SSD for iMac

It won;t have any effect on music access except perhaps be a tadge faster on the naim app or what ever. Depending on which iMac you have the terror of getting inside might scar you for life anyhow.

I am not sure what you mean by array in this context. But on some macs you can indeed subby the DVD drive for a harddrive giving you two slots which could be used in conjunction as a fusion drive.

It's a mid 2010 last model with superdrive I think.

Array was a bad word to use, maybe a pack or whatever the name of an SSD would be, is it still a drive?

Yea its an ssd drive

You can get into them, I have done so myself but its fiddly and you can never get that piece of glass back on without some dust under there!

An ssd drive will basically make your mac new again, it cannot be underestimated how much difference it makes to using it. But perhaps not so important for music replay, I certainly would not subscribe to sound differences, except of course the imac would be quieter.

not just mac...any computing device will be transformed by an good SSD.  A big spinning drive can't be better for music than a solid state drive...speed, throughput and quietness means less effort, less buffer buildup, less swapping...

Spinning things create strong forces and vibration.

If you really want an SSD (or HDD) in the iMac, the best bet is to get an Apple Store or Mac reseller to do it, compatability  assured, Not to mention the lack of hassle in opening it up.....

Jude

Compatibility could be an issue. On the 2009 imac for instance the harddrive was slightly modified to accept a temperature probe in the form of a special plug. 

SSDs certainly don't have these, meaning you need a small piece of software which will control temp from SMART, however El Capitan may put pay to such bits of software.

Has your iMac got Thunderbolt connections Howard? If so you can get a very neat 2.5" Thunderbolt enclosure that'll take two HHDs. I recently bought an Akitio one from Scan Computers for use with my Mac Mini. I fitted the Mini with a 250 Gig SSD but wanted more external storage.

By doing this you can boot from the external drive (Google it). Saves getting into the iMac; as Gary points out it's difficult to avoid getting dust behind the screen glass and it will irritate the F*ck out of you. 

What glass screen?

The one in front of your iMac. You have to remove it with suction pads before you can get at the internals.

Sorry Tony and others yet another "senior moment", my initial post should have read "My Mac Mini is used for music only duties."

Apart from that it was a fine post!!!! Doh!!

Bloody  proof reader should be shot.

Yes, you can fit two SSDs in a Mini of that vintage IIRC, but it's a bit of a fiddle. Good UTube tutorials.

The mini is a far easier proposition and does not have any special temp controllers, proceed with confidence.

There are tear downs on ifixit. Follow with care. I did not once and ripped a connector from the motherboard as you were supposed to lift it clean off put I pulled sideways!  

Any ssd will do it, although back in the day I had some serious bother with petrol ones. you can pick up 256gigs for peanuts nower days

If you wish to put two in it, you will need a little adaptor thingy which plugs into the mother board.

I would not recommend external for booting. Thunderbolt would certainly be better than usb, but still nothing beats direct on the mother board.

Probably leave as is unless really needed. 

Can't agree about the USB cable I have heard the difference, whether I will spend any more on other cables has to be determined.

Trying Audirvana is a winter project I think, is the room correction part of it or is that a separate programme?