[Poultrygeist]

The Jameco ReliaPro linear power supplies are well worth their inexpensive price. Here I'm using a 5v ( DDU050100M2270 ) with a C power adaptor ( AAOTKK Type ) from Amazon with a SMSL SU-1 DAC in my porch streaming system. I'd call it the poor man's version of the iFi which I have and use with a Topping DX3pro. The Jameco seems comparable and you can check out the positive reviews on Amazon. It's plugged into the power strip on top and it's quite heavy and larger than most wall warts.

[Poultrygeist]

You can see the Type C adaptor in this picture that is needed to replace the common DAC 5v phone charger power supply.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I own one of those Jameco LPS's.  However, my Chinese Teradak LPS's sound much better.  You can pick them up for $50 to $80 depending upon the voltage and amps.  There are other Chinese LPS's that are similar.  You can find them on Ali Express.  I own 2 of them.

[Poultrygeist]

The Teradaks LPS's I've googled are well over $100. Can you provide a link for the $50-$80 version?

The 15V Jameco Linear I bought for a Topping DAC cost $9.74.



 

[Poultrygeist]

One of the best C&C LR power supplies I've found is a Pyramid PS- 3KX currently on sale at Parts Express for $36. I wish I had a 12V DAC because I know how much it improved the sound of this FX tube preamp.

[Poultrygeist]

I've also used the Pyramid linear to power amps with excellent results. Here it's making a significant improvement in the sound of a little class d amp.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The Teradaks LPS's I've googled are well over $100. Can you provide a link for the $50-$80 version?

The 15V Jameco Linear I bought for a Topping DAC cost $9.74.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800911972658.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&gclsrc=aw.ds&albagn=888888&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=en2255800911972658&ds_e_product_merchant_id=108900972&ds_e_product_country=US&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=20268592310&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwo8S3BhDeARIsAFRmkOPw82uNMAOpSiPiQ5nuP3kpCWyytU2AAWjMr_Di91ekBUGzgiUznB8aAmCnEALw_wcB&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

And here are similar LPS

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-linear-power-supply-5v.html?spm=a2g0o.home.auto_suggest.1.2b2476dbykR4ZK

[I.Greyhound Fan]

By the way bird man, I have an IfI Power-X and it does not come close to being as good as the Chinese LPS's with my son's Chord Qutest DAC.  We also use them to power JCAT usb cards.

I use a Jameco LPS to power a Topping E50 DAC.  I am not sure that it made much of a difference in sound with this little DAC.

[WGH]

The Chinese power supplies on Aliexpress don't have any specifications so of course they can sound different. You pays your money, you takes your chance.

I'm a big fan of Acopian linear regulated power supplies, they are industrial grade, built like a tank and designed to run 24/7. They are not pretty at all and you have to DIY all your connections.

Acopian power supplies are made in the USA and available in any volt and amp combination your gear needs. The retail prices are not C&C but I buy mine on eBay for a song.
The trick is to find the power supply you need on the Acopian website then paste the model number into the eBay search.
https://www.acopian.com/

My USB card uses the Acopian 5EB200 5v 2amp linear power supply.
Load 0.25%, Line 0.05%, Ripple 1 mV RMS
$20 on eBay

I also have a Acopian B5G400 5v 4amp linear supply
Load 0.3 %, Line 0.1%, Ripple 1.5 mV RMS
$45 on eBay

If you want the very best can go for the Acopian Series A - High Performance (the model numbers begin with the letter A).
Prices for used Series A power supplies are above C&C guidelines.
Line + - 0.005%
Ripple 0.25 mV RMS

1.5v - 200v DC power supplies are available
https://www.acopian.com/single-l-goldbox-m.html


Testimonials:

Tech Mecca, Inc.

“I have been specifying and installing Acopian power supplies in professional audio applications since 1979 or 1980.
Gold Box Linear "A" supplies are the best I have come across for demanding audio applications such as analog recording and mixing consoles.
Their regulation is very tight and they are conservatively built.”

John Klett, President and Owner



Georgia Tech Research Institute
Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory

“Without question Acopian is reliable. We've tried several different brands of power supplies, but sometimes they would just die for no apparent reason, even though we tried to oversize them as a safety factor.
Then, we tried Acopian, and you just can't kill them - they just last forever.
And that's what we need, because we build a lot of support equipment for electronic systems in military tracked vehicles that go out into harsh environments,
get shook up, get hot, cold, dry, dusty all sorts of environmental challenges.
We don't hesitate to put Acopian power supplies into rugged environments because they just last. If Acopian made automobiles, I'd buy one without question.”

David A. Price, Research Technologist (research engineer)

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I have 2 different chinese LPS and they both sound the same and are better than the IFI.

[Poultrygeist]

One factor I appreciate about the Jameco linear power supplies is they have UL certification. That means they meet electronic standards of the third party Underwriter Laboratories.

Another excellent choice for a linear regulated power supply is the Astron. They are popular with ham operators and used ones are available at low prices on the bay. They are really heavy units like the one shown here powering a class d amp. They are made in the US.

[Poultrygeist]

Here the little FX tube preamp is dwarfed by its Astron PS. It's truly amazing how much improvement the Astron and other linear PSU can make in SQ.

[Poultrygeist]

When I started this thread I didn't mean to imply that the Jameco linear power supplies are the best thing going but they are most appropriate for a C&C forum discussion ( under $10 for the 15v and under $20 for the 5v ). In my case they outperform the stock wall wart that came with my DAC and the standard phone chargers I've tried. I had lost the 15v power supply that came with a Topping DAC and found to my surprise that the Jameco linear was actually cheaper than a stock replacement unit.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

PG, I know you did not mean that it was the best PS.  I own a Jameco and still use it with a Topping E50 DAC.  I was just throwing out there that there are some good reasonably priced chinese LPS.  Believe me, I would prefer to buy made in the USA but these Chinese LPS's really took our Chord Qutest to another level of refinement.  It was night and day.  Same for using one to power my Jcat card.

[MttBsh]

I would love to make use of an external power supply in my system - I understand that better quality, pricier power supplies offer cleaner power which translates into better sound improvements, but I have some super basic questions - can most any audio component be plugged into one? It would seem obvious that one would have to be careful to ensure that the power output of the supply will not be too strong or too weak for the component it's powering... I did a little research but had trouble finding answers to such basic questions. For example, my Stereo Maraschino amplifier came with a 60 volt external power supply - would a better quality or higher voltage supply offer sound improvements?   

If anyone has general thoughts / directions I would love to hear it. Thanks in advance!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

A different PS could possibly improve the sound but I thought that company already uses a good power supply.

[MttBsh]

A different PS could possibly improve the sound but I thought that company already uses a good power supply.

The power supply certainly is good - the Maraschino sound is amazing - but I read not long ago that someone built or used a different power supply that took it to another level, he didn't specify what that power supply was. I am also thinking about something to improve the sound of my already very nice sounding Channel Islands streamer/DAC

[Poultrygeist]

FWIW I've used a Pyramid linear regulated PS for years with preamps and amps. Its output is 13.8 volts yet it works great and makes a huge improvement with all my 12 volt components. Someone explained to me why there were no issues but I've long since forgotten.

I'm considering a Geshelli Labs DAC not just because of all the hype which I believe is deserving but because it uses a 12v power supply ( rare these days ). I've got three 12v linear power supplies that I believe would take the J2 to another level. 

[Poultrygeist]

If you're considering a 12v Pyramid or other LR power supply with terminals you'll need one of these to accept bare wires from the terminals. Red to + and black to -


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079R94L4J/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B079R94L4J&pd_rd_w=aYQUY&content-id=amzn1.sym.386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_p=386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_r=MJQ2KPG3BASW0C1D2BFD&pd_rd_wg=VlvAZ&pd_rd_r=231d56d7-2e1b-4841-9932-9eafcb69126a&s=electronics&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM

[Doublej]

Any recommendations for a USB C terminated 5 volt LPS for a WiiM Pro Plus?