If your DAC uses a USB powered connection then this is a great piece of kit:
http://www.aqvox.de/usb-power_en.html
Makes the computer side a lot less relevant, as you get independent, galvanically isolated power for the USB device.
If your DAC uses a USB powered connection then this is a great piece of kit:
http://www.aqvox.de/usb-power_en.html
Makes the computer side a lot less relevant, as you get independent, galvanically isolated power for the USB device.
Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.
My take on it is that power is everything.
Clean the mains up effectively and you'll get tangible gains in sound quality.
The main culprit is switching noise from SMPS, and they're all pervasive.
TVs, DVD/BDPs, central heating, fridges, washing machines - the list goes on and on - they all have SMPS, and they're all chucking switching noise onto the mains.
Reduce all that switching noise, inaudible though it is, and your audio equipment will sound better.
Chris
Common sense isn't anymore!
Location: Suffolk, UK
Posts: 1,473
I'm Paul.
I think that things like mains filters are ferrite beads are somewhat effective at stopping noise from the mains getting into your equipment, but are can be much more effective if you use them to stop noise generated by equipment getting onto the mains. This is why instead of using a large mains filter block I use single filters primarily on anything with a switchmode supply including the wifi router, which is close to the HIFI. Ferrite beads are on the fridge and CH boiler mains cables instead on the HIFI mains leads.
~Paul~
Last edited by Stratmangler; 11-05-2018 at 09:29.
Chris
Common sense isn't anymore!
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
CD PLAYBACK - Shanling ET3 CD Transport over i2s to Dac + MOVIE PLAYBACK Oppo 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac)
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Shanling via Airplay 1 (losslessly) and onwards to Dac via Wireworld Silver Electra 7 i2s HDMI cable
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - Yup, it sounds better)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables
That's external to the equipment, though. I'm talking about noise generated within the audio equipment itself, which is an entirely separate issue. I'm theorising that this is the reason that cd players with high quality power supplies outperform those with 'just adequate' supplies.
The only smps I have that is active when the hi-fi is on is the router.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Yeah I agree with this, there's only a certain level of performance you're going to get with a couple of regulators feeding multiple chips.
Also how the equipment deals with the noise coming in is important, and in digital, how RF return currents / ground bounce are controlled is paramount. As an example my DAC has balanced mains built in, 9x transformer windings feeding 9x supplies, and each of those supplies is zero feedback and uses 3 stage (passive) common mode filtering. Overkill? I don't think so...
Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.
Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.
Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.