iFi iPower for Raspberry PI

[The Black Adder]

Please report back here with your findings - looks interesting and a price more in line with the Pi itself. I've seen people selling linear power supplies for it, but at over £200, which, to me, seems bonkers when the Pi itself just costs £30.

Why? It depends on how much you want to push the idea. If you spend £30 on one thing and £200+ on a PSU you can still save a lot of money over buying an off the shelf £500 - £1000 cd player/streamer of which the Pi+DAC can knock the socks off.

I personally judge the Pi/IQDAC as a giant killer but only with the right PSU.

Regarding the new wall wart, well even if it's only a little better than the Pi one then that's got to be a good thing.

[robtweed]

I'd prefer to just use an Anker power pack instead - that's in line with the cost of the Pi and does the job of improving its sound when I want to listen critically to music streamed via the Pi. At other times I live with a standard USB power supply.

[r100]

sorry, but to me it looks like an overpriced and repackaged "made in China" walmart charger. They don't even even mention the Amps it is supposed to output. If you are prepared to pay that much, then there are better options with linear PSU's on ebay like this one (random search on ebay).. you'd need to adapt the cable or make a jumper from micro USB to Jack but that's not a big deal but at least it is a proper PSU.

[The Black Adder]

sorry, but to me it looks like an overpriced and repackaged "made in China" walmart charger. They don't even even mention the Amps it is supposed to output. If you are prepared to pay that much, then there are better options with linear PSU's on ebay like this one (random search on ebay).. you'd need to adapt the cable or make a jumper from micro USB to Jack but that's not a big deal but at least it is a proper PSU.

+1

[lovejoy]

Much more information about the iFi power adapter here: http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-ipower/
Output current is 2.5A for the 5V version so more than enough for an Rpi setup.

No idea how good these things are but I love to give these things a go, so I'll take a punt on one and report back. I already have an Anker battery which works well that I can compare it against. It'll be interesting to see how things stack up between this, a standard wall wart the Anker battery and eventually, a Paul Hynes PSU...

I also notice that the Amazon seller is MCRU, so I would imagine these little units come recommended and have to be worth a try on that alone...

[roob]

sorry, but to me it looks like an overpriced and repackaged "made in China" walmart charger. They don't even even mention the Amps it is supposed to output. If you are prepared to pay that much, then there are better options with linear PSU's on ebay like this one (random search on ebay).. you'd need to adapt the cable or make a jumper from micro USB to Jack but that's not a big deal but at least it is a proper PSU.

You got me thinking now maybe I shouldn't have bought a psu from a company with a proven track record in ps solutions via a reputable UK reseller and I should have gone for a cheap no make linear Chinese psu that's probably full of fake parts, probably measures worse than a wall wart and could burn my house down

[r100]

ha ha, where is the real technical data ? all i see are jet fighters flashing by.. whatever is inside those chargers, they are overpriced.. but hey believe what you like

The central characteristic of iFi is in pursuit of the zenith in audio performance: it leaves no stone un-turned.

[Marco]

I'd prefer to just use an Anker power pack instead - that's in line with the cost of the Pi and does the job of improving its sound when I want to listen critically to music streamed via the Pi. At other times I live with a standard USB power supply.

Hi Rob,

I think you'd change your mind rather quickly if you heard what my RPi is producing with a Paul Hynes SR3DR linear PSU!

There's simply no comparison between that and the Anker, of which you mention, which I've also heard. As Jo correctly points out, thus partnered, the RPi/IQ Audio DAC can compete, sonically, with multiple-thousand pound music streamers, where essentially one is paying for a 'badge' - and *that* is precisely why it's worth spending the money necessary on such a PSU.

Honestly with this stuff, I've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt.

Marco.

[robtweed]

Marco

I'm not convinced that such a linear PSU for the Pi would make a difference to my setup. I'm using my Pi with the galvanically isolated version of the Digi+ board, then feeding a Caiman II. Perhaps someone could lend me one to try? I'd be happy to be convinced, but £200 is a significant punt on something that might make no material difference.

[roob]

I have the same Pi setup as you Rob but outputting to my Chevron Sabre dac, I also doubt spending a few hundred quid on a fancy psu just for the Pi is going to make a big difference in this context.