14" slim and light laptop for audio storage and listening software

[Sonnie Parker]

I have my eye on this unit... https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-700-series/IdeaPad-Slim-7-14IIL05/p/88IPS701399

Specifically the one with:
16 GB LPDDR4X 3200MHz (Soldered)
1 TB PCIe SSD

I don't really need 1TB, but 256GB is not enough... need at least 512GB to make sure I have room for all of my CD library and downloads, plus be able to store .mdat files and some image files.

The reason I like this unit is the layout... with the power connection and HDMI close to the back side on the left... and the USB ports close to the back side on the right. With me using these frequently, it keeps the wires connected perfectly for me.

I also looked at the Dell Latitude 7400 that has the 512GB SSD that is not laid out quite as well as I like, but it is a couple hundred less right now... https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/sho...-14-7400-laptop/s092l740014us#ratings_section

Both in the 3lb range, which should be perfect.

Requirements are basically being able to use it with REW and whatever streaming software I use... Roon, Audirvana, JRiver, qobuz, Tidal, BluOS, etc, etc... and be able to store all my music without having to use an external hard drive. I like being able to manage it all on one machine. This makes it easy to copy songs to my USB for my truck and Angie's car.

If you know of any others I should consider... please let me know.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

So I'll talk to myself here... I ended up ordering the Lenovo X1 Carbon 14"...

 

[Coy Ramsey]

Basic dumb question, how do you manage your music collection ?

 

[Sonnie Parker]

That's certainly not a dumb question.

I'm using Roon for the most part, but I also have JRiver.

Another option is Audirvana, but it's not as robust as Roon or JRiver.

If you don't really care about Tidal or qobuz for streaming, I'd look at JRiver.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I've had some issues with Audirvana... it's not 100% reliable.

 

[Todd Anderson]

You know, Sonnie, you could have made it easy on yourself and just purchased a MacBook Pro. But, I digress

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I've had some issues with Audirvana... it's not 100% reliable.

Yep... same here with Audirvana... mainly with it stopping occasionally, requiring a restart. The volume control is also jumpy.

You know, Sonnie, you could have made it easy on yourself and just purchased a MacBook Pro. But, I digress

No way I'd punish myself with an Apple product. I will put this X1 Carbon up against any Mac.

 

[Todd Anderson]

That's been my exact experience also... restarts and finicky volume control. Great when it works. Maddening when it doesn't!

 

[Chris Miller]

The other week , I picked up the ASUS RoG Zepherys G14 ,with the 4900HS AMD ryzen 9 , 1tb name, 2060 max-q,16gb 3200..

1450 @ best buy.

Love it.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Nice snag Chris.

Man I am loving my X1 thus far... this thing is super nice.

 

[Red Tape Music]

You seem surprisingly enthusiastic about the laptop decision and details Sonnie, can you confirm this is an impartial post and there is no commission or financial incentive involved?

 

[Sonnie Parker]

You seem surprisingly enthusiastic about the laptop decision and details Sonnie, can you confirm this is an impartial post and there is no commission or financial incentive involved?

lol... I wish they would pay me or at least give me a discount.

Either way... I do not buy (and keep) and/or promote anything that I don't like or that I am not enthusiastic about. If I don't like it, I send it back.

 

[Red Tape Music]

Hi Sonnie, thats an answer worthy of most of our politicians. It sounds laudable and yet successfully avoids answering the original question!

 

[Sonnie Parker]

What it sounds like is you may be a politician, and there are not many I care for.

If you can't figure out the answer to the question from what I wrote, you are lacking some common sense (no offense intended but it is what it is)... so let me make it plain and clear...

NO ONE IS PAYING ME ANYTHING TO ADVERTISE OR PROMOTE THE LENOVO LAPTOP I REFERENCED ABOVE.

I've never even spoken with anyone at Lenovo. I ordered it directly off their website and paid the price advertised. Once again... I'd be happy to advertise and seriously promote for them if they want to pay us.

 

[w_sizer]

Yep... same here with Audirvana... mainly with it stopping occasionally, requiring a restart. The volume control is also jumpy.

No way I'd punish myself with an Apple product. I will put this X1 Carbon up against any Mac.

Hi, Sonnie, your last statement regarding Apple products got my attention. I used Windows-based laptops until about 9 years ago when my wife and I replaced our HP with a MacBook Pro. You’re not the first audio professional I’ve heard criticizing Macs, but I’ve never seen any specific reasons why they are problematic for audio applications. Could you elaborate?
I’m asking because I’m looking to replace the Mac, and most of the reviews I’ve seen have recommended the new M1-powered Macs for general use due to their superior security/anti-virus attributes. With regard to audio, I use a laptop for Dirac and REW but haven’t tried streaming yet (I’m a CD guy). On the other hand, I will probably do some streaming in the future. What would you say are the advantages of PCs in audio applications? I’d really appreciate your feedback.

 

[ddude003]

I have had good luck with Apple products and ASUS products, both desk side and laptop computer systems... Now a days there are things like Boot Camp, VMware and Hackintosh UniBeast and MultiBeast allowing Apple hardware to boot into Windoz as well as PC hardware to boot into MacOS... And with multiple partitions you can boot into Windoz, MacOS or your favorite flavor of Nix as you please, on the same system... Choice is good...

I run Roon, Audirvana, Qobuz and other audio utilities on both an Apple MacBook Pro and a custom i7 build Windoz PC deskside with no issues...

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Some people do well with Macs, but it seem everywhere I turn I see people asking various companies if they can make their software available for Mac. It just seems most everything is catered to Windows, and I'm certainly use to using Windows. I have no desire to learn a new platform, nor have to locate and purchase all new software for all the programs I use. Never had any serious issues with PC/Windows, so I'll stick with it. I would literally be punishing myself to attempt a change over, especially when there is zero reason or encouragement for me to do so. One platform to Keep It Simple Simon!

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Hi, Sonnie, your last statement regarding Apple products got my attention. I used Windows-based laptops until about 9 years ago when my wife and I replaced our HP with a MacBook Pro. You’re not the first audio professional I’ve heard criticizing Macs, but I’ve never seen any specific reasons why they are problematic for audio applications. Could you elaborate?
I’m asking because I’m looking to replace the Mac, and most of the reviews I’ve seen have recommended the new M1-powered Macs for general use due to their superior security/anti-virus attributes. With regard to audio, I use a laptop for Dirac and REW but haven’t tried streaming yet (I’m a CD guy). On the other hand, I will probably do some streaming in the future. What would you say are the advantages of PCs in audio applications? I’d really appreciate your feedback.

I recently swapped out my video editing machine (was a 15" MacBook Pro) with an M1 Mac mini and a MacBook Air. I would put these M1 Macs up against anything. Not only are they lightning fast, but you can also run pretty much any iPhone/iPad app on them.

 

[w_sizer]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful responses. I’ll be going with either a MacBook Pro or the Air. Can’t resist that M1 speed!