The SymplySPARK is designed to deliver outstanding performance, reliability and capacity for media applications, and by adding Seagate MACH.2 hard drives the SPARK XT 4 Bay and 8 Bay storage solutions can deliver SSD speeds from an HDD array. MACH.2 drives use innovative Multi-Actuator technology to increase both read and write performance. Normal hard drives are, in construction, a series of platters with a read/write head (an actuator) flying over the top of them. MACH.2 drives add a second actuator to enable increased read/write actions with each revolution of the platter. In other words: doubling the performance.
Find out more about Seagate MACH.2 and SPARK XT in this video
MACH.2 HDDs really are what the future looks like for HDD storage, as HDD capacities continue to grow, which is leading to the performance per TB dropping. Multi-actuators deliver huge performance increases and lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) as capacities increase. When it comes to the SPARK XT you immediately see the benefits. Each MACH.2 drive now has an 18 TB capacity, proving capacities of 72TB and 144TB in the 4 Bay and 8 Bay configurations respectively.
And the performance is staggering. The 8 Bay SPARK XT can provide real-world performance of up to 2,900MB/s* reads and write speeds clocking in at 1,900MB/s* when tested with popular benchmarking tools from AJA, ATTO and Blackmagic. The 4 Bay SPARK XT provides performance equal or exceeding that of its 8 Bay peers offering a compact high performance, high capacity and highly transportable Thunderbolt storage solution. The SPARK XT provides more than enough performance for the most demanding workflows, VFX, simulation, and complex file ingest and delivery.
This epic performance is truly game-changing reducing the need to trade off capacity and increase cost for SSD solutions, the SPARK XT provides equivalent SSD performance with hard drive capacities. Not only does this unleash the creative abilities of post-production but it enables DITs to be more productive by dramatically increasing the speed at which content can be backup from camera cards on set. Even with multiple copy jobs, the SPARK XT maintains levels of performance that leaves the competition in its dust.
| Feature | SPARK XT 8 Bay | SDP G-RAID 8 | Areca ARC-8050T3-8 | Promise R32 8 Bay | OWC Thunderbay 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robust all-metal build |  |  | | | |
| Interfaces | Thunderbolt 3 | Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3.2 | Thunderbolt 3 | Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3.2 | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Hardware RAID Engine | | | | | |
| User Serviceable HDD, PSU & FAN | | | | | |
| Library Quiet | | Not Published | | Not Published | Not Published |
| Carry Handle | | | | | |
| Lights Out Mode | | | | | |
| HDD Locking Pin | | | | | |
| MA HDD Support | | | | | |
| Kensington Lock | | | | | |
| Wheeled hard case, option? | | | | | |
| Dimensions W x D x H mm | 150 x 240 x 318 | 175 x 245 x 385 | 146 x 302 x 290 | 187 x 245 x 310 | 180 x 260 x 240 |
| Weight | 10.8kg | 12.3kg | 6.8kg (without HDDs) | 11kg | 7.3kg |
| Smaller and Lighter? | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| Feature | SPARK XT 4 Bay | SDP G-RAID 4 | Areca ARC-8050T3U-4 | Promise R32 4 Bay | OWC Thunderbay 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robust all-metal build | | | | | |
| Interfaces | Thunderbolt 3 | Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3.2 | Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3.2 | Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3.2 | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Hardware RAID Engine | | | | | |
| User Serviceable HDD, PSU & FAN | | | | | |
| Library Quiet | | Not Published | | Not Published | Not Published |
| Carry Handle | | | | | |
| Lights Out Mode | | | | | |
| HDD Locking Pin | | | | | |
| MA HDD Support | | | | | |
| Kensington Lock | | | | | |
| Wheeled hard case, option? | | | | | |
| Dimensions W x D x H mm | 150 x 240 x 235 | 174 x 248 x 268 | 165 x 232 x 12 | 187 x 245 x 192 | 135 x 245 x 177 |
| Weight | 7.16kg (with HDDs) | 7.16Kg (with HDDs) | 3.6kg (without HDDs) | 6.8kg (with HDDs) | 3.9kg (without HDDs) |
We also know how important deadlines are – time is money, and nothing is worse than missing a deadline due to equipment failure. Beyond hard drive hot swap-ability, the SPARK XT allows fast replacement of fans and power supplies. No need to send the system back with your valuable content on it or wait for an exchange system to arrive. The optional SymplySAM (self-assisted maintenance kit) comes packed in its own transport case with full instructions that have you back up and running in minutes. And if you ever need it, professional Symply support is just an email or phone call away.
Rack mounting your SPARK XT 8 Bay is easy with our custom rack kit. From on-set DITs to editors and sound mixers, the brand new 4RU SPARK Rack Kit is designed to make mounting your personal RAID solution a breeze. Go from desktop to rack in under five minutes thanks to our simple mounting options, and don’t fret about rack depth with moveable rack arms.
Whether you’re backing up footage or creating cutdowns on location, or you’re inside a studio using an acoustically isolated rack solution SPARK XT is more versatile than ever. By leveraging our unique locking pin design, HDD trays remain in a secured position, while the power supply and fan are easily accessible for servicing.
Built from a high-quality metal alloy – the SPARK Rack Kit won’t bend or warp. Extendable rack rails allow for various rack depths.
| 4-Bay | 8-Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacities | 72TB | 144TB |
| Number of Drive Bays | 4 | 8 |
| RAID Level Support | 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD | 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD |
| Interface | 2 x Thunderbolt3 with Device Charging | 2 x Thunderbolt3 with Device Charging |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) mm | 150 x 238 x 235 | 150 x 240 x 318 |
| Weight KGs | 7.6kg | 10.8kg |
| Operating Environment | 0°C – 40°C, 5% – 85% humidity (non-condensing) | 0°C – 40°C, 5% – 85% humidity (non-condensing) |
| OS Support | macOS & Windows | macOS & Windows |
| Whisper Quiet | < 40dB | < 40dB |
| Carry Handle | Yes | Yes |
| User Servable HDD, PSU & FAN | Yes | Yes |
| Kensington Lock | Yes | Yes |
| Studio Mode | LED Blackout | LED Blackout |
| Wheeled Transport Case | Optional | Optional |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 5 Years |
| Test | Read | Write |
|---|---|---|
| AJA (4092×2160 4K-2160, 16GB, 10bit) | 2336 MB/Sec | 1896 MB/Sec |
| Blackmagic | 2240 MB/Sec | 1751 MB/Sec |
| ATTO DiskBench | 2952 MB/Sec | 1977 MB/Sec |
*Please use performance metrics for guidance only. Symply cannot guarantee you will get the same numbers in your environment as results will vary based on your particular application, host computer system, data type, file sizes, and other variables such as concurrent system usage and third-party software working with the SPARK XT. But we can assure you SPARK XT is very, very fast!