, then I changed to SFS 2 and the sound became much more defined. I´m not sure if this song is well recorded but for me at SFS 60 it is unpleasant while at SFS 2 is quite listenable.
The soundstage on the contrary seems more spacious at SFS 60 and the sound richer, like more reverberant, if it is a kind of distortion, I´m not sure, but SFS 2 is still a little on the dry side. Non of the two settings seems to be the perfect one. Maybe I should use one setting or the other depending on the recording. What I can say now is that not always SFS 60 is the best choice with this version of XXHE contrary to what I previously thought.

http://www.elusivedisc.com/STOCKFISCH-RECORDS-CLOSER-TO-THE-MUSIC-VOL-1-SAMPLER-SACD/productinfo/SFSA4003/

Juan

Seasonic has delivered a new 520W fanless PS, you can read here a review of this excellent power supply:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Seasonic-Platinum-Fanless-520-W-Power-Supply-Review/1664

Juan

I was using also SFS 2, 60, 320 and 430. SFS 2 was my preferred one with the previous 0.9z-6 version but now I use SFS 60 for the best SQ. The sound is less dry than with 2 and it is also very detailed. I have to say however that before I was using the WD5003ABYX as Playback Drive the sound at 60 was a little dull and softer. Now with this hdd I find it perfect at SFS 60. I use the WD5003ABYX externally powered and I connect it directly to the TeckNet USB 3.0 PCI Express Card. I also use PeakExtend ON. All of these things together are what make a sound so good.

Juan

I´ve found this article from Nelson Pass that helps to understand electronics in an easy way.
For the less technically prepared, like myself 

https://passlabs.com/articles/power-supplies-commentary-for-consumers

Juan

Ok, I understand. I have nothing more to say...Thanks!

Juan

Thanks Peter,

So it's a great way to share/test music. Again, if anyone is interested can contact me by email.

Juan

I use Dropbox to have some of my music ready to be played in other computers and music systems, e.g. if go to the home of a friend and want to listen my music in his system or if I´m out of home for a while and want to listen my music in other system that I have in other place. I´m not sure though if Dropbox maintains the SQ of the original files and I´d like to test it with some other people to know their opinions. If someone would like to test it with me just let me know using my personal mail. So far my experience is that yes, the sound quality is preserved. This could be also a great tool to share and compare some albums/tracks in between us in a personal basis.

Best regards,
Juan

Thanks Peter,

I´ll try that 6 level in dBpoweramp also.



I wasn´t using the verify option anyway 

Juan

Hi there,

What´s the lossless level do you use with dBpoweramp?. So far I´m using the default one (5) but I wonder if you have found some issues using higher compression levels.

From the illustrate web site:

"Compression affects how much effort goes into compressing the audio, all compression modes give the same decoded audio (it is lossless after all), the higher compression levels will give a small % file size saving, but will require more time to compress and decompress. Compression Level 0 requires the least compression time, whilst Compression Level 8 the most."

There are 9 levels

-compression-level-0       set compression levels (0 worst, 8 best, 5 default)
-compression-level-1
-compression-level-2
-compression-level-3
-compression-level-4
-compression-level-5       (default)
-compression-level-6
-compression-level-7
-compression-level-8
-lossless uncompressed (?). (it seems redundant to me, is it the same as using a wav file?).

Do you use the verify option? (verifies compressed audio by reading back from hard disk).

Juan