Rear USB ports

Hi,

Just wanted to post my recent observation that a 1-TB pocket drive (G-Drive) CAN work when plugged into the bottom rear USB port of my BDP-1. Previously, I had used only two 500-GB G-drives at the rear ports, concerned that there wasn't enough power to drive a 1-TB self-powered (no AC cord) hard drive. This particular 1-TB drive CAN in fact, also work simultaneously with two thumb-drives inserted in the two front slots. Not sure what the power requirement is for this G-drive, and couldn't find any such specs on their website.

Haven't yet tried plugging in a 500-GB and a 1-TB to the two rear slots. I suspect there may be issues? Anyone try this yet?

Thanks for reading, and I'm very glad to see a separate Bryston users' forum here! Good job, Bryston!

I'm not technically inclined, so take my response accordingly.....but my understanding is that as long as each USB drive requires less than 500 ma of current they should work. I'm currently using one 1-TB OWC Mercury Elite Pro Mini, which requires 300 ma and it works great in all regards. I'm expecting to be able to hook another of these up to the back when the time comes with no issues.

Hmm...just found on the back of my 1-TB G-drive the spec "900 mA", and it still works connected to the rear USB of my BDP-1. I guess that's a maximum current rating on the drive and BDP-1 can still power it?

It's more likey that the drive occasionally bursts to 900mA and it's either short enough not to upset the BDP-1 or it hasn't spiked that high while playing music off of it. I can assure you that BDP-1 can't sustain much more then 500mA per supply.

Cheers
Chris

The thing about USB cables between drives and players is that the data on the drive isn't really music until it is decoded by the player. It's just files. These files are transferred in packets - chunks of data rather than a sample to sample bitstream precisely metered like a digital audio signal moves. So, based on our current body of science, there's no reason a high end (or trashy, for that matter) should influence sound quality provided that it meets the appropriate USB spec in terms of speed and structural integrity.

That being said, some people have noted sound quality variations based on the cable used. I am certainly in no position say that they are wrong. If you try these cables, please share your impressions with us!

--Gary/Bryston

Thanks for the insight, Gary. The "they're only 0's and 1's" school of thought is still very prevalent around the audio forums. I gotta say that I am in the cheap USB cable school myself. Over such a short distance (for me, <0.3m), signal transmission infidelity is unlikely to occur, imo.

I use a Furutech Formula-2 USB to connect a G-Drive 500-GB or 1-TB drive to BDP-1. I don't notice any audible change in SQ over the black stock cord provided by G-Drive. (Use the same type of drive and stock cable to back up my Apple computers at work and home). The Furutech is thick, and well-shielded from external EMI (supposedly, but have not tested this!).
http://www.adl-av.com/products/cables/usb/

I actually have the pocket G-drive resting atop my BDP-1, with no noise issues whatsoever.

Cheers,
M.

It's not so much that it's just "1s and 0s" - I have a fancy digital audio interconnect between my BDP2 and BDA2 because I think it sounds better. But the method of signal transmission between a drive and a computer is robust and designed against sensitivity towards faulty transmission, so a higher end cable there is not as likely to be a benefit.

--Gary / Bryston

Which sounds better to you, the BNC or the AES/EBU between BDP and BDA?

I like the BNC. Didn't hear anything better with AES.

Cheers,
M.

I prefer the AES/EBU, but it's practically a tossup with the BDA-2. I think it depends heavily on the interconnect and DAC used in the system.

--Gary / Bryston

Has anyone used a USB power supply such as the Aqvox (Germany)? It claims to improve SQ.

Success!! I plugged in a Startech powered 6-port USB hub to one rear jack on BDP-1. Easily recognizes and reads 4 drives from the powered hub! I am sooooo happy now. Before, I could not get it to read two 500-GB G-drives from the rear jacks, usually a power issue. Now, I have the two drives plus two 64-GB thumbies plugged into the hub. No power issues whatsoever. And the sound is fabulous with Furutech Formulaa-2 USB cables (well-shielded) feeding the hub and the two 500-GB drives.

If interested, here are the relevant links:
http://ca.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/U ... ST7320USBC
http://www.adl-av.com/products/cables/usb/

I'm not one to go ga-ga about USB cables, but I'm getting very satisfactory results with Furutech's Formula-2 cable. Connects my BDP-1 to 500-GB pocket G-drives on rear USB ports. Not expensive, either. Specs are here for anyone interested. YMMV, but compared to the thinner black stock USB cable that comes with the G-drives, this Furutech is a marked improvement for smoothness across the Freq spectrum. Don't know how to explain it; they're just packets of 0's and 1's.....

http://www.partsconnexion.com/prod_pdf/ ... rmula2.pdf

I use the AES/EBU in my system.

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