You will also need a seperate hard drive for back up purposes.
Hello all, just wondering if anyone has tried the Seagate Firecuda SSD? Wonder how it compares to the Samsung ones. Thanks.
I’m considering to try a new SSD - But is the recommended model the Samsung PM893 or the PM983? I saw both being discussed here. Thank you.
It is Samsung PM893 which is a 2.5 inch SATA SSD. Cheers!!
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€65,33 € 480 GB / €370,78 3.84 TB / € 718,12 7.68 TB (currently in Germany)
This is a better price than 2022, just to indicate prices may go down in 2023? Good to know if you want to improve on sound quality by swapping for better sounding SSDs.
Currently there are two versions. I have difficulty finding the specs on the Samsung websites. One has V-NAND memory instead of 3D-NAND (nevertheless the same I think).
So do not buy the more expensive version when not necessary, I assume they sound the same. An other possibility; if the former will be replaced soon then buy cheaper as long as you still can.
Prices above are SAMSUNG PM893
(MZ-7L3 480 HCHQ-00A07) * SATA 6.0 Gbps , 3D-NAND TLC*, 128 Layer (V-NAND v6)
The more expensive € 98,88 SAMSUNG PM893
(MZ-7L3 48000) Serial ATA III, V-NAND TLC
Installed the Samsung PM893 into my CX…. Yes an improvement over my previous Samsung 850 EVO but I still much prefer the Seagate SSHDs.
However when I put back the 2 SSHDs, both drives are not longer recognised and need to be “wiped” again. Now I have to reinstall back my music library again into the SSHDs.
Did you put them back in the same order as you took them out? They need to go back into the slot you removed them from.
Yes. I tried both ways and both the results are the same. I remember it worked in the past… oh well I will check with Mark again.
Are you referring to Seagate FireCuda SSHD? How would you describe the sonics of Seagate versus Samsung PM893? Very interested in your experience. Thank you.
Well there are just more of everything when using SSHD. Music is more interwoven together, more rounded vs the distant artificial presentation from SSD. Oh the mids! You have to compare to experience it - They are cheap getting them used. Shouldn’t take more than a minute to tell the difference. The downside is the higher noise and more heat generated. Get extras to keep as standbys if you like the sound. They aren’t expensive anyway.
@shsoh I am not doubting your experience with the CX but the PM893 was tested and listened to in an Oladra. Not the same generation/build as CX and 5 years ? is quite substantial in audio development.
Did you get the 2021 ? Oladra upgrade for CX? That also should make a difference in sound quality when compared to more recent builds.
It is an interesting data point though.
This whole issue of drives is so interesting. I never would have thought that a drive could have a sonic signature - but here we are - and yes, the PM893 did make more than a subtle difference at least in my K40. Would the FireCuda SSHD further enhance my listening experience? I don’t know. It’s quite a proverbial rabbit hole to go down.
In addition, as I have previously mentioned in a different topic, server software also has a sonic signature. With my K40, Squeeze has the edge with a fuller and more transparent sound than other options. I had thought that all server software would do the same thing. Just sending unaltered FLAC files from the K40 to my streamer/DAC without impacting sonics. Another incorrect hypothesis on my part…
Once again, everything matters!!
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I can fully agree to the first part being quoted above (although I am not using an Antipodes music server but a Mac mini with external power supply), and according to the second you have to bear in mind that the FireCuda SSD offers storage capacities up to 4TB.
I need more storage space (8TB) as I decided to convert my flac files to AIFF (which in my chain sounds even more “analogue”).
@tom539 what were your findings swapping from the Crucial to the PM893?
Crucial has been a favorite of mine since they are backed by micron and they have some nice features (PLP) for a solid price. But if the Samsung is markedly better Ill look past my bad experiences with them and go that route.
Hello Souldriver,
Sorry for the late reply, had a lot on my mind…
A direct comparison between the Crucial and PM893 I have not made or could make - for this you would have to have two K50 and compare directly by switching.
With two SSD in one device, you can not say on which SSD the music is exactly, if this was formatted by the operating system of the K50.
And - for all the sonic qualities of the K50, my two turntables are still the primary source.
So I “only” exchanged the Crucial for the PM893, copied the music onto it and have been listening very happily with the K50 ever since.
atb, Tom
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Understood, and thank you for the reply!
Hello, could I also use these for my soon-to-be Oladra?
https://www.mediamarkt.de/de/product/_samsung-870-qvo-2666077.html
Or do you have any other recommendations? 4TB should be enough for now.
Best regards and thanks for the feedback
Alexander
The recommended SSD for Antipodes servers is the Samsung PM893 2.5" SATA SSD.
We previously recommended the QVO or EVO Samsung drives, they are certainly compatible.
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Thank you for your assessment. I have spontaneously ordered these. It should also be decent. 4TB Samsung SSD 870 EVO 2.5" (6.4cm) SATA 6Gb/s 3D-NAND TLC
You could also insert three different Samsung models into the three slots and load the same tracks onto each one…that would give you a comparison…but I’ll try something like that later. Maybe someone here has already tried it.