Power supply help

Posted by: Ryan.b on 11 April 2016

Hi everyone

i bought my first hifi the other day ( superuniti and pmc twenty 23's) and I am trying to pave out the future of my system. Obviously a nap 200/250 would be a logical step next, however I am intregued as to how power supplies improve a system and how they are rated. Excuse my naivety on all this!

so basically my question is, what effect do power supplies have on the sound? How are they rated in performance?

many thanks

Ryan

Posted on: 11 April 2016 by feeling_zen

If you can get a demo from your dealer then definitely do. The concept of spending so much on power supplies can be a tough pill to swallow if it is new to you but a demonstration soon reveals that the power supply is the hi-fi. Everything else like preamps and streamers just change the function of the power supply.

Just don't forget to take time out to buy and listen too music. Chasing upgrades can be an end unto itself. 

Your 23s can take some serious kit (I have a pair myself) but let them run in a few months before making changes. Your gear is new after all so maybe enjoy it a bit first.

Posted on: 11 April 2016 by hungryhalibut

I lived very happily with the SU and PMC 23s. It's a great combination, and will take three of four months to run in and sound its best. So don't be in a hurry to change. 

I swapped my SU for a 272/250DR last summer, and as you'd expect it's a lot better: more real, more natural, and more engaging. I then added an XPSDR and got more of the same, it just makes the whole system a lot more enjoyable. 

So don't get ahead of yourself, and enjoy what you have. It's better than what 95% of people have and upgrading is not required. But if in the future you want to improve it, moving to the system I have is a logical step that's not really silly money - it's still a lot though - and doesn't require heaps of boxes and miles of wires. 

Posted on: 11 April 2016 by ChrisSU

I agree, it's a good idea to enjoy what you've got for a while before planning the next upgrade. (You do realise that the SU can't be upgraded with a power supply?) While you have the SU on it's own, make sure you have your network and cabling properly set up, and invest in a decent rack, as all of this will stand you in good stead through future upgrades, and ensure that you continue to get optimum performance from your gear. Then you could add a power amp to the SU, then swap the SU for something else, of which a 272 is one possibility. Only after that do you need to think about adding power supplies to whatever streamer and/or preamp you choose.

Good luck, and enjoy the ride! 

Posted on: 12 April 2016 by ashrafs

The power supplies are one of the products that do drastically improve as you go  higher up the chain. So my advice would be if you want to invest in one is get the best that you can afford. I tend to buy ex demo ones around March/April time to save some money.