[Textfeud]

Okay, so here is the deal. I have the latest Macbook Air with 128GB and it's almost full. Right now my music library is 70GB and it's expanding almost every day. Which is why I would like a external hard drive to put my music on and then play it with iTunes and Audirvana Plus. My rig is a Hifiman HE-500 with Schiit Lyr and Schiit Bifrost (USB!)
 
Which hard drive would give me the best sound quality? I'm thinking about these four:
 
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H9374ZM/A/lacie-1tb-porsche-design-p9223-usb-30-mobile-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one is a true portable which takes the power from USB (just like my Bifrost). Would that affect the sound quality or not?
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H9378ZM/A/lacie-2tb-usb-30-porsche-design-p9233-desktop-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one is the desktop version. I don't care about the more added space. It also has USB 3.0 but will be powered from AC adapter so it doesn't take it's power from the USB.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB136VC/A/g-technology-1tb-g-drive-mini-high-speed-portable-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one has Firewire but no AC adapter.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA642VC/A/g-technology-2tb-g-drive-professional-strength-external-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one has Firewire and AC adapter.
 
I'm leaning towards one of the Lacie because of aesthetics and because of the lower price. Which would give me the best sound quality or doesn't it matter? And what about a SSD external hard drive? Would those give me the best SQ?
 
And as a bonus question. Would this Belkin USB Hub make the sound worse/better/or doesn't it matter (I have a pretty expensive Forza USB cable hooked up to my Macbook Air now from the Bifrost): http://store.apple.com/us/product/HD988ZM/A/belkin-4-port-usb-30-powered-hub?fnode=51
 
 
Alright I'm a noob in this regard so any help is welcome!!
 
 
Best,
Mick

 

[jerg]

  Okay, so here is the deal. I have the latest Macbook Air with 128GB and it's almost full. Right now my music library is 70GB and it's expanding almost every day. Which is why I would like a external hard drive to put my music on and then play it with iTunes and Audirvana Plus. My rig is a Hifiman HE-500 with Schiit Lyr and Schiit Bifrost (USB!)
 
Which hard drive would give me the best sound quality? I'm thinking about these four:
 
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H9374ZM/A/lacie-1tb-porsche-design-p9223-usb-30-mobile-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one is a true portable which takes the power from USB (just like my Bifrost). Would that affect the sound quality or not?
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H9378ZM/A/lacie-2tb-usb-30-porsche-design-p9233-desktop-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one is the desktop version. I don't care about the more added space. It also has USB 3.0 but will be powered from AC adapter so it doesn't take it's power from the USB.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB136VC/A/g-technology-1tb-g-drive-mini-high-speed-portable-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one has Firewire but no AC adapter.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA642VC/A/g-technology-2tb-g-drive-professional-strength-external-hard-drive?fnode=5f  This one has Firewire and AC adapter.
 
I'm leaning towards one of the Lacie because of aesthetics and because of the lower price. Which would give me the best sound quality or doesn't it matter?
 
And as a bonus question. Would this Belkin USB Hub make the sound worse/better/or doesn't it matter (I have a pretty expensive Forza USB cable hooked up to my Macbook Air now from the Bifrost): http://store.apple.com/us/product/HD988ZM/A/belkin-4-port-usb-30-powered-hub?fnode=51
 
 
Alright I'm a noob in this regard so any help is welcome!!
 
 
Best,
Mick

This looks to be by far the best deal:
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178358
 
4TB, completely portable, Mac-compatible, for only $160. It will ensure you have enough storage for as big of a music archive as you can build.

 

[Textfeud]

  This looks to be by far the best deal:
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178358
 
4TB, completely portable, Mac-compatible, for only $160. It will ensure you have enough storage for as big of a music archive as you can build.

Hi Jerg,
 
Thanks for your reaction! I forgot to mention that I need a silver one to match my Macbook Air and Lyr/Bifrost combo. I'm a sucker for aesthetics and get mad if my equipment don't match with colours.. 

 It takes the fun out of it for me. 
 
Would you recommend a desktop over a portable and if so is that because of the more storage (not really a big deal for me) or because of the quality and therefore the sound quality it would give me?

 

[jerg]

  Hi Jerg,
 
Thanks for your reaction! I forgot to mention that I need a silver one to match my Macbook Air and Lyr/Bifrost combo. I'm a sucker for aesthetics and get mad if my equipment don't match with colours.. 

 It takes the fun out of it for me. 
 
Would you recommend a desktop over a portable and if so is that because of the more storage (not really a big deal for me) or because of the quality and therefore the sound quality it would give me?

External HDDs all have similar build quality IMO, just find the cheapest one in terms of price:storage ratio and go with it. 
 
Matching colours...really? 

 

[imeem]

you could always just buy a external HDD enclosure, internal HDD and build one yourself. But it may or may not be cheaper. 

 

[jiiteepee]

Take 2 2TB external instead of 1 4TB. Wondering why?
If you just know how easy those external drives can accidentally be broken (so far I have broken 4x500GB, 1x1TB and 1x2TB  

 ).

 

[Textfeud]

  Take 2 2TB external instead of 1 4TB. Wondering why?
If you just know how easy those external drives can accidentally be broken (so far I have broken 4x500GB, 1x1TB and 1x2TB  

 ).

Yeah I bought a 1TB (thought I bought a 2TB but shop called me that they made a mistake and I already booked the bill in my administration for VAT..) from Lacie but I will buy an USB stick in the next few weeks just for my music. Preferably 256GB but it's not out there it seems. Definitely going to get a reserve one just in case!