DDDAC1543 MK2 On order, now to decide on a ps for it?

[justblair]

Hi All

I can't really afford it just now, but I went ahead and ordered a DDDAC. But now I have to decide on a power supply.

My preferance would be for a mains powered supply, though I can see that batteries are recommended.

However reading this_page_by_simone_cappretti, the idea of SMPS power came to my attention. I already use Skynet8080's in my gainclone amp and get very good sound from them.

The advantage to myself is that I can buy these at less money than a big battery and charger or going for a linear supply.

Simone appears to note no difference in using smps.

Are there and DDDac owners out there who have tried SMPS?

I also happen to have some 12v smps units salvaged from Playstation 2s though the impression I get is that the SKynet will probably offer better quality?

[dddac]

Hi Blair,

I tried my self a straight forward switching supply from the shelf. Costed like 30 Euros (a 4A model) and the results were very close to the battery. The only difference I would say was a somewhat les clean highs. I must say, that this supply was pretty much stressed with the 5 towers consuming more than 3A, so may be a somewhat better filtered psupply with more "reserve" would do better. Any way, it is al very relative (no huge differences or so) and I do advise people these days, who for whatever reason, do not like the battery concept and have limited budget, to go for a switched power supply.

For large budgets, Unregulated power supplies with big Caps and Chokes are beating batteries, but you will spend more on the supply than on the dac...

The proof is always in the pudding, so what you can try is when you have a switched power supply, to take the battery out of your car and compare it In that case you have the ability to build your own opinion.

take care
doede

[justblair]

Thanks for the advice Doede

The SMPS 8080 is rated at 3.5amp (6amp max) on the 12v line.The quoted figures for ripple is 120mv and load regulation is +/- 5%

I have no idea how good bad or indifferent this is compared to other SMPS.

As you hopefully know by now, I went for your 12 chip usb kit. Though I intend to add more slave modules when budget allows.

I have some spare caps lying around, can I filter the ripple a little more with some caps between the 0v and 12v lines?

Unfortunately I dont have a car to try its battery. Though I thought that I could bunch up 8 1.5v batteries for a quick test.

[dddac]

As said, I would give it a try first and than check if the extra capacitors brings more. This unit seems right to me based on what you wrote. But on paper it is not always easy to draw conlusions

On the other hand, so far, response from dddac builders and also my self shows that the first and best tweaks which give directly a better sound are:

1. replace the ourput capacitorsto an audiphile type of your taste/choice

2. Put a large BG (or similar) capacitor directly next to the tower (where now there is a standard 100uF Electrolyte). the BG 1500uF N types are the largest available and cost relative little....
Of course value is not critical, but Size seems to matter here

Doede

PS: will get the stuff out to you this week ....

[soundcheck]

I spent 180€ for a Northstar NSB 90 Battery (100Ah) buffered with 8*470uf low ESRs to drive the DAC.

If you gotta a cost-no-object budget. I'd strongly recommend
that as a push-it-to-the-limits solution.

Cheers
Klaus

[justblair]

Originally posted by dddac
As said, I would give it a try first and than check if the extra capacitors brings more. This unit seems right to me based on what you wrote. But on paper it is not always easy to draw conlusions

Done. I have mailed my source to arrange purchase

Originally posted by dddac
On the other hand, so far, response from dddac builders and also my self shows that the first and best tweaks which give directly a better sound are:

1. replace the ourput capacitorsto an audiphile type of your taste/choice

2. Put a large BG (or similar) capacitor directly next to the tower (where now there is a standard 100uF Electrolyte). the BG 1500uF N types are the largest available and cost relative little....
Of course value is not critical, but Size seems to matter here [/B]

1. I was thinking Sonicap bypassed with very small Vishay, I like this sound in my speakers and everyone I have read posts from that uses them seems to approve of the sound per pound from these caps

2. Not sure I have anything that big that's new, Got a couple unused Nichicon Muse 470uf sitting I think. A good starting point, though I have also got four 1000uf that came from a crossover in my mission 753 speakers. Dont know how good they are right enough.

Originally posted by dddac
PS: will get the stuff out to you this week .... [/B]

Yee ha, looking forward to building it. Thanks Doede

Originally posted by soundcheck
[B]I spent 180€ for a Northstar NSB 90 Battery (100Ah) buffered with 8*470uf low ESRs to drive the DAC.

If you gotta a cost-no-object budget. I'd strongly recommend
that as a push-it-to-the-limits solution.[B]

I have that option open to me in the future. The SMPS can be reused elsewhere if I go down that route.

Thanks for the advice folk.

[crazy_bob_uk]

How about a super regulator e.g. the ALWSR:

http://www.at-view.co.uk/alwsr.htm

The specs it claims seam very impressive, and doesn't cost the earth (about £25 to £30).

[pburke]

Originally posted by crazy_bob_uk
How about a super regulator e.g. the ALWSR:

http://www.at-view.co.uk/alwsr.htm

The specs it claims seam very impressive, and doesn't cost the earth (about £25 to £30).

doesn't look like this thing would handle the load of a DDDAC tower. Nice for the clock or USB board maybe, but not to support multiple amps.

[protos]

I am using ALW supereg for 24 dac DDDAC.I think this is the only PS option that can beat batteries according to my experience.Of course you need another PS (15-16V) in front whether regular or switching.One idea which is worth investigating as I have already posted is to get rid of the lm 317 regs for the towers and power the dac with 8.5v from the supereg.This gives the best sound and allows you to use a simple and cheap(er) 12v supply in front.
Batteries give a very natural sound at mid and high freq but may be a little slow in dynamics.I just got fed up charging-remembering to switch off etc etc.
The ALW supereg in front of a 12v PS gives much better dynamics and detail retrieval while sounding natural.

[dddac]

More and more it seems coming down to the fact that the 1543 tower likes to see a low as possible impedance.... My experience is, that large low ESR Capacitors improve things

still interesting, that it does makes an adible difference, what happens before the lm317 regulator....

I like the idea of the shunt regulator directly in front of the tower. Should be easy to integrate on a next version I guess.....

Question: do you use one shunt regulator per tower or one shunt regulator at 8.5 v, just feeding the whole thing ?