[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Low budget clean power

[Learnincurve]

Hi,

Maybe the wrong forum for anything "Low budget", but reality dictates
that I try to get the best bang for as few bucks as possible, so here
goes:

I have a touch, playing into a Cambridge Azur 640 multi-purpose
decoder/amp (multimedia + music), which I just discovered can't handle
anything over 96KHz PCM.

I like listening to classical vocal (opera, Lieder, etc) and have
identified that a nasty hard-edge to some voices may be at least
partially attributable to low-def digital sources, so am trying to
upgrade both source material and equipment to handle higher def.

As I'm on a very tight budget, I decided to go for a SMSL 'Sanskrit
PRO-B DAC'
(https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-new-Sanskrit-decoder-DAC-6-anniversary-edition-Optical-fiber-coaxial-USB-input-support-mobile-phones/32409198095.html)

I'm also running out of power sockets and am running more equipment than
I'd like (including my touch) from original wall warts, so decided at
the same time, to invest in a 'cheap, dual linear power supply'
(https://www.aliexpress.com/item/WL-Hifi-2-way-linear-power-supply-DC-2-USB-preamp-DAC-external-linear-PSU-amplifier/32249266485.html).

A polite request at this point not to be too rude that I didn't spend
the extra 1000$ on something that will sound better. I didn't and I
can't.

However, as I'm aware that I didn't buy the best and as I' also aware
that power supply is likely to be a major source of degradation, I'd
like also to implement a CHEAP alternative to the
'
iFi Audio DC iPurifier Audiophile DC Power Filter'
(http://www.ebay.com/itm/iFi-Audio-DC-iPurifier-Audiophile-DC-Power-Filter/391548685062?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D21c3d15354374cb79a9b36b8ce7c248b%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D18%26sd%3D391393315448)

as close as possible to the power inputs to both the touch and the DAC.

I see a number of cheap choke+caps filters available, similar to
http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_15&products_id=138

Amperage may be a limitation on some of these. As you know, the Touch
draws 5V at about 2.5 A, while the DAC needs 9V at 2.5W (0.28A) - if I'
m to believe the web page.

What would be my best bet to filter as well as possible, without
spending much money?

BR.


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[Greg Erskine]

Interesting safety "earth" on that cheap power supply. :mad:

If you buy it, be a little careful and get it examined by an
electrician.


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[Learnincurve]

Post by Greg Erskine
If you buy it, be a little careful and get it examined by an
electrician.

Haha! Yes. I noticed that too ;).

I'll obviously take a look and ground it if it's missing on mine.


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[Learnincurve]

'Here's'
(https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/RTF-LC-FILTER-3AMP-2-4S/727847_32347194394.html)
a different type of filter (this one will handle up to 3A)


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[drmatt]

If you are using an offboard DAC I would not bother upgrading the Touch
PSU at all, it won't make the slightest difference. Generally, if you
don't like the way it sounds at the moment your best bet would be to
a)make sure everything is working properly and then b) get some
different speakers.




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[arnyk]

Post by drmatt
If you are using an offboard DAC I would not bother upgrading the Touch
PSU at all, it won't make the slightest difference. Generally, if you
don't like the way it sounds at the moment your best bet would be to
a)make sure everything is working properly and then b) get some
different speakers.
And I would definitely get clean digital sources of at least
uncompressed CD quality. The jury is very much out on whether there is
any real benefit to going beyond that...

+1

Audiophile mythology is that if are a real audiophile, you can sort
power supplies by ear.

Power for USB devices has become some kind of a new religion.

Reality is not so much.

If your system sounds harsh, there is always speaker positioning
(toe-in, room location), speaker adjustments (If there are any), system
equalization, and room acoustics.


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[drmatt]

If you've done all that and you're still not happy .. your next step
would be to try a different amplifier, IMHO. Arcam aren't known for
being harsh, quite the opposite in fact, but I don't know much about the
Azur range. In general the speakers have by far the biggest influence on
the final sound balance, followed by the power amp.


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[Julf]

Post by Learnincurve
I like listening to classical vocal (opera, Lieder, etc) and have
identified that a nasty hard-edge to some voices may be at least
partially attributable to low-def digital sources, so am trying to
upgrade both source material and equipment to handle higher def.

What makes you think the "def" (I assume you mean number of bits and
sample rate) is an issue?

Post by Learnincurve
However, as I'm aware that I didn't buy the best and as I' also aware
that power supply is likely to be a major source of degradation

What makes you think that power supply is likely to be a major source of
degradation?

Post by Learnincurve
What would be my best bet to filter as well as possible, without
spending much money?

Chokes and caps are the way to go, once you know that the issue is
related to the power supply. But if you don't have an unlimited budget,
I suggest you first verify what is really causing the issue before you
start using any money.



"To try to judge the real from the false will always be hard. In this
fast-growing art of 'high fidelity' the quackery will bear a solid gilt
edge that will fool many people" - Paul W Klipsch, 1953
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[Wombat]

I still can't read about the speakers.
Many so called High End speakers are voiced a bit strange to archieve
some spectacular sound on first listen. Preferable some Jazz that kicks.

With voices some slight anomalies in the mids can do lots of harm and
people spend endless amounts of time, money and nerves to fix it but
never can get it right.
Harsh voices from standard definition is not plausible.



Transporter (modded) -> RG142 -> Avantgarde Acoustic based 500VA
monoblocks -> Sommer SPK240 -> self-made speakers
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