NAS Super-Low Noise Linear Power Supply

[Marco]

Hi James,

What sense do you mean? You just said you don't have expertise in this area so what exactly is the point you are trying to make?

Lol - nothing more than my instincts are telling me that something else (at source level), with my streaming set-up, is causing the improvements I've heard with the new PSU, which is completely separate from removing noise from the mains supply. And my instincts are often right.

No point in debating the matter though, as at the moment I can't offer any proper theories for the cause.

All of the things you have listed are either a matter of personal preference or things that would only affect the analogue domain. None of them would affect a digital signal unless they completely stopped it from working.

Yes, I know. I was simply making a general point about when some say things are "impossible".

It's often only considered as such, within the realms of THEIR current understanding, or what 'science says' - and perhaps not *actually* impossible at all. Quite simply, I never accept that anything is "impossible" in hi-fi (or indeed in many other matters) unless MY own judgement criteria indicates it as such.

In a closed system it is perfectly acceptable to define effects as possible or impossible. These are mutable terms though - If you wish to debunk the impossible claim, you must present evidence as to why it is no longer impossible.

Indeed so, but I'm not trying to "debunk" anything; merely expressing some thoughts openly for others to consider or dismiss as they wish.

Being open minded is a prerequisite of gaining new knowledge. However, at a certain point you have to agree to a concensus or you never move forward.

I agree, but that doesn't mean that the consensus is *actually* right.

Fair enough. Done

Cheers

Anyway, returning to the subject in hand, it's good that different observations are being offered and debated, as that's how we learn.

However, until I get the chance to perform the test I outlined earlier (in relation to plugging the stock PSUs for the NAS into a separate mains radial from the rest of the system and comparing results there with the current set up), I'm happy to hold the view that something else is responsible for the sonic improvements I'm hearing, other than simply removing noise from the mains.

Won't be around much today, as it's Easter Sunday, the weather is gorgeous, and we're going out to a lovely country pub for lunch, with probably some hill walking afterwards! Laters muchachos

Marco.

[TheFlash]

However, until I get the chance to perform the test I outlined earlier (in relation to plugging the stock PSUs for the NAS into a separate mains radial from the rest of the system and comparing results there with the current set up), I'm happy to hold the view that something else is responsible for the sonic improvements I'm hearing, other than simply removing noise from the mains.

Now if only you'd said "I'm happy to entertain the possibility that" rather than "I'm happy to hold the view that", we'd actually be close to agreeing!

[Macca]

Some good stuff in this long post but also some poor stuff, like the paragraph starting "regardless of whether...". I will post separately to clarify what I think is happening in Marco's system which I believe might well make a real audible difference.

You don't agree that better power supplies equals better sound?

Your explanation is that the SMPS adds noise to the mains so removing it will improve the sound, but I can't agree that the difference Marco says the power supply has made seems to be above and beyond any effect unplugging SMPS from the mains has. I only have 1 SMPS in the house, that powers the cable box, unplugging it makes no difference I can hear and there are no dedicated rings, all on the same one.

[Marco]

Now if only you'd said "I'm happy to entertain the possibility that" rather than "I'm happy to hold the view that", we'd actually be close to agreeing!

Sure, I'm cool with that

Marco.

[Stratmangler]

Cat 6 has a very different shielding configuration to Cat 5e

Really?
The last time I terminated Cat5e or Cat6 there was no shield.

[TheFlash]

You don't agree that better power supplies equals better sound?

Your explanation is that the SMPS adds noise to the mains so removing it will improve the sound, but I can't agree that the difference Marco says the power supply has made seems to be above and beyond any effect unplugging SMPS from the mains has. I only have 1 SMPS in the house, that powers the cable box, unplugging it makes no difference I can hear and there are no dedicated rings, all on the same one.

Correct. I don't believe that better power supplies equals better sound. I believe that better power supplies can equal better sound. That "can" is critical. In some devices on some systems in some mains power topologies... but to extrapolate from, say, Marco's experience to a general rule would be madness, as it would be to extrapolate from mine or yours.

[Macca]

Fair enough.

[WESTLOWER]

The default setting for FLAC on LMS is 'Native' (so will send the FLAC as is), it's in the advanced settings/file types/ section...

Sorry Will for being a bit thick! Do I leave it as Native or disable that setting on LMS? And then do I have to
Enable PCM on the picore player?

[TheFlash]

Fair enough.

Thanks Macca!

[Stratmangler]

Sorry Will for being a bit thick! Do I leave it as Native or disable that setting on LMS? And then do I have to
Enable PCM on the picore player?

Just leave it as it is on default (Native).
PiCorePlayer handles both file types natively.