DIY mil-spec DC umbilical

Posted by Duster (M) on April 18, 2015 at 17:35:03

Image: Apple iMac computer, Lifatec Silflex Glass Toslink cables, active digital optical Toslink splitter/repeater, set-screw termination type 2.1 DC power connector, 16 AWG Mil-Spec SPC/PTFE Teflon twisted pair, multipole 2-pin connector, 5VDC linear power supply unit.

Even the most humble audiophile devices can benefit via PSU upgrades. In this case, I'm in the process of building a DIY mil-spec DC umbilical for an inexpensive linear power supply upgrade for an inexpensive high-quality active digital optical splitter/repeater in order to route a digital optical cable from an Apple iMac to both my computer workstation audio system located within an alcove of my listening room, and the main audio system located across the room.

The Toslink splitter/repeater was satisfactory when the stock 5VDC switch mode wall wart was upgraded with a regulated linear wall wart, but I considered it possible that a more ideal linear power supply unit upgrade might perform considerably better than a mundane wall wart, even for a humble Toslink splitter/repeater device. In short, after a few hundred hours of break-in, a lower-cost level audiophile linear power supply unit sourced from eBay took the Toslink splitter/repeater to a higher performance level than before. Most notably, a more palpable presence (out of the box, and into the room) without sounding too forward after break-in, increased perception of percussive dynamics, and more authoritative bass weight among other improvements.

At this point, I've ordered the mentioned parts in order to build a DIY 16 AWG Mil-Spec SPC/PTFE Teflon twisted pair DC umbilical to replace the mundane detachable stock 18 AWG PVC DC umbilical featuring an unnecessary ferrite core at the load end. I plan to post a report sometime down the road.

Note: Each Toslink output cable is plugged into a Monarchy Audio DIP placed in each audio system, with a digital coaxial interface with each DAC. Otherwise, satisfactory use of the Toslink interface method was impossible to achieve from an audiophile perspective, IME.

Cheers, Duster

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Topic - DIY mil-spec DC umbilical - Duster 17:35:03 04/18/15 (18)

RE: DIY mil-spec DC umbilical - beppe61 23:02:00 04/21/15 (1)

Teflon tape wrapped. - Duster 16:14:19 04/22/15 (0)

I'm looking forward to your report - 1973shovel 05:27:47 04/21/15 (15)

RE: I'm looking forward to your report - Duster 11:36:08 04/21/15 (14)

RE: "nothing audiophile about it, per se" - 1973shovel 18:15:22 04/21/15 (13)

Much better DC power plugs do exist .. .like xt60 - beppe61 00:08:31 04/24/15 (9)

Those look very nice indeed, but there's one problem - 1973shovel 09:17:44 04/25/15 (8)

Oops - 1973shovel 09:33:51 04/25/15 (7)

The XT60 appears to be an inline connector. - Duster 09:07:28 04/27/15 (5)

It depends on the device you're powering - 1973shovel 18:08:32 04/27/15 (4)

RE: It depends on the device you're powering - Duster 20:37:49 04/27/15 (3)

RE: It depends on the device you're powering - ipdtt 12:38:23 04/28/15 (2)

Thanks for the heads-up (nt) - Duster 14:38:25 04/28/15 (0)

RE: It depends on the device you're powering - ipdtt 13:03:56 04/28/15 (0)

RE: Oops - beppe61 14:15:00 04/25/15 (0)

RE: "nothing audiophile about it, per se" - Duster 09:23:50 04/22/15 (2)

RE: "nothing audiophile about it, per se" - ipdtt 16:14:31 04/22/15 (1)

RE: "nothing audiophile about it, per se" - ipdtt 16:17:40 04/22/15 (0)

DIY mil-spec DC umbilical

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