[wushuliu]

Or anyone I suppose who interfaces with a SATA drive and can fit the filter.

http://www.sonore.us/SOtM.html#3

Big thumbs up. Unmistakably lower noise and greater depth and more natural presentation.

[HAL]

Did you use it with a hard drive or SSD in your system? 

[wushuliu]

Did you use it with a hard drive or SSD in your system?

Both! I use a SSD for the OS (Win7 64) and 1TB HD for music storage. Bear in mind I already have my PC connected to a Felix and it runs with a fanless PS with one of the lowest ripple/noise specs.

[JDUBS]

Both! I use a SSD for the OS (Win7 64) and 1TB HD for music storage. Bear in mind I already have my PC connected to a Felix and it runs with a fanless PS with one of the lowest ripple/noise specs.

Can you tell us more about your system, if you don't mind? 

Also, did you find the biggest improvement from the filter on the OS drive or the Music drive?

Thanks,
Jim

[wushuliu]

Can you tell us more about your system, if you don't mind? 

Also, did you find the biggest improvement from the filter on the OS drive or the Music drive?

Thanks,
Jim

I installed them simultaneously so could not tell you which would offer the bigger improvement. Honestly I think this is one of those areas you don't want compromise given the already high noise
contribution from all devices in a PC.

I am running an
AMD X2 560 w/ 8GB ram,
Radeon 5670 video card,
OCZ SSD 30GB for OS(Win7 64),
1TB WD HD (internal) for music/video/game storage
Dacport LX USB DAC (see Cheap and Cheerful for my review)
Simplese tube amp, Mark Audio Full range Drivers/8" woofers active xo w Minidsp

Playback I alternate between XXHighend and XBMC

[JDUBS]

I installed them simultaneously so could not tell you which would offer the bigger improvement. Honestly I think this is one of those areas you don't want compromise given the already high noise
contribution from all devices in a PC.

I am running an
AMD X2 560 w/ 8GB ram,
Radeon 5670 video card,
OCZ SSD 30GB for OS(Win7 64),
1TB WD HD (internal) for music/video/game storage
Dacport LX USB DAC (see Cheap and Cheerful for my review)
Simplese tube amp, Mark Audio Full range Drivers/8" woofers active xo w Minidsp

Playback I alternate between XXHighend and XBMC

Thanks!  What kind of ps are you using for the comp?

-Jim

[wushuliu]

Thanks!  What kind of ps are you using for the comp?

-Jim

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Seasonic_X-400_Fanless_PSU

[toddbagwell]

I just built a new machine and used the 460 W brother. Very good PSU.

My prior PC used a fanless 400W from FSP.

I stumbled across this link yesterday, which has some really good info on PSU voltage regulation measurements.

I assume that with good regulation of the voltages within the PC, the sound would be improved.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Seasonic-X-400-Fanless-Power-Supply-Review/1073

todd

Edit: I also picked up two of the SOtM power filters for the SSDs in my new build.

[Nick77]

Do these computer audiophile upgrades apply while using Squeezebox software for music streaming?

[toddbagwell]

I don't know. For now i'll say maybe, let me see if i can find any info. My gut says likely not much benefit.

[firedog]

Do these computer audiophile upgrades apply while using Squeezebox software for music streaming?

yes, the HD noise filter will filter the stream coming off your server HD as it is sent to SB server; if you use Tiny SB on a Touch it will have no effect

[JEaton]

Do these computer audiophile upgrades apply while using Squeezebox software for music streaming?

No. The only connection between the server running Squeezebox Server and the Squeezebox is over the network. The computer can be just about anything that runs reliably.

[ctviggen]

I'll have to keep this in mind if I ever get a USB DAC. 

[firedog]

No. The only connection between the server running Squeezebox Server and the Squeezebox is over the network. The computer can be just about anything that runs reliably.

Except that to get from the server to the network, the music file starts at the aforementioned HD and then is sent out over the network. So the filter does have an effect.

[JEaton]

Except that to get from the server to the network, the music file starts at the aforementioned HD and then is sent out over the network. So the filter does have an effect.

No, it has no effect. The data has no trouble coming from a healthy hard drive. And where the hard drive is not healthy, this filter would do nothing.

[toddbagwell]

Like with most things in this hobby of audio, it likely depends on the exact setup of equipment as to whether one person would get benefit when compared to another person with a totally different arrangement of equipment.

the filters in question are designed to smooth the power into the drive and minimize the amount of noise that the drive places back into the system.

Each PSU has its own characteristic amount of ripple in the individual outputs (3.3, 5, 12V). depending on the PSU in each computer the PSU may need more or less smoothing by the filter to achieve optimal sound.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Why-99-Percent-of-Power-Supply-Reviews-Are-Wrong/410/3

and some example measurements:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Seasonic-X-400-Fanless-Power-Supply-Review/1073/7

(I use the larger 460W version of this PSU)



I'm not able to form a logical argument for why this filtering should be necessary when data is being transmitted over ethernet as the ends of the ethernet are transformer isolated from each other. [and again, I'm not an engineer]

I am also aware that some things in this hobby are not as you would expect.

My recommendation would be not to worry if you like your sound, but if you have an electrically noisy computer, you could try one of these before spending the cash on an entire new rig.

just my opinion...
todd

[JEaton]

the filters in question are designed to smooth the power into the drive and minimize the amount of noise that the drive places back into the system.

Exactly. The benefit to a system connected to a USB DAC would be from the latter - to reduce noise coming back into the system from the internal workings of a hard drive. Noise that could make its way into the USB connection to the DAC.

[lcrim]

Without having to outline the OSI model and theTCP/IP protocol suite, accurate, secure data communications through ethernet would not be possible if a SATA filter could affect the process.  This pm would not be appearing as it does if that were true.  I have to come down with JEaton on this subject.
Larry

[mgalusha]

I took the plunge last week after reading this thread. Quick shipping, I ordered from Auraliti on Thursday and it arrived on Saturday. 

My music player PC has a 60G Crucial SSD and all music comes across the network, so I only worried about putting the SOtM filter in the machine that is connected to the DAC. My impression is a quieter background and greater resolution. Note I just built a new machine but I installed the SOtM filter after listening to the system for a few days without it and this seems to be the real deal and IMO well worth the asking price. Like several others I'm using a Seasonic PS since they have measurably low noise.

I did have to drill new holes for mounting the drive, there was just not enough room to get the filter in along with the cables and get the side panel on. Not a big deal but something to keep in mind before spending the money. I moved the drive 1" (25mm).

[mgalusha]

Apparently there is some confusion. I did not install the SATA filter in the server PC, only in the one connected to the USB DAC. The idea was to minimize locally generated noise, not worried about the little server under the stairs other than it's healthy.