[WGH]

I'm always on the lookout for affordable upgrades that really work and ditching those wall warts that power your digital front end gets rid of a lot of noise you didn't even know was there and makes for a much more relaxing, analog sounding experience. I have been reading about alternate power sources like the PurePower VLN power source and the different KingRex power supplies but have more fun with the small budget options.

My music server has a Acopian linear regulated power supply plugged into a Paul Pang USB card
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=122520.0

The servers SSD drive is powered by an Anker battery
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=135111.0

Next up was getting rid of the switching supply powering the KingRex USB Converter. The KingRex needs 7.5 V but only 200mA, which not a usual voltage. The solution was an Acopian P015MX100 Linear Regulated Adjustable Power Supply
http://www.acopian.com/store/productdetail.aspx?q=i2468



Adjust the voltage to 7.5 V with a meter, snip the wire from the wall wart and connect it to the Acopian being careful to triple check the polarity and enjoy a smoother presentation and as a bonus slightly deeper bass.

The Acopian power supplies are always on eBay, they are industrial units designed to be run 24/7 for eternity so I have no hesitation buying used units. The P015MX100 was $32.

Just do it, your ears will thank you.

Wayne

[jtwrace]

I use Acopian exclusively at work.  However, if you want a LPS with an R-Core Transformer that is adjustable and available in different nominal voltages and very cost effective I'd get something like this. 

[OzarkTom]

The Astron power supplies also sounds great. In comparison to a 12v King Rex, the Astron was much better sounding.

[DaveC113]

Glass Ware also offers some very nice linear regulated supplies for very reasonable prices if you don't mind a little DIY.

I bought this one to power the Tortuga LDR in the preamp I am building. It's a Broski design so I expect it to be awesome. Total overkill for what I need it for but it can't hurt. 

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/lvregulatorkit.html

[ttan98]

Hi WGH,

I agree with you I normally use linear power supply or battery powered accessories instead of switching power supply(PS) which normally introduce high frequency noise to whatever it is supplying to. My sound system setup is as follows:

1. Music Server: Lenovo 8" tablet running Win 8.1(later to move to Win 10) running in battery mode when playing music.
2. Single USB output from the Lenovo goes into to a USB HUB powered from a 12V battery. Attached to the HUB are all my accessories including, XMOS adapter, SSD (powered from Battery) disk, Mouse, CDrom.
3. I use Class D amp to drive my woofer, this Class D is powered from std linear PS rather than linear switching PS.

I don't use any switching PS in my audio chain. If you are keen on DIY you can always built linear PS from kits from Ebay.

Cheers thanks for reading.

[DaveC113]

I've also found a good linear supply outperforms most battery power supplies. I had an Optima battery and build a cap bank with both electrolytic + film bypass caps for a digital amp, then got a $30 One Electron linear supply used on ebay that was just as good or better.

[WGH]

I use Acopian exclusively at work.  However, if you want a LPS with an R-Core Transformer that is adjustable and available in different nominal voltages and very cost effective I'd get something like this.

I know nothing about R-Core Transformers but based on specifications of the two units I would pick the Acopian:

eBay linked 30W DC9V Hifi Linear power supply Regulated PSU for DAC /amp digital display:
Precautions
1.) because the temperature, external power supply, and display precision display limitations, allowing the display module displays the error of 1-2% no-load. For example 8V power supply, may be displayed as 8.1V is normal. This is much better than those without display switching power supply, there is universal table users will know, buy a 8V switching power supply, load may appear as 9V, huge drifts
2.) In the normal load current, allowing a 5% load error, is a normal phenomenon.

Acopian P015MX100:
Regulation, Ripple (in constant voltage mode):
Line Regulation: ±0.005% or 2 mV, whichever is greater.
Load Regulation: ±0.005% or 2 mV, whichever is greater.
Ripple: 0.25 mV rms.
Regulation, Ripple (in constant current mode):
Line Regulation: ±0.1% or 2 mA.
Load Regulation: ±0.2% or 5 mA.
Ripple: 0.1% rms.

I like a lot of parts inside the Acopian too, it makes it look like they know what they are doing:



List price for the Acopian is $235, not too bad by audiophile standards.