Yes, very true. Even thought these type of power supplies are so much poluting, it are so widely used/preferred in each and every device these days. And the most corrections (filtering) to minimise the high noises affecting the powered device/system, is done by software solutions. It is indeed an big technological paradox of the wide spread using of such noisy power supplies. But it are cheaper, smaller, easier, more energy effective, easy to control it. Well, some advantages as well...
Size and heat are advantages for SMPS as well, but I quite dislike them for audio.
I had done an AC Filter Box for my DAC audiophile setup, and one day I tested it on my TV Setup: TV, Blu-Ray and Sub + Surround AVR. I was really surprised to see it also do a good thing for Picture Quality. Maybe you came across the relevant thread on what used to be ComputerAudiophile.
Those noises always seem to find a way. If the power distribution itself isn't well done or there is no proper isolation from the digital side to the analogue side, then the SMPS causes a lot more problems for quality sound and picture that it solves.
Just got an affordable Sony AVR with Atmos. Not considered to be at the level of quality of Denon, Onkyo, Marantz and Pioneer, but I was happy to see a good old large transformer and a Linear PSU inside. Discrete amp too, it does quite a good job on fidelity and transients.
BTW, I had a MOSFET-based Panasonic AVR, but one channel went dead. I may have a question or two about its soft-turn Power On feature one day if I decide to recycle some of it, like the PSU, to make my own amp.
Glad to see you're offering the Linear Power solutions to the 4K Blu-Ray players. The Panasonic does one of the best. We have the first one released, a Samsung. It does OK. Our TV is an old 4K Panasonic, and it doesn't even have HDR though, so I know we're missing out quite a bit on Picture Quality.
I had done an AC Filter Box for my DAC audiophile setup, and one day I tested it on my TV Setup: TV, Blu-Ray and Sub + Surround AVR. I was really surprised to see it also do a good thing for Picture Quality. Maybe you came across the relevant thread on what used to be ComputerAudiophile.
Those noises always seem to find a way. If the power distribution itself isn't well done or there is no proper isolation from the digital side to the analogue side, then the SMPS causes a lot more problems for quality sound and picture that it solves.
Just got an affordable Sony AVR with Atmos. Not considered to be at the level of quality of Denon, Onkyo, Marantz and Pioneer, but I was happy to see a good old large transformer and a Linear PSU inside. Discrete amp too, it does quite a good job on fidelity and transients.
BTW, I had a MOSFET-based Panasonic AVR, but one channel went dead. I may have a question or two about its soft-turn Power On feature one day if I decide to recycle some of it, like the PSU, to make my own amp.
Glad to see you're offering the Linear Power solutions to the 4K Blu-Ray players. The Panasonic does one of the best. We have the first one released, a Samsung. It does OK. Our TV is an old 4K Panasonic, and it doesn't even have HDR though, so I know we're missing out quite a bit on Picture Quality.
Yes, definitely the SMPS have not a good place in an audio device. Also for an audio/video device, the SMPS large speter HF noises it have quite big impact over the video section as well. The best approach is avoiding using SMPS at all when it is possible. Unfortunately, one have to use SMPSes for power hungry devices, as computers or high power amplifiers.
I have also designed LPS for Pioneer LX500 as well... In my opinion, this player it perform even better than UB9000 (with LPS inside).
I have also designed LPS for Pioneer LX500 as well... In my opinion, this player it perform even better than UB9000 (with LPS inside).
Is the Pioneer better for PQ or SQ or both compared to the Panasonic?
Not sure I'll upgrade the 4K player soon, because we still need to get at least an HDR screen and I would love OLED: real blacks make everything 'fall into place' so to speak even if it is known that the luminosity of OLEDs are less than with other technologies. Good to know about the Pioneer though, I'll keep it in mind. Their Elite series is definitely the high-end.
I noticed something today with the Sony AVR: the normal operation causes heat emission and even the manual says it's OK and not to worry. However, what I did not expect is that on Standby, the thing still heats up.
I thought the Relay/Standby mode used a smaller transformer that could be switched on and off, so the heat wouldn't be emitted that much on Standby. Have you come across this behaviour in other AVRs?
I don't remember whether our MOSFET AVR did the same thing.
Also noticed not everyone is as serious as us with Picture Quality. Many people who are audiophiles do not take much care with their video setup.
Not sure I'll upgrade the 4K player soon, because we still need to get at least an HDR screen and I would love OLED: real blacks make everything 'fall into place' so to speak even if it is known that the luminosity of OLEDs are less than with other technologies. Good to know about the Pioneer though, I'll keep it in mind. Their Elite series is definitely the high-end.
I noticed something today with the Sony AVR: the normal operation causes heat emission and even the manual says it's OK and not to worry. However, what I did not expect is that on Standby, the thing still heats up.
I thought the Relay/Standby mode used a smaller transformer that could be switched on and off, so the heat wouldn't be emitted that much on Standby. Have you come across this behaviour in other AVRs?
I don't remember whether our MOSFET AVR did the same thing.
Also noticed not everyone is as serious as us with Picture Quality. Many people who are audiophiles do not take much care with their video setup.
I appreciate the LX500 with much better picture quality than UB9000 (both with LPS inside). This it not mean at all that UB9000 may have low picture quality. Definitely not. Both it perform very well in this respect, but in my opinion, LX500 is better. Also LX500 is much faster as software responsivity (more fluent/smoother functionality). Either the main processor is more powerfull, or the firmware is better made (comparing it with UB9000).
LX500 is meant as a budget player, with a quite cheap sound section, while LX800 is the "full power" device, for max performances on both picture and sound (ESS Sabre chips inside). The same approach as for Oppo 203/205 players. Well, the price of LX800 is accordingly high, comparing it with LX500.
I think it is not normal that your device should heat up while in standby. Standby state is meant to save power, and so it should be no reason for generating heat. Maybe a current measurement on AC power input should be done (device in standby and in full function), to get an idea about a possible issue. If an SMPS is used as power supply, then in some cases the filtering cap for main power it can degrade and increase its ripple current. This it make it heating up quite much. Such malfunction it can be seen in an increasing current use in standby mode. Replacement/fixing is required in such case.
Well, a little bit off topic post this one...
LX500 is meant as a budget player, with a quite cheap sound section, while LX800 is the "full power" device, for max performances on both picture and sound (ESS Sabre chips inside). The same approach as for Oppo 203/205 players. Well, the price of LX800 is accordingly high, comparing it with LX500.
I think it is not normal that your device should heat up while in standby. Standby state is meant to save power, and so it should be no reason for generating heat. Maybe a current measurement on AC power input should be done (device in standby and in full function), to get an idea about a possible issue. If an SMPS is used as power supply, then in some cases the filtering cap for main power it can degrade and increase its ripple current. This it make it heating up quite much. Such malfunction it can be seen in an increasing current use in standby mode. Replacement/fixing is required in such case.
Well, a little bit off topic post this one...
Thanks for the pointers, Coris, I will check the Ampere consumption, still haven't bought a meter for that. Not sure if there is also an SMPS inside, but the main PSU is Linear - large transformer. Went to check if I could get some surround speakers at a second-hand store today, no luck finding a set of four with the proper impedance and Wattage.
This looks interesting as I just got a very good deal on a UB9000 and was wondering, from a digital/HDMI perspective how the improvements wou;d look on non 4K disk content on my system; this being a NAD T778 and OLED TV (55" LG G1). I should add that I'm neither electronics/technical or experienced to determine myself but have read this thread.
I haven't got any 4k disks yet due to lack or a player but I'm moving up from a PS3. I have mostly Blue-Rays but have a number if SD DVDs and was wondering, in that regard, whether an LPS would show any improvement in that Picture quality and/or upscaling. Currently I have this connected to the NAD for ease of switching but happy to look at moving the video to the TV and use eARC to decode the audio. Thoughts?
I haven't got any 4k disks yet due to lack or a player but I'm moving up from a PS3. I have mostly Blue-Rays but have a number if SD DVDs and was wondering, in that regard, whether an LPS would show any improvement in that Picture quality and/or upscaling. Currently I have this connected to the NAD for ease of switching but happy to look at moving the video to the TV and use eARC to decode the audio. Thoughts?
Thanks. I know there’s a video but how easy was changing in practice? (I’m a novice).
Hi Coris, how is the picture quality on the lx500 vs Oppo-205 , both with your LPS ?
One of the side-benefits of the LPS is that it will interfere less with the PSU of the TV, so even the TV will provide better quality picture, so it's doubly beneficial.
When I used a purely passive DIY filter AC-side, I noticed less bleed (it's not an OLED but a traditional 4K TV) at the edges of white and black regions. This gave the impression of better contrast.
It's worth it to calibrate your setup after modification.
When I used a purely passive DIY filter AC-side, I noticed less bleed (it's not an OLED but a traditional 4K TV) at the edges of white and black regions. This gave the impression of better contrast.
It's worth it to calibrate your setup after modification.
Another modified 9000 https://dprime.kr/g2/bbs/board.php?bo_table=pc_players&wr_id=169680
looks like a less impressive LPS with a small clock and no analogue board
looks like a less impressive LPS with a small clock and no analogue board