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In Reply to: RE: Active OP stage question. posted by frog.hop@hotmail.co.uk on October 11, 2007 at 02:35:55
and can tell you that the SB is a major upgrade compared with my DVD player.
Loving the Squeezebox and RAKK DAC MK II combination. I have doubts though about the need for the Pacecar because of the ASRC part of the RAKK DAC.
I'm curious though about what a linear psu (as opposed to the switching psu)would do even with the Squeezebox as a transport only. I expect to hear zero improvement by the way...
To infinity and beyond!!!
I too found that the SB was far better as a transport than I expected, however I must admit that when I changed over to my custom built linear power supply there was a very large improvement over the switching one that came with the SB.
I found the linear supply had a far smoother less grainy sound and was had a more musical and dynamic sound all together.
My PS does use high quality parts though, like a large pair of Black Gate reservoir caps Schottky diodes ect.
If you can try one out for yourself I think you might be pleasantly surprised and if you can make one yourself without it costing too much that would be even better :oD
I am planning to send my SB off to Wayne at Bolder Cable for his digital mods, even though the RAKK DAC has very good jitter rejection I still think the mod will benefit me as Wayne also improves other areas like the on board regulation and he uses Black Gate caps throughout plus it is far cheaper than the Pacecar combo which I am sure is very good it’s just way out of my price range.
If you do try a linear supply I hope you hear the great improvement to the SB that I did.
James
Gents,I have been kicking a ton of ideas around for a nice linear power supply for the SB3. My immediate thoughts are shunt regulation. So there are a couple ideas:
1) Cajole, pull, beg, cry in front of Dave Davenport to come up with a minimal reactance power supply for the SB3 (~5V at 2A). I only see him going for it if there is enough interest, and I think there is really only one person that's interested, and that's me!
2) Use Peter Daniels Universal Power supply board which uses Jensen 4 poles in a pi filter format, then plug that into a Paul Hynes shunt regulated power supply which will spit out 5V at 2A easily. Definitely more expensive than option 1 however.But...Both options should compete with an all battery PS (like the $$$$ Optima Reds) and be cheaper and more user friendly.
I'm also reconsidering the PaceCar given the ASRC implementation of the RAKK dac II. I figure it will only be icing on the cake, given the icing is $1500!
So it looks like for a RAKK dac Mk II + Minimal Reactance 12V supply+Active output stage w/onboard dual mono minimal reactance supplies, the minimum investment is about $1200. I'm expecting to spend about $2K in total, to accomodate a chassis, remote volume control, I/O connections, etc...then another $500 will accomodate an SB3 with a shunt regulated supply.
For about $2500, this should be about as far as I will go with digital...for now, hehe.
Anand.
Hi Anand,
I tell you what I will do: If five people step up and say that they are interested, I will design and price a 5V 2A Minimal Reactance Power Supply. Then at the stated price, if five people step up and say that they will buy one, I will go ahead and have two beta-level supplies built. Two of those five people should take a beta level supply (at a reduced price) and then I will come up with a final design and price. If five people say they will buy one I will place it in production.
So – the first step – who is interested?
Dave
Count me as interested.
Rupe