"1. Intel Optane vs Femto SSD, both powered through motherboard - The Femto SSD sounds a lot better in the high frequency area but only slight better in the rest of the spectrum. It seems to take the hash out of the system. Some recordings would create listening fatigue with the Optane drive but less with the Femto SSD.

2. Femto SSD powered from motherboard vs Femto SSD powered using Paul Hynes SR4 - I think this is where it shines more. The external power creates more continuous or analog sound. It has more of everything - blacker background, cleaner highs, well defined bass, bigger soundstage. The soundstage depth seems to remain the same in both the case.

3. Intel Optane vs Femto SSD powered using Paul Hynes SR4 - the differences are even further apart than (1). The Femto SSD powered using a quality power supply is the key. It creates a very refined sound and once you hear it, its difficult to unhear it."

".... En résumé, certainement mon meilleur investissement depuis longtemps ...."

".... 當下那種提昇感, 完全不誇張 彷彿像是換了訊源跟前級! ...."

".... I don't think I need to reiterate about what's already been said and explaining what I'm hearing in words is not my strong side, let me just summarize it with that soundwise I wasn't sure what to expect, especially coming from an already good Intel Optane option, but I think it has actually been a profound improvement, especially when using a dedicated 5V PSU to power it ...."

".... I thought my system running Euphony's Stylus was very good already but I'm hearing new things I haven't heard in very familiar recordings, with an even wider sound stage. Vocals and string instruments sound very life like. You get the impression that the band performs right in your listening space, your personal concert. You can hear each instrument has it's place in the sound stage and you can clearly notice the air and reverberation of the elements individually in the room it was recorded ... a very three dimensional sound stage with expanded width and depth ...."

".... Comparing between external SSD on a LPSU, internally powered Samsung Evo plus and this femto SSD makes it pretty clear that the femto SSD outperforms the other contestants hands down and by quite a bit! ...."

".... I’ll get to the point. If an Optane rated at 2 & all other cards are rated at 1, then Audiophile M.2 is rated at 5! ...."

".... Have always been on the fence about running OS in RAM vs off the Optane drive... RAM was more incisive but Optane was smoother. But neither in my testing is as easy to live with as running the OS on the FEMTO NVMe drive ...."

".... The FEMTO M.2 drive is good; very good. It is quiet with blackest backgrounds allowing for the quietest details and tail end of notes played to be clearly heard. Bass is punch and clear. mids are just right and the High frequencies are clean and crystalline clear Without any digital artifacts or edge ...."

".... I'll just conclude this by saying the drive was an improvement to my system across the board. Without the external power, there were no notable negatives to the sound (although the sound was a bit subdued and polite at first), and obvious improvements to vocal detail. With external power it really is something special. This bodes well for the power supply and the drive itself I suppose ...."

"This is an exclusive review of the first Audiophile-grade FEMTO M.2 Drive for use in Digital Music Playback systems
Most recommended for Operating Systems use."