Effects of power supplies on equipment heirarchies

Posted by: Le Chef on 28 October 2000

I keep seeing this issue raised and discussed on this forum, but often with no firm conclusions.

Would a CD5/Flatcap2 sound better or worse than a straight CDX?

Would a 112/150/Flatcap2 sound better or worse than a straight 102/180?

Is it better to power the CD player or the pre-amp? Which gives the biggest improvement in performance?

Thanks to all of you who've been through this before for your help.

Le Chef

Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

As a general rule, if X is a given level of component and Y is an optional power supply, then X+1 will beat X with Y. For example, a CDX most definitely beats the pants off the old CD3.5/Hi-Cap. (I haven't heard any of the new 5-series components, so I can't say for certain about the CD5 with the Flat-Cap2.) At the very least, X+2 will definitely beat X with Y. For example, the 82 without a power supply will beat a 72/Hi (and probably even a 72/Super).

Remember that the power supply doesn't change the basic nature of the component. It's still a 72, albeit with a great power supply. The 82's circuit is superior in many ways, and the best power supply in the world will not turn the 72 into an 82.

You also keep mentioning the Flat-Cap2. This power supply is not even as good as a Hi-Cap, and definitely nothing compared to a Super-Cap. Therefore, a CDX will most definitely beat a CD5/Flat2, and a 102/180 will sound better than a 112/Flat2/150. If you use a Super-Cap as the supply for the lower component, it might blur the lines a little, but I think the superior base component will still win out in the vast majority of cases.

Sometimes it will come down to personal expectations, like the person who prefers a 3.5 to a CDX, because he thinks it's more "exciting" (while everyone else knows it's the extra harshness of the 3.5 he's misinterpreting as excitement). So the moral of the story is try it for yourself, and make your own decisions. (BTW, you can fit 12 angels on the head of a pin, or is that 12 million?) Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 29 October 2000 by Eric Barry

A 42-5/Hi is better than a 32-5 IMO.

With cd players the consensus is that the better model is better than the lower model with a power supply but a good margin.

With preamps, some believe that you need a power supply to take the edge off all models. Thus a 72-hi would be better than a 102. Others think the better models fed from a power amp are superior.

--Eric

Posted on: 29 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

My 32.5/110 was much better than my 42.5/Flat/110. However, I do agree with you in principle. That's what I was saying with (paraphrased) "X+1 is usually better than X with Y, and X+2 is always better than X with Y". Of course, it depends on the power supply, as a Super-Cap does "fantastic" things while a Flat-Cap does only "good" things.

Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.