[jhm731]

What linear supplies has Ultimate II PS been compared it to?

What about Ultimate II PS makes it better than other 5V linear supplies? Lower noise, better regulation?

Has anyone put it on a scope and compared it to other 5V linears?

I've built several linear 5V supplies for my SB and as I (used to) live fairly close to Wayne had many opportunities to compare them. I've also heard the earlier iteration of the Welborne supply and in each instance the Ultimate II PS was better. We also compared the Bolder PS to a battery supply and all present, five at the time I believe, found the Bolder supply to be superior in all respects.

I have put it on a scope along with one of his very first "basic" supplies and it's very difficult to see any difference on my scope. Even the basic supply had nearly unmeasurable ripple and noise. I know his latest generation supplies have much better regulation but that's not the whole story. IMO the sound is a result of listening to various topologies and optimizing it for the SB.

As others have said, it's pricey but the results are superior.

Disclaimer - I am a friend of Wayne's and have in the past (several years ago) done some work for him, so my opinion is not entirely unbiased. However I do not have any current business relationship with him.

mike

Thanks for the "not entirely unbiased" feedback.

Still don't understand what makes the 5 volts coming out of Wayne's Ultimate II PS supply sound better than other linears.

[tonyptony]

Thanks for the "not entirely unbiased" feedback.

Still don't understand what makes the 5 volts coming out of Wayne's Ultimate II PS supply sound better than other linears.

jhm731, the whole question of PS regulation is one that is flogged ad nauseum on diyaudio.com. I should know; I'm one of the ones participating regularly there! 

My guess is Wayne is using either a standard linear regulator design with optimized parts, an optimized design (addition of things like diode shunts and RCRC filters) with optimized parts, or a full blown Jung type regulator with optimized parts. Incrementally, you improve things like line and load regulation, Zout, noise over bandwidth, etc. These are performance metrics that go a bit beyond using a scope to measure ripple. While they don't all inherently define the ultimate sound of a PS, Wayne's efforts in identifying the right design and the right parts for that design all contribute to the end result. In this regard I agree with mgalusha, although I would add that if he had a spectrum analyzer with FFT capabilities and tried the same comparison he'd have probably found some differences. 

Wayne, I don't think I said anything that would give you concern. Pretty common info in the world of PS design, but my apologies in advance if you do not agree. 

[TomS]

Thanks for the "not entirely unbiased" feedback.

Still don't understand what makes the 5 volts coming out of Wayne's Ultimate II PS supply sound better than other linears.

I've also built many linear supplies over the years, including the Jung SuperRegulators and can't really explain it rationally either.  I can confirm that the sum of the Wayne's parts (SB mid, Ultimate MK II, Summit DC, Summit AC) all work together extremely well.  I finally quit worrying about why I couldn't put something nearly as good together myself and just began enjoying the music that flows from it.

Tom

[ctviggen]

I have a scope that'll do FFT.  Testing electronic equipment like this can be tricky.  For instance, you'd have to have an AC power supply so that you can test at undervoltage and over-voltage conditions.  You'd probably also want to test some type of power supply rejection ratio, or what happens when noise is added to the system.  But then you'd have to have some type of a noise generator (white noise? pink noise?  Gaussian? Over what frequency range?).  You'd want to add that noise in and see what you get on the output.

[Double Ugly]

Thanks for the "not entirely unbiased" feedback.

Still don't understand what makes the 5 volts coming out of Wayne's Ultimate II PS supply sound better than other linears.

Mike may have put the disclaimer in his post to ensure everything is above board, but there is no one on this site - NO ONE - I trust more than Mike, and I doubt I'm alone in that regard.  If he didn't believe what he said was true and accurate, he wouldn't say it. 

As for why Wayne's stuff sounds better than others, I'm firmly entrenched in Tom's camp (i.e., the "why" doesn't matter to me any more, I just know that it does).

Of interest may be the fact that I no longer own a tricked-out Bolder SB or Ultimate PS, and I have no reason to ingratiate myself to Wayne or anyone else associated w/ Bolder Cable.

[jhm731]

Thanks for the "not entirely unbiased" feedback.

Still don't understand what makes the 5 volts coming out of Wayne's Ultimate II PS supply sound better than other linears.

Mike may have put the disclaimer in his post to ensure everything is above board, but there is no one on this site - NO ONE - I trust more than Mike, and I doubt I'm alone in that regard.  If he didn't believe what he said was true and accurate, he wouldn't say it. 

As for why Wayne's stuff sounds better than others, I'm firmly entrenched in Tom's camp (i.e., the "why" doesn't matter to me any more, I just know that it does).

Of interest may be the fact that I no longer own a tricked-out Bolder SB or Ultimate PS, and I have no reason to ingratiate myself to Wayne or anyone else associated w/ Bolder Cable.

Since you now have an Aberdeen Transporter, I can understand why you no longer own a tricked-out Bolder SB or Ultimate PS.

[Double Ugly]

Since you now have an Aberdeen Transporter, I can understand why you no longer own a tricked-out Bolder SB or Ultimate PS.

True, but the change was not the result of a direct comparison.  In fact, I hadn't even *seen* a Transporter in person until receiving my unit from Vegas.

Though I have no regrets, the Bolder SB modifications remain a valid, über fiscal and performance option IMO.

[zybar]

I didn't want this to turn into a Aberdeen vs. Bolder thread, so I am glad to read your comment Jim.

Both Anthony and Wayne make a VERY HIGH QUALITY product at a very attractive price.

I currently own or have owned prodcts from both, so I say this based on my own long term experience.

IMHO, you can't go wrong with either.

George

 

[Double Ugly]

I didn't want this to turn into a Aberdeen vs. Bolder thread, so I am glad to read your comment Jim.

Wayne and his products have been very good to my bank account and my system, and I still own and use at least one Bolder-modified component.

I have no interest in discussing my other equipment in this thread.

-Jim