Linear Regulated Power Supply.

12 Volts DC output from UK domestic mains.

A few recommendations would be very gratefully received.

ATB from George

12 volts DC? Are you running a model railway then, George?

Replay related, not a model train!

Probably ought to avoid mentioning names, though it is not embargoed, but just a competitor at a price I could afford! The power supply is rubbish though!

The PS is a noisy little wall wart!

I want to try a better PS as the actual music is fantastic through my headphones ... [hint]!

ATB from George

Try velleman, then products/power supplies/laboratories power supply.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Richard Dane,

Red Wine Audio black lightning just got a good review from Jeff at Toneaudio.
Nat

Maplins do a linear regulated ps with selectable voltages up to 12v. My SB3 is powered by one. It's about the size of a house brick.

Maplins sounds like a good idea! Only twenty minutes on the bike!

Thanks for all the nice suggestions.

ATB from George

In stock at my local Maplins, two miles on the bike, this little PS should suffice. Not switch mode, 12 mA., various DC Voltages up to 12 Volts, 14.4 Watts continuous, and roughly 6 by 3 by 2.5 inches. Significantly better specification than the existing unregulated PS.

We shall see if this is an improvement in the replay, but if it stops the buzzing from the PS it will be worth the £16.99 on its own.

Will report back.

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
In stock at my local Maplins, two miles on the bike, this little PS should suffice. Not switch mode, 12 mA., various DC Voltages up to 12 Volts, 14.4 Watts continuous, and roughly 6 by 3 by 2.5 inches. Significantly better specification than the existing unregulated PS.

We shall see if this is an improvement in the replay, but if it stops the buzzing from the PS it will be worth the £16.99 on its own.

Will report back.

ATB from George

make sure that the polarity of the plug is the same +/_

Set standard it is + = centre pin, which is what I need, but it is reversible as well ...

It is a regulated PS, so the spec is certain up to the 14.4 Watt power capacity stated, but the little DAC/headphone amp demands no more than 5 Watts ... so well within the capacity to work without stress.

The current PS runs hot and I am not sure it is regulated. I suspect that it is a switch mode type as it can also work at 100-240 Volts AC, input.

ATB from George

Hi Fredrik,

Geoff P use a Russ Andrews wall wart at one time and he thought that is was a significant improvement. The trouble with Russ Andrews stuff is tht he sells OEM stuff with an amazing mark up!!

I did not mention vfm though

FF

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Set standard it is + = centre pin, which is what I need, but it is reversible as well ...

It is a regulated PS, so the spec is certain up to the 14.4 Watt power capacity stated, but the little DAC/headphone amp demands no more than 5 Watts ... so well within the capacity to work without stress.

The current PS runs hot and I am not sure it is regulated. I suspect that it is a switch mode type as it can also work at 100-240 Volts AC, input.

ATB from George

rs components also produce v good psu. russ andrews expensive

It is silent running and heavy like a house brick and, as noted above, about the size of one.

At the headphone the effect is blessedly unchanged!

Altogether a nice little improvement - no transformers buzz - and the kind of vfm I like at £16.99. Will try it out on the Tivoli radio later. It weighs more than the radio!

ATB from George

OMG[oodness]!

I let it play:-

"And now the Threshold,
Now we traverse it,
Praise to the Holiest in the Height!"

..., from Elgar's Dream of Gerontius [Part Two] - Boult EMI 1976 - and this is amazing. There is one heck of a dynamic swing as the full choir starts "Praise ..." which is under pinned on the pedals of the organ and massive orchestral scoring! I have never heard this so beautifully and lucidly presented with not a hint of either loosing the frequency extremes or a pulling of the sound to the pedal notes!

This has to be heard to be believed! Yes I know it is Hifi, but in this case the sound alone has its excitement!! Not often do I see the value of Hifi aspects, but in this case it has its use ...

So power regulation has its value. I never expected to hear this level of quality in replay, and indeed never have before.

ATB from George

When I was looking for a PSU for my SB3, I contacted Paul Hynes to customise the PSU (shunt regulated), and his PSU significantly improved the sound of the SB3. If you discuss your needs, I am sure he will be able to custom make a PSU to suit your needs and application.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Richard Dane,

I have just listened to the "Dorian" Prelude and Fugue in D Minor payed by Helmut Walcha at Cappel Parish Church [in North Germany], which requires a splendid organ and player to work clearly as the whole range of the organ is required to be as articulate and responsive as the treble if lucidity is to be maintained.

Only fine replay can preserve this, and I am smiling at the result! This was the Litmus test!

No reason to look further than this unless I go back into louspeaker replay, which seesms unlikly.

ATB from George

And now I have just listened to the fantastical Toccata, Adagio and Fugue [H Walcha at Lubeck], which is almost suspect as a recording [78s from 1947].

Really the result is a lifting of the music from the faults of a slightly noisy recording. But the presence of the Ruckpositiv pipes behind the player [ie. nearer the audience in solo fashion] compared to the organo pleno [the pipes infront of the player] are wonderfully contrasted to the tutti work [of the organo pleno]. This is as pleasing as what my old CDS2 used to bring out when it fronted SBLs. And that is saying something. Very naturally informative of the music making!

So pleased!!!

ATB from George

Is it worth improving power supplies on Cambridge DacMagic and Squeezebox 3? Any recommendations? I currently have them hooked up to Nait5i although interested in upgrade to Nait XS and maybe Naim DAC eventually

quote:

Posted Sun 31 January 2010 17:12 Hide Post
Is it worth improving power supplies on Cambridge DacMagic and Squeezebox 3? Any recommendation?

The trend is to use the original SB3 ps if you are using an external DAC. Maybe the Maplins house brick can be used on the DacMagic. What voltage does it require?

Keith

Thanks for SB advice - the DAcMagic ps output is 12v and 1500mA