MSB DAC's -- can they be battery powered?

JackStraw · « **on:** 30 Mar 2005, 03:17 pm »

I have an MSB DAC that was modded by Stan Warren. I bought it through Audiogon with the Stan Warren modded Aiwa changer. It came with the stock power supply as well as a little blue homebrew version that I was assured "smokes" the stock power supply. Well, this power supply has smoked itself a few times.

I actually sent it back to the seller for repair the first time, but it's gone poof again. Apparently, it needs to be plugged in to the DAC before plugging into the wall, which is easy enough but if you do anything to bump that connection -- smoked. I will open it up to take a look, but I'm currently using the stock power supply and exploring more stable solutions.

I'm aware that MSB sells the P1000, and that there are mods available. I've also seen talk of the Monolithic Sound HC-2, and shoot you can probably have that modded as well. But, with all of the discussion these days about SLA power, I thought that it might be possible to explore battery power for the MSB units. Has anyone looked into this?

JoshK · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 Mar 2005, 03:26 pm »

I was given a schematic of the P1000, although a little cryptic. I know that you need more than just one voltage, which makes battery supply difficult and inefficient, but possibly you could power the important part with batteries and the other portions with A/C, or....

Its an interesting enough thought. Want to sell me that homebrew?

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 Mar 2005, 03:40 pm »

Jack,

I haven't looked at any battery option on the power supply, but I have the P1000 hooked up in tandem with my Gold Link III. It was nothing special until I bought a Revelation Audio Labs Power 'power' cable for it - replacing the standard computer grade umbilical.

I had Steve at Empirical Audio modify my transport, DAC and P1000 last year....but the addition of the RAL cord ($149 I think) was as significant as the $2000.00 spent on new routing, parts and labor. It's a must if you're gonna' hang with the MSB and get the P1000 with it. It was the most significant wire upgrade I've ever personally experienced. Most wire upgrades, for me, have been about taste and subjectivity...this was concrete betterment in all ways.

audioengr · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 Mar 2005, 07:04 pm »

Battery power is possible, but requires three supplies, so three batteries.

JackStraw · « **Reply #4 on:** 31 Mar 2005, 10:48 pm »

Quote from: audioengr

Battery power is possible, but requires three supplies, so three batteries.

That sounds complicated and expensive -- probably more than I'm willing to invest but others may be interested. Do you think that it would perform well?