News This NVMe SSD Is Geared Towards Audiophiles

[Nick_C]

Claims of audible differences tend to vanish in the face of level matched double blind testing....

Confirmation bias is a thing - and if one knows that one is listening to the preferred source then it's unsurprising that the results may be skewed in its favour.

 

[Alvar "Miles" Udell]

Audiophiles: Must be lossless! No compression at all!
SSD controllers: Compress data.

So shouldn't an "audiophile SSD" feature a controller which does not perform data compression?

 

[david germain]

Pretty much all issues with audio can be solved with good drivers and an external soundcard.
External sound card is shielded from the internal noise of the PC/MAC. And has its own Power supply, which if well designed remove all other sources of EM noise. Many are power by USB so even that is not an issue.

 

[danlw]

With the amount of stuff between the SSD and analog output (an entire PC), there is practically no way in hell that whatever noise may be caused directly by the SSD isn't getting swamped by incidental noise from PCIe, chipset, GPU, CPU, RAM, peripherals, etc.

You're right...

Which is why we need an audiophile grade MOTHERBOARD! Complete with pure silver 10 guage traces, all triple braided, of course. Each trace will also have a second time corrected trace spiraled around it so that bits carrying treble data won't arrive before bass bits. All caps on the board would be audio gold electrolytic. Even the tiny ceramic caps normally found under the processor will be audio gold electrolytic. Each socket on the board will have its own power supply for maximum isolation. (Audiophile power supplies sold separately)

 

[Deleted member 1353997]

Audiophiles: Must be lossless! No compression at all!
SSD controllers: Compress data.

So shouldn't an "audiophile SSD" feature a controller which does not perform data compression?

Careful, "lossless" does not mean "uncompressed".

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is both compressed and lossless.
MP3 and AAC are compressed but lossy.

SSD controllers use lossless compression. You absolutely do not want anything stored in it (especially software) to lose any information.
In fact, lossy compression algorithms are only ever used for audio or video data, where the content can still be understood even if some information is lost. Nobody cares if a red pixel is 1% less red, but it's a huge deal if your "Hello World" text file changes to "Helb Worbl" instead. For what it's worth, that could've been your password you just lost.

 

[InvalidError]

In fact, lossy compression algorithms are only ever used for audio or video data, where the content can still be understood even if some information is lost.

The most important thing to keep in mind with lossy compression is that audio'video algorithms are tweaked to reject stuff most people either cannot perceive, subconsciously filter out or do not want to see - you may not be able to perceive 1% pixel noise, you probably do not want to see 1% pixel noise and you are likely subconsciously filtering out 1% filter noise, so you can save a lot of bandwidth by making sure you don't waste any attempting to preserve pixel noise unless it is somehow integral to the cinematography.

 

[OMas]

According to a post on an audiophile forum, a new SSD has been created that supposedly enhances audio quality all by itself…

Having worked in both pro and CE audio for over 40 years, I suggest you don’t blindly dismiss this, even though it is clearly the manufacturer gauging consumer reaction. First off, I don’t know anything about this product so, no endorsement implied.

That said, here’s something to consider. Simplistically speaking, any component of a computer–based audio system that reduces CPU load, memory read/writes, et cetera will often improve playback fidelity. This because the above actions modulate the power rails and often the ground plane. Those can, in turn, modulate the eye pattern of the audio I/O, as well as increased increase RF and EM generation. All of the above can change the perceived sound quality if;

• the playback system is highly resolving
• the listener is trained to pick apart differences

Mastering engineers are good examples. They have some of the most high fidelity rigs and rooms in all of pro audio. Also, it’s their job to discern subtle differences.

Yes, skepticism is always required, but just because you can’t hear something, it doesn’t mean other also can’t. The “bits are bits” trope is a bit tired since underneath all “digital” is analog, and physics is physics.

 

[InvalidError]

That said, here’s something to consider. Simplistically speaking, any component of a computer–based audio system that reduces CPU load, memory read/writes, et cetera will often improve playback fidelity. This because the above actions modulate the power rails and often the ground plane.

Use optical isolation (ex.: SPDIF) between your digital source and receiver, then you can run a spark gap generator in your PC and it won't have any effect on audio quality.

 

[jefferzbooboo]

Use optical isolation (ex.: SPDIF) between your digital source and receiver, then you can run a spark gap generator in your PC and it won't have any effect on audio quality.

Or you can just disable all but 1 core on a 5950x.

"The thing I'm wondering about though is why this SSD has basically zero shielding. I'm very worried about the EMS radiation coming off of my CPU and Chipset disturbing the data stored in the SSD and causing too much background noise. Especially with these new 7nm CPUs. I've disabled all but one core on this 5950x to reduce it to a minimum while still retaining the maximum single core performance for reading files from the SSDs. "

 

[CinDyment]

EE / Phys and worked in pro audio a long time. Dabble in consumer audio forums for humor. Yes they are rich asses as noted but many not rich. This is pure arrogance. Once you understand they are willingly stupid it all makes sense.

It is pointless explaining it to most of them. They are old, arrogant, and "know better". They trust their ears when obviously their brains are deficient.

 

[CinDyment]

Considering that audio is typical write once read many what is the real benefit of pSLC other than greatly increasing the cost?

I have no doubt they worked closely with the chip vendor. Doubt they have the eng skills to do on their own.

Topping has a high speed USB isolator for <$100 ... Save yourself $2400. What would this even fit in these days? Most run laptops.

 

[CinDyment]

Mastering engineers are good examples. They have some of the most high fidelity rigs and rooms in all of pro audio. Also, it’s their job to discern subtle differences.

Yes, skepticism is always required, but just because you can’t hear something, it doesn’t mean other also can’t. The “bits are bits” trope is a bit tired since underneath all “digital” is analog, and physics is physics.

Most quality DACS with USB have separate power if not isolated I/F. Proper SPDIF is transformer isolated. You can totally isolate the DAC for a fraction of $2500. Also where does the 5V external come from? New ground path to AC. Also SSD read power draw is very low. I can hook a $100 DAC up to 7 year MACbook and have a totally black background. So there goes your noise argument. My headphones are way more revealing of anomalies than any speaker in a room. I can hook that DAC into my audio system. Background still totally black. So your noise comment while possible is mainly a red herring.

That mastering engineer? Did he hear those differences before or after the signal went through a dozen NE5532s on his vintage analog board "because it's more real"?

Mastering engineers ... That's a red herring. If they have awesome systems then these issues never arise and they have no experience detecting them right? .... Didn't think of that did you. To reliably detect and identify issues requires training with and without the anomaly not just random listening. Then you are never sure it's equipment or recording.