Is the Squeezebox Touch a good transport?

adydula · « **Reply #40 on:** 20 May 2010, 12:25 pm »

What needs to be modded on the Parts Express Power Supply to make it work with the Touch??

Thanks
Alex

eclein · « **Reply #41 on:** 20 May 2010, 12:34 pm »

Check out Waynes post #22 in this thread....he outlines some of the requirements

adydula · « **Reply #42 on:** 20 May 2010, 04:33 pm »

Thanks,

I was looking for more specific info, like change out the Voltage regulator etc for one that does 5 volts etc...is this a simple fix?

I would like to just try this without out all the caps etc...

I am using a touch with a powered external SSD drive. Works nicely.

Thanks
Alex

Wayne1 · « **Reply #43 on:** 20 May 2010, 04:39 pm »

The voltage regulator in the PE is an adjustable one. To get to output 5 volts you would have to change one resistor to get five volts out. I do not recall exactly what value resistors are used in the PE supply so you would have to pull the PS apart, measure the resistors and calculate what the value should be to get 5 volts.

In any case, the PS will run very warm with the Touch. The ELPAC WM-220 would be a better choice.

adydula · « **Reply #44 on:** 20 May 2010, 05:39 pm »

Wayne will the WM220-1 work out of the box with the touch or require a plug change to fit the touch?

Alex

adydula · « **Reply #45 on:** 20 May 2010, 06:03 pm »

Wayne,

Found the answer, no it needs the correct power plug....These things are really OLD supplies, I found several at $33 price range refurbed, $125 new but still 12-13 yrs old in a box, never used.

Anything that 'old' I would not trust unless I replaced all the caps ec..

More to think about.

Alex

mr_bill · « **Reply #46 on:** 20 May 2010, 07:05 pm »

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=120-536&ctab=1#Tabs

The PE power supply outputs 5amps (Adjustable knob) and 2 amps....why wouldn't it work with the Touch?

adydula · « **Reply #47 on:** 20 May 2010, 10:33 pm »

UPDATE II: Parts Express told me its 6 selectable voltage settings, the guy said to try 6 volts, its close enough!!! (ouch?)..

UPDATE:

It wont work, if u look it has 6 discrete voltage settings:

3Volts,4.5 Volts, 6 Volts-7.5 Volts, 9Volts, 12Volts.

All capable of sourcing 2 amps.

There is NO 5 volt setting here the knob is not variable just selectable across these 6 voltages if I read this correctly.

Wayne indicates that u need to take it apart measure some resistors and change on of them in the divider network to give u 5 volts.

When I get mine i will do this and report back on how it sounds and how hot it gets etc.

Original response:

mr bill...i dont know, i didnt realize it had a 5 volt setting at all?? I have one on its way and will find out soon! Its been reported that the Touch will not power up with it??

Hmmm. dont know?

Alex

eclein · « **Reply #48 on:** 20 May 2010, 10:50 pm »

Parts Express power supply has following settings-(3-4.5-6-7.5-9-12V DC), I double checked with my actual product.
The 4.5V to 6V gap is the problem I think.

mr_bill · « **Reply #49 on:** 20 May 2010, 11:55 pm »

ok, now I get it!

Quote from: eclein on 20 May 2010, 10:50 pm

Parts Express power supply has following settings-(3-4.5-6-7.5-9-12V DC), I double checked with my actual product.
The 4.5V to 6V gap is the problem I think.

adydula · « **Reply #50 on:** 21 May 2010, 01:27 pm »

Wayne,

Why is the PE supply running hot? Not able to source enough current or inaedequate heat sinking? or too low wattage parts spec?

Thanks
Alex

Wayne1 · « **Reply #51 on:** 21 May 2010, 01:52 pm »

Alex,

The PE supply is built very inexpensively. They use the absolute smallest amount of heatsink they could get away with. For the DUET it is not a problem as it draws very little current. The Touch draws more. The regulator they use is a bit under rated.

The ELPAC is quite a bit larger and has a lot more heatsinking. With the mods I do, everything except the transformer and regulator are replaced with higher quality, brand new components.

If wanted, I can even add and IEC connector to the hardwired AC inlet. It would have to be external of the case as there is no room internally.

While the PE and ELPAC supplies are decent, they are inexpensive. They will sound better than the stock switcher. Other power supplies WILL sound better but they also will cost more. The power supply IS what creates all the voltages that make the sound come out of the Touch. Without the cleanest power going in, you cannot have good sound coming out.

anubisgrau · « **Reply #52 on:** 21 May 2010, 02:01 pm »

I've noticed that a Touch package also contains a power supply with plug adapters. As I'm buying it now in the US with intention of use in Europe, are there also US -> shucko (European) adapters?

I assume the PS can accept both 110 and 220 volts, correct?

Wayne1 · « **Reply #53 on:** 21 May 2010, 03:48 pm »

The stock power supply that comes with the Touch is a switching power supply that can accept multiple voltages. In my system, it does not sound as good as a linear power supply.

The little wall wart that comes with the Touch can accept different AC connectors for use with the different AC connectors used around the world. My unit, sold for the US market, did not come with any other connectors. You may have to get in touch with Logitech to see if they would sell the adapters separately.

The ELPAC linear power supply was made in a 240 version but is rare. The PE supply is only 120 for sale in the US. There may be versions available from Farnell for 240.

adydula · « **Reply #54 on:** 22 May 2010, 04:59 pm »

Hello,

Well I got the Parts Express Power Supply and have used it for two days with my Touch.

I was expecting the worse and was pleasantly surprised.

Having an electrical engineering background and being an Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator, I have built many amplifiers, receivers and lots of assorted electronic crap

I have not taken the PE supply apart, yet, but like Wayne said it does run very warm to the 'touch'....

It does NOT have a 5 volt output, but this is fixable with a resistor change.

The surprising thing is the 6 Volt output works with the Touch with no apparent issues.

I got the pack of different size dc adapters and one of them fits the touch with no issues and no taping!!

Someone idicated that they tried this and the dc connector was loose???

Anyhow...the heating issue was easliy solved by using a Cool Wheel fan with a small variable voltage AC- DC controller I had
lying around...it has 10 selectable levels of voltages and on high its loud enough to hear and annoying, the good news is
it cools the PE supply nicely at the lowest level, and is inaudible and the supply is now just 'warm' very accepatable.

SO how does it sound?

Well...I got my second set of ears in the room and let her tell me...she noticed a really BIG differnce right away...this really surprised me. She told me that the PE supply in its present form is much better than the stock touch supply.
I concur but I didnt think it was an order of magnitude different.

The music just sounded 'clearer' more open nicer timbre...but being an analytical guy I like to see measureable difffernces to account for these changes.

So for $33 this was a nice affordable experiment...I think I will take this PE supply apart and see if I can make it better, by changing out some of the stock stuff, now where was that soldering iron of mine!!

All the best
Alex

Note: I need to pick up a tecktronix o-scope!

eclein · « **Reply #55 on:** 22 May 2010, 06:08 pm »

Alex give it a week (the PS) and it even sounds better-best tweak/tip I've ever gotten-Thanks to Wayne!!

mr_bill · « **Reply #56 on:** 22 May 2010, 06:11 pm »

Will running the Touch off the 6 volt output on the PE supply damage the Touch?

adydula · « **Reply #57 on:** 23 May 2010, 12:22 am »

To answer the 6 volt vs the 5 volt I would say no.

Electrical devices have a range of operability, circuits, integrated, op amps, digital IC's all have ranges in which they will operate.

I wish I had a schematic for the Touch to see what voltage / current circuitry they have for protection in the Touch. I could more intelligently answer the question.

So far 2 days of constant on, its working just fine.

Alex

Gopher · « **Reply #58 on:** 23 May 2010, 01:40 am »

How the heck did you get it working? I couldn't even power it on with the parts express power supply. One of the connectors from Parts Express seemed to fit fine, but I couldn't turn it on at 4.5 or 6 and know it worked because I'd previously used the Duet with it...

roscoeiii · « **Reply #59 on:** 23 May 2010, 01:56 pm »

mchuckp,

I see that you are using both the Oppo BDP-SE and Touch as a transport. Can you compare how they sound as transports through your W4S DAC? Doubt I am alone having all three of these pieces of equipment on my radar...