Tweakers' Asylum

RE: That's a tough one

174.18.38.30

Mick Wolfe

In Reply to: RE: That's a tough one posted by 1973shovel on March 15, 2024 at 06:44:36

At those prices listed in the Audio Bacon review, I'd be more than tempted to do DIY as well. In the meantime, a $70 iFi seems to do just fine with my Geshelli J2/S. Also perfectly happy with a Swagman at 2X the cost of the iFi. That's just me though, others may be far more demanding. The prices listed in the review seem a bit beyond outrageous, but as always, YMMV.

Follow Ups:

I agree that a +$1,000 power supply... - 1973shovel 10:32:45 03/15/24 (7)
...makes little sense with a $249 DAC, at least for me. I mostly included the Audio Bacon link because the original poster was looking for reviews, albeit of the Chinese supplies, apparently the ones offered on ebay. Sometimes reading reviews, even if it exceeds my price range, can give me ideas to go on.

"a $70 iFi seems to do just fine with my Geshelli J2/S" My question to you is whether the iFi supply was an improvement over the Geshelli switch mode supply included with it.

Another Asylum Inmate I talk to introduced me to the Geshelli J2 DAC. He bought one of the Chinese ebay 12 VDC supplies (sorry I don't remember the seller) and also an upgraded DC umbilical cable. His reported results (over the supplied SMPS), along with my concerns regarding internal parts, as stated in my other post, didn't cause me to want to rush off to buy one.
- RE: I agree that a +$1,000 power supply... - Mick Wolfe 11:03:55 03/15/24 (6)
  Truth be told, I bought the iFi PS before the J2 arrived. So I never did an actual comparison. I just took the advice of a friend who liked the iFi PS's. Plus Sherri at Geshelli recommended them (iFi) along with few others. None of her recommendations were above $150 as I remember. Then a few months back, I had my original J2 upgraded.(AKM 4499/Sparkos opamps)
  So basically a pricy PS was never in my upgrade path.
  - Those iFi supplies offer great value. - Vinyl Valet 08:47:50 03/16/24 (1)
    I have many of them in my studio, either iPowerX or iPower Elite depending on current draw, on various keyboards, synths, effects and even my converters. Nice improvement over stock wall warts for a very reasonable price. For various reasons, it's much easier to hear changes in audio quality in the studio than in my consumer listening rooms.
    Those that believe audiophile myth #72, all SMPS sound bad, need not apply. For you DIY guys out there, even a bad SMPS wall wart can be improved greatly as follows:
    
    Open up your mind, in pours the trash. - Meat Puppets, 1987
    - PO89ZB , An Inline DC filter for SMPS Wall Warts (Open in New Window)
    Edits: 03/16/24
    - With that said... - Vinyl Valet 09:04:28 03/16/24 (0)
      These also offer great value for those that insist on linear supplies (link).
      
      Most audiophile linear supplies sold in the US are the exact same, sourced from China and rebranded PS with a grossly elevated price. I know one popular and reputable equipment maker/seller that was selling their branded "audiophile supply" (I compared it directly to one I purchased at aliexpress) for $165. The one I got from ali was $35/free shipping. BTW, they kept blowing up since they were underrated for the application. I was able to source the transformers that blew from ali for $15 and was able to salvage them for more suitable applications).
      
      All these supplies have you specify the voltage before you check out. If you take off the top, all have the familiar, small, blue pot that can be adjusted to any voltage within the unit's operating range.
      
      LOL; every audiophile supply must have "overpressure protection"!
      
      Open up your mind, in pours the trash. - Meat Puppets, 1987
      Ultra-low noise Linear power supply DC 5V/9V/12V/15V/18V/19V (Open in New Window)
  - Geno and Sherri are a pleasure to deal with, aren't they? - 1973shovel 07:56:37 03/16/24 (3)
    I use a buffered passive line stage (The Truth) and Geno increased the output of my J2 to 4V while he was building it for me. I had found that source components with <2 VAC seem to have compressed dynamics, unless an active preamp is used.
    - RE: Geno and Sherri are a pleasure to deal with, aren't they? - Mick Wolfe 09:53:08 03/16/24 (2)
      Yes sir. They answer the phone and are extremely helpful. When you do have to leave a message, they'll call you back in a timely manner. Class operation.
      - Upgrades - 1973shovel 14:14:06 03/16/24 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Geno and Sherri are a pleasure to deal with, aren't they? posted by Mick Wolfe on March 16, 2024 at 09:53:08
        
        i didn't know they were offering things like the Sparkos opamps, so thank you for that!
        
        RE: Upgrades - Mick Wolfe 22:02:42 03/16/24 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Upgrades posted by 1973shovel on March 16, 2024 at 14:14:06
        
        I didn't think the original J2 (AKM 4493) could be upgraded, but I had to ask. To my surprise, Sherri said sure, they could take my unit and do the full "S" upgrade.(AKM 4499/Sparkos) It wasn't free by any stretch, but it was worth it. Otherwise that original J2 would have just been retired to the audio closet.

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