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Your experience & thoughts on SSDs for MacMini

I have a 2007-2008 MacMini that I use exclusively as a music server on a third system with the stock HD. I am considering replacing the stock HD to an SSD. The stock HD makes noise that is audible often enough to draw unwanted attention to itself.

I'm looking for experience-based thoughts and commentary on the various SSDs that are available for this replacement. I'm using SnowLeopard and iTunes 10 with Pure Music for playback of AIFF files from a peripheral HD (which is silent).

So far, my research on this seems to get a bit confusing. For example, Other World Computing offers two levels of SSD, one over 50% more $ in price (and 25% larger 40 Gb vs 50 Gb than the other (offering a longer warranty, etc.) And I know there are several other manufacturers of SSDs out there with varying price points and related benefits.

This MacMini isn't used for anything else than serving music, ripping files, streaming audio, playing Netflix downloadable movies, and the occasional download from iTunes.

Your points of view are appreciated.

:) listening,

Ed
istanbulu
dmccombs
112 posts
 
Alex,

Have you, yourself actually tested for this? Are your friends testing this with thier ears or making assumptions?

If you and your friends actually tested this, then I guess we have very different experiences.

In my tests, tests of other I know and trust, and people who where there for some of my tests, ALL heard a definite improvement when going from an internal regular drive to an SSD.

I've done the tests several times for friends and audio nuts, after all, I have modded and stock machines here every day of the week.

The audio systems I have done tests in have all been very good so maybe it comes down to how well the systems resolve fine details. Maybe you are using external USB drive instead of Firewire drives with good controllers?

I don't have time to sort out the differences in our results, but after hearing a clear difference in our numerous tests, I am surprised you don't hear any. TO each thier own I guess.

Darrell
www.mach2music.com
jylee
306 posts
 
I don't think the difference in performance between HD and SSD will yield any measurable difference in sound quality. I do think however that there will be more noise generated by spinning magnetic disks compared to SSD with zero moving part. The sensitivity to such noise and any effect will probably be system dependent.
larry_s
128 posts
 
"I don't have time to sort out the differences in our results, but after hearing a clear difference in our numerous tests, I am surprised you don't hear any. TO each thier own I guess." Blind or sighted tests? If there are truly differences in sound with just changing out a HDD for a SSD then there is something truly broken in software and/or hardware in some other part of the system.
dmccombs
112 posts
 
OR the SSD draws less power thus reducing EMI, or the SSD is faster thus making the CPU work less and interrupt the CPU less from playing music.

Just because we don't have the technology or understanding of what to measure, doesn't mean there aren't sonic differences.

THIS IS A HOBBY OF LISTENING. How can you discount what you hear and other hear, just because we can't explain the science yet???

Have you done any A/B tests in this area yet?
istanbulu OP
291 posts
 
I agree Darrell

I began this thread by remarking >>I'm looking for experience-based thoughts and commentary <<

I thank all of those members who have shared their experiences here.

Experience-based commentary is what I'm after.

I tend to value Darrell's points because he has made the effort to test and compare, and he is putting his reputation and business on the line when he comments in threads such as these. Someone could easily replicate (SSD to HDD) and evaluate what he says and find out for themselves. If what he says is bogus based upon their experience, I'm sure we'd hear about it from those who have made efforts similar to his.

I tend to find the theory-based (not experienced-based) commentary to have very little value to "THE HOBBY OF LISTENING" and the enjoyment of music.

:) listening,

Ed
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