External firewire hard drive to go with Mac Mini.

I use FANTOM GF1000T (1 Terabyte) with MAC Mini on Firewire interface. One is storage for ALAC while the other is backup. Drives are $99 after rebate here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822207009&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Hard+Drives+-+External-_-FANTOM+DRIVES-_-22207009

Fantom is drive builder - I'm not sure what HD is inside but it is Firewire 400 only (My MacMini doesn't have 800) and 5000rpm. Drive is running cool (heavy aluminum case) and quiet plus have good reputation (check user review at Newegg and Amazon).

It is GF1000T. It is triple interface but only Firewire 400 (is your MAC-Mini 800?). Warranty is only 1 year but I assume that warranty doesn't make item better (Hyundai has better warranty than Toyota) and I keep 3 copies. 1TB external drives are below $100 now. My drive is at floor level (side of the sofa) while I'm sitting on the sofa - perhaps 4 ft between my ear and a drive. I can hear when it comes-up from "sleep mode" but after that is almost silent.

I was toying with idea of drive upgrade to 1TB in my DVR. Drive that was highly recommended by users for it's quietness was Western Digital (don't remember the number). It comes with software that allows you to lower/tweak the noise even further.

My 938s are amazing. These are relatively new speakers (bought recently 6 month old dealer demo) with heavier bracing (changed design in 2004/2005). I only wish for a little more extension (both) but it might be as well an issue of my room acoustic I'm trying to fix now. What are you getting and how is it better than Hyperion? Have you heard 968?

Magfan - I found out that Fantom uses Micronet drives 7k rpm. Firewire is only 400 (same on my Mac Mini). Firewire 800 might have some use for file transfer but not for the music server since Firewire 400 is already about 300 times faster that CD data stream (150KB/s). Firewire does not involve main CPU in file transfer as much as USB.

I'm not a big fan of Raid. The way it is executed in Dell computers (stripping) increases only disk performance creating additional hazard (one fails = all fail). Mirroring offers protection but only in case of disk failure and not from the virus or OS going crazy.

I keep three 1TB identical drives (copies) - one in use, one in safe and one at work. That way I'm protected if something happens during copying (both damaged) and also from theft, fire, flood, lightning, hurricane, tsunami, earth quake, wild dogs and mother in-law.

Magfan - I found out that Fantom uses Micronet drives 7k rpm. Firewire is only 400 (same on my Mac Mini). Firewire 800 might have some use for file transfer but not for the music server since Firewire 400 is already about 300 times faster that CD data stream (150KB/s). Firewire does not involve main CPU in file transfer as much as USB.

I'm not a big fan of Raid. The way it is executed in Dell computers (stripping) increases only disk performance creating additional hazard (one fails = all fail). Mirroring offers protection but only in case of disk failure and not from the virus or OS going crazy.

I keep three 1TB identical drives (copies) - one in use, one in safe and one at work. That way I'm protected if something happens during copying (both erased or damaged) and also from theft, fire, flood, lightning, hurricane, tsunami, earth quake, wild dogs and mother in-law.

Dracule1 -

Sorry for posting twice. I think I'm doing exactly what you asked - recommending very quiet, cool and reliable external disk for Mac-Mini. Choice of interface is also important while backup/mirroring goes into reliability that you asked for.

Dracule1 - do you know we have same speakers (HPS-938)?

I bought initially Fantom for my work (backup) because of good reviews and three more for myself later - no problems so far. I bought previously external drive for my nephew from Other World Computing (macsales.com) and it works for many years without problems. Similar to Fantom - silent, heavy aluminum case. I only heard good things about them. Both Fantom and OWC come with all interface cables. Fantom comes now already formatted for Mac Extended format.

I remember Ridge Street Audio Sasons - company is located in Indiana, if remember correctly, and they sell direct. At the time I looked it was too big of a "jump" for me but I keep my eyes open. I think I read "Positive Feedback" review. The way they build them I'm surprised it doesn't cost more.

Toyota problem was exactly the same that Ford has now - people were placing all-weather mats on the top of existing mats in spite of manufacturer warning no to do it. I have two Avalons - 14 year old and 9 year old - 1 small defect on each, that's all. Absolute perfection. Hyundai is pretty good now but even many years ago they had 10 years bumper to bumper warranty. To me it is just different sales strategy - nothing else.

One guy at work does a lot of computer repair for friends and he profoundly dislikes Seagate. I found one (Fantom) that had great reviews but another audiogoner had problems. I assume that drive might fail so it needs backup protection. If it fails every few years I don't mind. Chances that all three drives fail at the same time, while two are in storage unpowered, are zero. I payed more attention to heat and noise.

WD used to be the cheapest (and worse) company 20 years ago but it changed. I wouldn't be afraid to buy WD HD now. Processes are better controlled now and for instance SMT assembly made in China will be of same quality as one made in US.

I found some info on Fantom/Micronet. Micronet does not make drives. Here is info from Micronet website:

"MicroNet / Fantom Drives uses only the highest quality disk drives from top-tier hard disk manufacturers such as: Western Digital, Seagate, Hitachi, and Samsung. We carefully vet each model of hard disk we carry to ensure that it meets our rigorous demands for quality and performance. In addition, any disk mechanism we use will meet or exceed the stated specifications for any particular MicroNet or Fantom Drives product."