ALLO SHANTI Linear Power Supply (LPS) Review

[The Black Adder]

This review and others including other Allo products are also available on my website:

http://www.tannoyista.com


Hi all.

As you may all know I use the Allo KATANA + ISOLATOR + RPI3

I've been using Allo kit now for some time and with each development they have not disappointed to deliver.

One of the biggest and best developments to date is the KATANA DAC with the latest ISOLATOR. The KATANA DAC utilises the Ess9038q2m IC which has a customisable output stage. It also uses the NDK NZ2520SDA (http://www.ndk.com/en/products/search/clock/1190972_1433.html%20target=_blank) clock which is filtered by x2 LDOs in series achieving a very low jitter rate of 390fs.

With the announcement of a suited Power supply for the KATANA, the whole Allo Dac package is now totally fulfilled. I had been waiting for this for quite some time. It's now time to see what this thing can really do.

I really hate using standard plug-in supplies. They are noisy and cheap but they do the job. But with the Allo kit, using these cheap supplies the KATANA still blew me away. So what could a suited low noise linear PSU bring to the picture?

The LPS is quite a hefty little thing with high quality components used. The transformer has a dual output galvanically isolated 5.2V 3A and 5.2V at 1.2A outputs so it can also power the RPI 4. It uses a huge capacitance bank to reduce 50/60Hz noise and filtered by an LDO and caps up to 15.000uf. The next stage are the super capacitors which is where the final power come from.

Plugging in to both the ISOLATOR and KATANA units was a doddle. Lot's of extensions and plugs are provided which was good. No physical instructions though so this is something which would be good for the beginner. I'm one who likes to read 'real' instruction manuals :)

The LPS comes with two hard wired output cables which are nice and long so placement can be set well away from other units. But, in my opinion I think it would have been better to have SHANTI have plug points on the face plate so you can use your own, or different length cables.

Switching on the SHANTI lights up red inside. Seems to be quite a few LED's inside the case visible through the vents. There is no hum which is good, nice and silent.

Once the KATANA was booted up the space and the timing was improved dramatically. The bass was more organic and voluptuous, the mid range is smoother and solid and the highs seemed more fluid, less harsh and constrained.

Day 1 revealed the sound to have a very precise roll to it. Solid and smooth. Whereas day 2 after a good 24 hours burn-in seems to have brought everything more together and more focused, especially the bass which is now sounding more and more focused and tight.

As I go on with listening to this it's clear that the SHANTI has been developed to suit the KATANA with painstaking research. It simply fits the kit a glove and it's yet another development from ALLO which works flawlessly and enhances the whole kit to another level.

The sound is now more analogue sounding than ever, it's effortless and smooth with a vast and balanced amount of detail being exposed. The SHANTI doesn't over-cook the sound, it simply makes it more tasty.

More to come... I will keep this review up to date so please check back.

Jo
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[ALLO.com]

Dear Josie

thx you very much for taking the time and reviewing our products .


Shanti dual output LPS was developed for audiophiles. We wanted to bring one of the best supply with a reasonable price to the market.

It can be used with Katana , Digione Sig , in fact it can be used with any DAC and USB source (RPI4 and Topping dacs for example ) , anything that needs 5V

Also the output of Shanti is 5V at 3A and 5.2V at very low loads. Any time you have a load increase the voltage will slightly sag (if the voltage sags at 4.8V you will get undervoltage on RPI). Sshanti gets rid of any under voltages on RPI3/4

At last , Shanti noise is an incredible 0.08uV in audio band. However , noise is not the only reason for the performance of our LPS . Shanti output has supercaps that directly supply any dynamic load demand with no delay

We hope that you will enjoy .

[mightymonoped]

Thanks for being on the case (as usual) Josie :-)

Will be interested to see how the Shanti compares against a battery (Powerbank) powering on the clean side. If it's a significant improvement, the convenience of a single 'switch' will make it worthwhile for me.

Tony

[ALLO.com]

Hi Mightymonoped

Batteries are one of the cleanest sources of electrons . Shanti is rather equal in noise.
Batteries are galvanically isolated from mains. Shanti uses a R core transformer thats isolated as well. However any transformer has a very small "leakage current " that can bleed into DC (r

Batteries have a low internal impedance but Shanti trumps it by using 50K uF capacitors + supercaps (supercaps have the lowest impedance of any device)


At last Shanti has a "Earth plug" . Its not something that everyones knows but when earth connects to a digital ground (pcb) some HF currents will take that path leaving the output cleaner .

In the end , its hard to say whats better . I can say , from a tech point of view , that they are equal .

[The Black Adder]

Hi Ioan.

Impressive stuff.

I did wonder what the grounding post was for. How do I connect that and to what?

Sent from my 9001X using Tapatalk

[ALLO.com]

We are making a few documents available in the next 2 weeks (some people will finally start vacation:-)


For Katana , I would recommend connecting earth of Shanti to the hole closest to the power input of uController (its 2.5cm away at 60degree angle)

Some HI frequency noise will be gone but effect is subtle . Still we can measure it easy and I can hear it.

[mightymonoped]

Hi Mightymonoped

Batteries are one of the cleanest sources of electrons . Shanti is rather equal in noise.
Batteries are galvanically isolated from mains. Shanti uses a R core transformer thats isolated as well. However any transformer has a very small "leakage current " that can bleed into DC (r

Batteries have a low internal impedance but Shanti trumps it by using 50K uF capacitors + supercaps (supercaps have the lowest impedance of any device)

At last Shanti has a "Earth plug" . Its not something that everyones knows but when earth connects to a digital ground (pcb) some HF currents will take that path leaving the output cleaner .

In the end , its hard to say whats better . I can say , from a tech point of view , that they are equal .

Thanks for getting back so quickly with this. It's good to have what I thought to be the case, confirmed. The Allo kit never disappoints so I'm pretty sure the Shanti will be making it's way into my setup. It will also free up my Powerbank for other uses (powering my portable Astro-imaging mount) :)

Tony

[ALLO.com]

Is your powerbank using any switching , or its a pure battery (serial and paralel cells) ? What chemistry ?

[mightymonoped]

Is your powerbank using any switching , or its a pure battery (serial and paralel cells) ? What chemistry ?

Sorry but some of this will be over my head :-) It's a 20000 mAh lithium polymer battery with 2 outputs (combined output is 3.4A )

It's just a pretty standard mobile phone charger. I only use the one output, to the clean side of my Katana/Isolator setup.

[ALLO.com]

Your "battery" is not a real pure source of electrons

In fact most manufacturer use a battery with a DC/DC convertor *switching 1 million times a second) to get a exact voltage (5V usually) on the output no matter at what voltage the actual batteries are .

Problem is that all switchers (even your light switchers in the house) when turned on and off they make an "arc" rather a spark , that is very noisy (thats the reason most light bulbs will burn when you switch them on or off)

A quick link thats shows noise of some powerbanks https://goughlui.com/2014/06/09/exposed-power-bank-ripple-devices-at-risk/

Please note that minimum noise is at 50mV but bandwidth is 10Mhz . Using the same bandwith on Shanti you get 10uV (1mV = 1000uV)

The noise on your powerbank is 50.000uV and noise of Shant is reduced 5000 time (compared with your present solution). Will the sound improve 5k times ? Absolutely not .

However:

Shanti will be a definite upgrade and you will hear improved sound quality since the second you plug it in .

[PaulBarnett]

Hi Allo..

Talking about being on the case .. I have a digi sig, upgraded from the original digi - do you have any plans to offer a metal case for the sig? The metal case for the digione was way better than the plastic one, and I'd happily pay for a metal equivalent for the digi sig.

Please.

[ALLO.com]

The problem is that RPI just changed to version 4 so we need a whole new case

Meanwhile , we are lunching the USbridge Sig/Audiophile SBC , basically using RPI compute module we created a whole new PI. That device has a clean USB port and place for a Digione Sig (with alu case)

[jonners]

Meanwhile , we are lunching the USbridge Sig/Audiophile SBC , basically using RPI compute module we created a whole new PI. That device has a clean USB port and place for a Digione Sig (with alu case)

Is this just for USB devices, or will it also be of benefit to HAT DACs attached via I2S?

[ALLO.com]

Good question.

What is benefit ?

On Audio Precision testing , we see a change in harmonics (Rpi generate much more harmonics and of higher order compared with USbridge Sig) but THD+N is similar since its dominated by noise.

From a subjective point of view , we found a clear increase in SQ. Please understand that this is not a scientific test (double blind test)


After all this time designing audio devices , I know that THD+N is only one part of the equation of sound quality . Still, I struggle to understand why a better source is usually found to increase the SQ . Yes THD changes but it should be inaudible. And yet I hear the exact opposite .

[mightymonoped]

Just ordered a Shanti. Looking forward to hearing the Katana/Isolator through it’s designed Allo power source.

Tony


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mightymonoped]

Your "battery" is not a real pure source of electrons

In fact most manufacturer use a battery with a DC/DC convertor *switching 1 million times a second) to get a exact voltage (5V usually) on the output no matter at what voltage the actual batteries are .

Problem is that all switchers (even your light switchers in the house) when turned on and off they make an "arc" rather a spark , that is very noisy (thats the reason most light bulbs will burn when you switch them on or off)

A quick link thats shows noise of some powerbanks https://goughlui.com/2014/06/09/exposed-power-bank-ripple-devices-at-risk/

Please note that minimum noise is at 50mV but bandwidth is 10Mhz . Using the same bandwith on Shanti you get 10uV (1mV = 1000uV)

The noise on your powerbank is 50.000uV and noise of Shant is reduced 5000 time (compared with your present solution). Will the sound improve 5k times ? Absolutely not .

However:

Shanti will be a definite upgrade and you will hear improved sound quality since the second you plug it in .

You were not wrong. An immediate and noticable improvement in all aspects! An effortless 2 hour listening session followed what was only supposed to be a 10 minute quick listen. Looking forward to a proper session tonight. :-)

[The Black Adder]

Hey Tony.

Looks like you are hearing the same as myself.

Great stuff. Glad it's ticking the boxes.

The sound of mine is now really blooming. It does take time but it seems its improving all the time.

Very happy with the system and the SHANTI is a superb upgrade.

[emoji16][emoji108]

Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K

[ALLO.com]

Thx you we appreciate it.

[loonytunes]

I really will have to try this Pi streamer thing at some point in time - especially now you have this decent power supply.

Currently I'm enjoying the streamed sound from an Auralic Mini with Auralic Linear PSU (15v's needed here not 5v unfortunately) - and I am getting more than a decent sound.

I have various other good streamers too that I won't get into here.

What has me curious is - can a fully pimped out and Pi attached to an Allo Shanti be as good as 'anything' irrespective of price out there?

[Crom]

@loonytunes, in answer to your question...in my opinion, yes. But it depends upon your definition of fully-pimped-out. I had to desolder the regulators from my RPi2 board and replace them with individual feeds to get something approaching good. This was ok but it was only when I removed USB from the chain and used isolated I2S connections straight into the DAC that the RPi solution really wiped the floor with everything else I've tried. I now effectively have an ethernet-in DAC which completely does away with USB.

I've just ordered a shanti and a USBridge Sig board which I intend to use exclusively for its great power supply and will connect to my pi isolator (created by Ian Canada on DIYA).

@allo.com, will you be designing Shanti power supplies with different output voltages, or better still variable output? I could do with some 3.3v, 12v and even +/- 32v supplies. The gap that Paul Hynes has left in this market has yet to be filled (in my opinion) and I look forward to testing my Shanti when it arrives.

Cheers,
Crom

[Jimbo]

I really will have to try this Pi streamer thing at some point in time - especially now you have this decent power supply.

Currently I'm enjoying the streamed sound from an Auralic Mini with Auralic Linear PSU (15v's needed here not 5v unfortunately) - and I am getting more than a decent sound.

I have various other good streamers too that I won't get into here.

What has me curious is - can a fully pimped out and Pi attached to an Allo Shanti be as good as 'anything' irrespective of price out there?

No.

[Bigman80]

No.

lol

Short and sweet :lol:

[ALLO.com]

Agreed.

However try our Usbridge Sig . Its a RPI (compute module) that its feed using 30 LDOs. Using a Shanti + Usbridge Sig we are confident to be " the best of the best USB streamers"

Yes we are biased but we also know from testing that there is almost no noise on each rail .

I think that a few reviews are coming up

[eksiil]

Agreed.

However try our Usbridge Sig . Its a RPI (compute module) that its feed using 30 LDOs. Using a Shanti + Usbridge Sig we are confident to be " the best of the best USB streamers"

Yes we are biased but we also know from testing that there is almost no noise on each rail .

I think that a few reviews are coming up

could Tidal be streamed via the Usbridge? (I'm currently using Katana).

[julesd68]

I'm currently using a Powerbank with my DigiOne and am getting excellent results. I am curious however to find out how it sounds with a regular linear PSU and a Supercap. I'm put off the Shanti by the sheer physical size of it and will look for a neater solution.

[misterdog]

Just installed the Allo USBridge and Shanti LPS.

Good step up from a Pi4, feeding Ian Canada FIFO with NDK clocks and his dual mono DAC with transformer output, fed from his LiFE P04 supply.

Neurochrome amps with 0.00045 % THD+N into naked Quad 989's in custom steel frames.


Less noise = more music.

[Bencat]

I have just bought a Shanti LPS to use with my Allo Digione player . Will use the second supply to power a MiniDSP DDRC 22D . Does anyone know where the advice on using the earth lead on the Shanti is ? Where on the Digione would you attache the earth lead ?

[misterdog]

This is the thread for the Shanti/USBridge/Revolution DAC.

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendor-s-bazaar/337859-shanti-dual-lps-5v-3a-5v-1-5a.html

I connected the Shanti ground to my USBridge ground but heard no difference.

If there is no ground on the Digione you could cannibalise a USB plug to just utilise it's ground.

[StingRay]

Where is the best place to buy the Allo Shanti LPS in the UK?

Are there any plans to produce just a 5V 3A output? as that's all I require.

[jonners]

Where is the best place to buy the Allo Shanti LPS in the UK?

Are there any plans to produce just a 5V 3A output? as that's all I require.

It's not available in the UK afaik. The new Nirvana SMPS will give 2.85A at 5V. Available from the Allo website, EU shipping.

[StingRay]

It's not available in the UK afaik. The new Nirvana SMPS will give 2.85A at 5V. Available from the Allo website, EU shipping.

Thanks, yes I have just seen the Nirvana mentioned elsewhere, it is around £70 which is not too bad. Size is another benefit.

It seems to be a SMPS and not a LPS. Only been out a month, only seen one review from a user which was positive compared to an iFi.

2.85A should be enough for what I'm using, apparently 2A is adequate.

[Bencat]

While the Shanti is not available in the UK it can be ordered directly from Allo or Max2play and Audiophonics both stock the Shanti socan sell it directly to you in the EU (at least to the end of the year) .

I would also like to ask Allo who have added to this thread if they have done any work on using the Pi 4 in paticular the Pi 4 8gb unit as I have changed over to this in a straight Pi set up using Max2play and the Pi 8gb as a stand alone music streamer . The difference is sound quality from the Pi 4 4gb to the Pi 4 8 gb is quite a bit the 8gb sounding more natural larger sound stage and more textured bass . Voices using my active system are more like those that I get form my Quad ESL57 which means they are closer to the real sound a voice makes. Would be interested if you have tried what you think and can you offer any explanation as to why the 8 gb sounds so much better .

[StingRay]

While the Shanti is not available in the UK it can be ordered directly from Allo or Max2play and Audiophonics both stock the Shanti socan sell it directly to you in the EU (at least to the end of the year) .

I would also like to ask Allo who have added to this thread if they have done any work on using the Pi 4 in paticular the Pi 4 8gb unit as I have changed over to this in a straight Pi set up using Max2play and the Pi 8gb as a stand alone music streamer . The difference is sound quality from the Pi 4 4gb to the Pi 4 8 gb is quite a bit the 8gb sounding more natural larger sound stage and more textured bass . Voices using my active system are more like those that I get form my Quad ESL57 which means they are closer to the real sound a voice makes. Would be interested if you have tried what you think and can you offer any explanation as to why the 8 gb sounds so much better .

Yes thanks, I was aware you can order from Audiophonics pity they don't have a UK outlet though, would probably increase their sales.

Re the Nirvana, wondering if Allo had some figures they could share with us compared to the Allo LPS?

[The Black Adder]

I'll ask Ioan for you unless he sees this first.

Sent from my 9001X using Tapatalk

[ALLO.com]

Hi , Nirvana smps and Shanti lps have both noise below 1uV (data is available on product page) but I think that what differentiates them is the massive capacitance available on Shanti . To my ears Shanti sounds better

[StingRay]

I'm still considering various LPS options. I have just ordered a 5V DC interface for my Bluesound Node 2 which should arrive next week.

Does anyone know of any reviews or has anyone compared the Allo Shanti and the Sbooster?

On the WAM there was a bakeoff between various PSU using the Bluesound Node 2i as source, a Chinese cheap LPSU did pretty well, not far behind the Sbooster.

Unfortunately the Allo was not tested.

[Adam D]

I'm still considering various LPS options. I have just ordered a 5V DC interface for my Bluesound Node 2 which should arrive next week.

Does anyone know of any reviews or has anyone compared the Allo Shanti and the Sbooster?

On the WAM there was a bakeoff between various PSU using the Bluesound Node 2i as source, a Chinese cheap LPSU did pretty well, not far behind the Sbooster.

Unfortunately the Allo was not tested.

I was very much hoping that the Wam bakeoff was going to include an Allo as well, but it was not to be.

I have been very pleased with my Allo and Node 2, but I do wonder if the Sbooster is another step up the hifi ladder.

One of the guys on the Wam thread said that he had found a dealer who was going to lend him a Sbooster to do a home demo.

I wonder if the dealer would be willing to do that for me?

[StingRay]

I'm still considering various LPS options. I have just ordered a 5V DC interface for my Bluesound Node 2 which should arrive next week.

Does anyone know of any reviews or has anyone compared the Allo Shanti and the Sbooster?

On the WAM there was a bakeoff between various PSU using the Bluesound Node 2i as source, a Chinese cheap LPSU did pretty well, not far behind the Sbooster.

Unfortunately the Allo was not tested.

Since the test, a Allo Shanti was bought and it compares very favourably with the SBooster. After trying a cheap Chinese LPS which did not work, I have ordered a Shanti which is on it's way from France, should be here in a few days, I will update this thread after I have used for a while.

[StingRay]

I was very much hoping that the Wam bakeoff was going to include an Allo as well, but it was not to be.

I have been very pleased with my Allo and Node 2, but I do wonder if the Sbooster is another step up the hifi ladder.

One of the guys on the Wam thread said that he had found a dealer who was going to lend him a Sbooster to do a home demo.

I wonder if the dealer would be willing to do that for me?

See the update re the Allo Shanti. I think Fanthorpes will do a loan or trial of the SBooster but it seems it is no better.

[Bourneendboy]

Thanks, yes I have just seen the Nirvana mentioned elsewhere, it is around £70 which is not too bad. Size is another benefit.

It seems to be a SMPS and not a LPS. Only been out a month, only seen one review from a user which was positive compared to an iFi.

2.85A should be enough for what I'm using, apparently 2A is adequate.

I've just bought a secondhand Nirvana to power my Raspberry Pi / Allo Boss DAC and can confirm it sounds bloody marvelous!

[StingRay]

How do you contact Allo about a problem with a Shanti?

I have sent Allo.com a message on here but no response.

If they see this please respond.

[VillageIdiot]

How do you contact Allo about a problem with a Shanti?

I have sent Allo.com a message on here but no response.

If they see this please respond.

They appear to administer their support here:

https://audiophilestyle.com/clubs/1-allo/

[StingRay]

They appear to administer their support here:

https://audiophilestyle.com/clubs/1-allo/

OK many thanks. I have joined.

Allo are sorting something out hopefully, good speedy service.

[Adam D]

What happened to your Shanti, if you don't mind me asking?

You had only just bought IIRC.

[StingRay]

What happened to your Shanti, if you don't mind me asking?

You had only just bought IIRC.

Sorry only just seen your post. First one buzzed fairly loudly, can be heard from 3m away. Allo have sent me another.