Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2014 22:01:26 GMT
After my scary episode with a power-cut, and knowing what damage can occur when the power is just cut from a computer or NAS, rather than it powering down in an orderly manner, I did some research on domestic/small office UPS's.
I eventually went for the APC 350 which I bought from Amazon for around £60 including p&p IIRC. It had the main things I wanted, user-changeable batteries, silent operation, and the ability to carry out a controlled system shutdown in the event of a power cut.I checked on the Synology website and it was included in the list of approved UPS's, so I went ahead and got it.
Easy to install, just power it up overnight to charge the batts and then connect it to the NAS with the power cable and the USB data cable (all included). Being on the approved list of Synology meant my NAS programming saw it immediately and allowed me into its menus.
I set it to close down my hard drives in an orderly manner 20 minutes after the power is cut (if it has not restored by then). So even if I'm in my bo-bo's in the middle of the night, and the power fails, I'm safe in the knowledge that my HDD's will shut down properly and so no data loss will occur!!
|
|
solderdude
Administrator
measureutternutter
Posts: 4,881
|
Post by solderdude on Jan 7, 2014 22:38:28 GMT
At work we are using UPSes in all our systems and if you want max mileage from the onboard batteries I suggest you plan (actually in your calender ?) to run the batteries in it down every 3 months or so ! This prolongs battery life with many years ! Also try to store it in a cool place, room temperatures or lower. Simply pull the mains on the UPS and let it do it's thing.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2014 22:54:36 GMT
Hi Frans, do you mean run the battery completely flat, then charge it up again, and hook it back into the system?
|
|
solderdude
Administrator
measureutternutter
Posts: 4,881
|
Post by solderdude on Jan 7, 2014 23:00:27 GMT
Yes, well, maybe not completely flat but simply unplug the mains from the UPS so it runs on the batteries for a good 15 mins at least. Then simply plug in the UPS again. Repeat that procedure every 3 months or so and this will prolong its lifespan.
When these batteries are not 'used' but only kept charged they get 'lazy' pretty soon and the capacity drops without being noticed and when it is really needed the battery may not have sufficient capacity any more.
Batteries are designed to be charged and discharged on a regular basis.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2014 23:10:11 GMT
OK, thanks Frans, understood.
IIRC, this was what you used to have to do with the first generation of rechargeable batts that were included in CE items like early mobile phones. I'm talking Nokia 3310 here, remember them?. Something about them having a memory, and if you only (regularly) discharged them to, say, 50% in normal usage, then they would only work to 50% of their capacity, and then their performance would "drop off a cliff".
I actually do have a calendar in the kitchen so I will mark up 3 monthly intervals to discharge the batts for 20 minutes or so only, to keep them in good condition.
Thanks,
Jeff
|
|
solderdude
Administrator
measureutternutter
Posts: 4,881
|
Post by solderdude on Jan 8, 2014 5:59:54 GMT
Indeed occasional recharge cycles are not needed for Lithium based batteries and also not really needed for LSD (low Self Discharge) NiMH batteries. The older NiCd batteries need to be discharged to a certain depth now and then.
For the used lead batteries it is essential to be discharged periodically to avoid crystallisation and loss of capacity but they don't have to be fully discharged. They just need to 'work' now and then.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 23:04:32 GMT
FINISHED RIPPING!!!
1702 albums in total. All my CD's are now in cardboard boxes in the attic. I have promised my nephew that he can look through the list of all my albums and have any CD's he wants, as I don't need them anymore.
I have not regretted going the streaming route once and genuinely wish I had done it sooner.
Those of you using 'computer audio' to listen to music will understand what I'm talking about. Using a small tablet as your 'remote control' is so liberating.
For those who are still using CD - imagine this - most of us have Sky or similar, where we call up a menu list of programmes, highlight the one we want, and press play. Well, imagine being able to do the same thing, but with music. Just sit in your listening chair, with a small screen in your hand showing your entire album collection, scroll through, choose one and press play. As quick and simple as that! Every time. No getting up and down, looking for CD's, opening cases, removing CD's etc., etc.
Just scroll, highlight, play.
The system I have assembled has played utterly faultlessly, first time, every time, since I hooked it up a couple of months ago.
With one exception!!
A week or so ago, I picked up my Nexus, and, in the mood for some hard-driving rock n roll, scrolled through till I came to Hard-fi, and pressed play.
NOTHING.
No sound. The music appeared to be playing according to my tablet, and my amp was on, but still no sound. After ten minutes or so of head-scratching, swapping out interconnects, valves etc, I remembered that the night before I had been fiddling around in the 'settings' menu of my Stream-Magic'. Somehow I had managed to set the pre-amp mode to 'on' and turn the volume down to zero.
There was no way I could blame either my wife or the cat for this one as both of them mainly listen to radio.
A complete "Doh" moment. What an idiot! A couple of seconds later and I was listening to Hard-fi doing what they do best, which is to sound like an updated, modern reincarnation of the mighty Clash.
I'm completely satisfied with the sound of my system as it is. To be honest I'm bored with constantly changing interconnects, or speaker cables, or trying to squeeze another 1% improvement out of my kit by dismantling it and rolling op-amps, etc., etc.
It's just that I've reached a stage where I am genuinely very satisfied with the sound. It has plenty of good clean bass, a nice clear, informative mid, and a lovely sparkly top end. I regularly listen for hours. Example, I started listening this evening at around 7 pm and its now gone 11pm.
I just want to listen to music now and not bother about kit.
P.S. - I did blame my wife in the end.
P.P.S. - She blamed the cat.
P.P.P.S. - The cat denies it.
|
|
Crispy
very active
Madrigal music is playing - Voices can faintly be heard, "Please leave this patient undisturbed."
Posts: 776
|
Post by Crispy on Jan 27, 2014 20:36:55 GMT
FINISHED RIPPING!!!For those who are still using CD - imagine this - most of us have Sky or similar, where we call up a menu list of programmes, highlight the one we want, and press play. Well, imagine being able to do the same thing, but with music. Just sit in your listening chair, with a small screen in your hand showing your entire album collection, scroll through, choose one and press play. As quick and simple as that! Every time. No getting up and down, looking for CD's, opening cases, removing CD's etc., etc. Just scroll, highlight, play. Hi Jeff, my sentiments entirely - scroll, highlight, play - Simple's I bet you are glad you have finally finished ripping all them CD's? I have been extra busy with work since joining the AA driving school so i have not had much time to contribute to this forum. The one positive thing that came out of joining the AA was that I sold my VW Golf as I did not need it anymore and made a little bit of money just enough to go down a similar path to you. I could not afford the Stream Magic but settled for the Pioneer N50 @ £370 (Unheard). S**t photo, but shows it in place playing a USB flash drive. My very first impression was - what the hell have you done it sounded awful. I then played about with the settings and found that with the pure audio button selected it was far better than my Cd player. (Phew) After quite a bit of burn in time it is now sounding excellent. Another S**t photo but showing the very small display screen playing Sade -Cherry Pie @ 24/96. Today I tried out my new Asus touchscreen laptop through the N50 via the rear digital USB - randomly playing tracks through Foobar after a quick windows driver installation from Pioneer's website. Up to now I am very happy with the choice but I now need to try a self powered desktop portable HDD via the front USB to see if I can store all my albums on one 3tb drive. At the moment I can't seem to get it to display the album cover art, but that's no big deal. I am still contemplating using NAS storage like you - only when funds permit and once I can figure out how to install everything so I may need some advice in the future. Do you think I may be able to use my touchscreen laptop to control everything once it is all up and running? Cheers Jeff - like you said if you can do it anybody can, that includes me?
|
|
Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,087
|
Post by Rabbit on Jan 27, 2014 20:58:24 GMT
Chris, the angle of that photo makes it look as though there's an upper shelf balanced on top of the X-Cans!! I do think that this is the way that hi fi will go fully in the end with downloads perhaps rather than CD's being bought.
I presume that you can fit say, a portable hard drive in the front usb and off it'll go? Also, is that a headphone socket by the usb?
Both Jeff's and your kit look fantastic.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2014 0:27:02 GMT
There are also various network players from the likes of Denon, Sonos (a bit over-priced I thought), Pioneer (I liked the N-50, I think it was called), Hi Chris, Crikey you had me going there when you said it sounded awful. I thought " Oh God, I mentioned to Chris that I liked that one! And now he's spent a load of money and doesn't like it!! " Then you mentioned Pure Direct and some burn in to let it settle and now enjoying the sound - Phew!! Your system setup looks pretty cool, and I'm glad you're enjoying the sound. Foobar does display cover art, get a quick look at Javiers Foobar Set up thread for details. Foobar's a brilliant player. I don't know if 3Tb HDD's are self powered but TBH, I don't know that much about computers - Javier or Frans could help you there. I'm sure Pioneer do an App to control their player via computer - found it - Pioneer control App.
|
|
Javier
Administrator
Digital bytes
Posts: 987
|
Post by Javier on Jan 28, 2014 10:47:03 GMT
IIRC the biggest 2.5" drives available are 2TB which means for 3TB a 3.5" would be necessary and those need current that USB (even USB 3.0) cannot provide AFAIK though I may be wrong.
With some effort Foobar can be tweaked to astonishing levels but making it show cover art is extremely easy, if you need any help setting up yours send me a PM and I'll help. If you like how mine looks I can replicate it on your PC in less than 10 min.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2014 12:12:04 GMT
Chris, check these out . . . Bubble - FreeBubble PaidUpnp Free - the App Marc (Gommer) usesUpnp Monkey FreeThese are all well thought of remote apps. I have tried them all , but for my personal taste and controlling my gear, I preferred Bubble upnp (paid- £3.04 ) As ever though YMMV. Another thing to remember is that these can be loaded onto your smart phone and you can use that as your remote control, running these apps! This might be useful . . . Official Pioneer N-50 Thread
So might this . . . (Though I would definitely take up Javier's very kind offer ) Javier's Foobar Thread
BTW, Chris, I know its a basic one, but have you actually tagged each file with the cover art using eg. MP3Tag? And tried to keep the image files at something like 500*500 (or a little bigger would be OK i guess)?? It took me a couple of days to fully set up my system, configured the way I wanted it. But since then I've not had a real problem with it and I'm sure you'll be the same. Keep at it its worth it. As you say, Scroll, highligt, play, simples Jeff
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2014 12:38:58 GMT
Hi Chris, thinking about large drives, here is my experience. I bought 2 x 3TB HDD to make sure I had room for expansion. I assumed my albums (thought I had around 1800 - turns out I was 100 out) would take up a good 2 TB's, so I would have an extra TB for expansion. Well, after ripping all my albums to flac (level 5) and even having a 20 or so GB's worth of music video documentaries and gigs on it, I have used the grand total of . . . . . 802Gb's. So I think I kind of over-estimated the amount of space I would need. No harm done though. A simple solution using large HDD's might be to buy a couple of 2TB drives, and install them in a cloning dock like thisBTW, I'm not endorsing this one in particular, just showing it as an example of what could be done very simply and cheaply. However, I would definitely advocate cloning, mirroring, Raid 1, or any other type of backup, so that your files will not be lost if your HDD dies. I know you may well have the CD's to hand to re-rip, but believe me, ripping a large amount of CD's is something I would not want to do again. Something to think about . . .
|
|
Dave
very active
Posts: 480
|
Post by Dave on Jan 28, 2014 15:40:03 GMT
..... if you need any help setting up yours send me a PM and I'll help. If you like how mine looks I can replicate it on your PC in less than 10 min. Hi Javier, If that offer can be extended to me I would greatly appreciate your guidance to re-install the horizontal vu-meter thingy (sits just above the multi-colour spectrum thingy. I lost everything when I had to return the PC to square one and have managed to put everything in foobar except the vu-meter eye candy. Dave.
|
|
Javier
Administrator
Digital bytes
Posts: 987
|
Post by Javier on Jan 28, 2014 16:01:27 GMT
Sure Dave, send me an email.
|
|