[Nick B]

I'm close to getting an Auralic Aries Mini and probably a used  Synology 240 + nas , but I could use some help regarding an external power supply. I have an Antelope Gold dac and the rest of the system is on par with the dac. A friend suggested an adjustable, multi tap linear ps and another friend suggested a Bellson. I'm not much of a diy guy, but do have a soldering iron and some meters. If I had detailed instructions, I could probably assemble a kit. I'd like to keep it at $500 or less. I don't know what size the connector is on the Mini or if there is an industry standard of sorts for external power supplies.

What units would you recommend?
Is there any value in powering the Synology from a multi tap unit?
Is there any value sonically for the Mini in running the 16v at a higher amperage, like 3 or higher?

Thanks,
Nick

[richidoo]

Hi Nick!
IMO, there is no advantage to fancy power supply on the NAS. It is just serving data via ethernet. But I'm sure you can find more than one person who claims upgrade PS on fileserver "improved the sound." I'd leave this upgrade to last.

Using Aries mini as streamer only, not using the internal DAC makes the PS slightly less imprtant, IMO, because the analog output stage is pretty critical and benefits most from a strong linear PS. Your Antelope will be handling analog duties and already has upgrade PS, so the Aries is only handling digital transport, so again, IMO the PS is slightly less important than the DAC. I recommended building a diy PS with Belleson regulator before because I forgot you had the Antelope DAC.

16V is not a standard voltage for off the shelf power supplies, so if it is really 16V then you'll need a custom PS. Belleson can make a custom 16V regulator, so that's a good option.

If the "multitap" PS has an output that serves the NAS, then it is OK. It must have the correct voltage, and it must have high enough current rating to meet the load of the NAS at peak.  The NAS specs should mention max current draw.

You can send a voltage to a load, and the impedance of the device will determine how much current is drawn. In simple terms, you wouldn't control the current. Ohms law determines how much current is drawn, given the supply voltage and the load's impedance at any given moment.  The power supply must be able to deliver the max current that might be drawn. The load (and current) will fluctuate.

[Speedskater]

Isn't the  Auralic Aries Mini an all digital unit?  If so a linear power supply won't change anything.

[Nick B]

Not sure what you mean by all digital. It has a dac that's DSD capable, but I'll primarily be using the digital out to my Antelope Gold. My understanding is a linear power supply has more benefit if one uses the analog out, but can still be beneficial if using the digital out.

[Nick B]

Hi Nick!
IMO, there is no advantage to fancy power supply on the NAS. It is just serving data via ethernet. But I'm sure you can find more than one person who claims upgrade PS on fileserver "improved the sound." I'd leave this upgrade to last.

Using Aries mini as streamer only, not using the internal DAC makes the PS slightly less imprtant, IMO, because the analog output stage is pretty critical and benefits most from a strong linear PS. Your Antelope will be handling analog duties and already has upgrade PS, so the Aries is only handling digital transport, so again, IMO the PS is slightly less important than the DAC. I recommended building a diy PS with Belleson regulator before because I forgot you had the Antelope DAC.

16V is not a standard voltage for off the shelf power supplies, so if it is really 16V then you'll need a custom PS. Belleson can make a custom 16V regulator, so that's a good option.

If the "multitap" PS has an output that serves the NAS, then it is OK. It must have the correct voltage, and it must have high enough current rating to meet the load of the NAS at peak.  The NAS specs should mention max current draw.

You can send a voltage to a load, and the impedance of the device will determine how much current is drawn. In simple terms, you wouldn't control the current. Ohms law determines how much current is drawn, given the supply voltage and the load's impedance at any given moment.  The power supply must be able to deliver the max current that might be drawn. The load (and current) will fluctuate.

Thanks, Rich.
Can you elaborate a bit more on current draw? From what I've read in the past, audiophile power supplies are often built with bigger transformers than are necessary. By doing that, it can yield improvements in sq. If that is true, then wouldn't that only be beneficial if the device comes close to to the current draw limit? Hope the question makes sense and thanks for your help and technical expertise
Nick

[Speedskater]

Oops! Whatever Auralic product that I linked to was digital only. But in any case I don't think that the unit much cares what the external supply delivers. It will have an internal regulated supply.  It (as do most small modern components) only as the external supply to meet UL safety requirements. (it's way less costly to buy a tested supply than to have UL test each design).
And no the digital output won't benefit from a different external supply.

[G Georgopoulos]

What units would you recommend?
Is there any value in powering the Synology from a multi tap unit?
Is there any value sonically for the Mini in running the 16v at a higher amperage, like 3 or higher?

Thanks,
Nick

all power nowadays in cdp/computer/most-dac is smps
is it good enough in my opinion yes

Is there any value in powering the Synology from a multi tap unit?

multi tap is for selecting the right voltage,value is the same as non multi tap

Is there any value sonically for the Mini in running the 16v at a higher amperage, like 3 or higher?

higher amperage is for bigger load,but you can use it in lighter loads,the only consideration is more cost
sonic value will depend on the Mini setting the amperage,so no sonic value from that

cheers

[Nick B]

all power nowadays in cdp/computer/most-dac is smps
is it good enough in my opinion yes

multi tap is for selecting the right voltage,value is the same as non multi tap



higher amperage is for bigger load,but you can use it in lighter loads,the only consideration is more cost
sonic value will depend on the Mini setting the amperage,so no sonic value from that

cheers

Thanks,
Nick