Need high quality prebuilt power supply for DAC

[zhai]

I've just finished building my DDDAC, which sounds great Only problem now is that I'm using my dad's old huge 12v power supply. While it's great quality, I need a supply I can put in a case with the DAC. It must be of comparable or better quality than batteries.

needed specs: 12V, 36W. It must accept 240VAC input.

If there are any obvious DIY power supply projects lying around, that would be great too.

[zhai]

I've just found an
SMPS supply which looks pretty much perfect. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[dddac]

Originally posted by zhai
I've just found an
SMPS supply which looks pretty much perfect. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Hi Zhai,

nice to hear you like the dddac

To your question, these are switched power supplies and I have been trying a few as well (ready bought from electronics shop). Although it works fine, I did not liked the sound too much. It is not a big deal, but the higher frequencies are getting somewhat fizzy. You are loosing the natural rest in the sound stage. Of course for hat small money you can try

May be some one here has some link to any ne selling normal linear regulated well filtered DC supplies? I get this question more ofen, so woud be interested as well

doede

[maxlorenz]

Hi Doede

On your site you posted a schematic for a PS. Did you ever tried it? It seems like a good start.

Although I'm pleased with my batteries (I have a friend that repairs motorcycles and he gives me batteries for free when they can't start the engine) sometimes one gets tired of the charging thing.

Best regards,
M

PS: BTW, moto batteries can be placed inside a DAC box

[dddac]

Hi Max,

I never had the time the try it. I am 180 degrees different from John I have a busy (non audio) job and moved homes this year, so do a lot of work in the house

But as correctly stated on my site, it is a design idea. Never the less, something every DIY would be able to bring to a good end and experiment. What Zhai is looking for is a ready device and that is indeed an issue. What I found so far is all switching supplies or very cheap adapter junk (or very expensive)

You see why there is DIY

[georgehifi]

Use a small 12vdc burgular alarm battery with a wall wart trickel charger attached and turn off the charger when listening, it's the cleanest 12vdc you'll get, forget about switch mode supplies, I'd rather feed it rusty nails, their cleaner.

Cheers George

[dddac]

Originally posted by georgehifi
Use a small 12vdc burgular alarm battery with a wall wart trickel charger attached and turn off the charger when listening, it's the cleanest 12vdc you'll get, forget about switch mode supplies, I'd rather feed it rusty nails, their cleaner.

Cheers George

Indeed, exactly what I use for the dddac

never the less, there are reasons why you do not want the battery, so "looking" for as´good afordable of the shelf supply ....

[jackinnj]

If you want a nice "somewhat" clean supply consider an Acopian or Lambda --- these are often quite inexpensive in the surplus market -- it won't come close to a Jung Regulator in terms of noise and impedance, however.

[ssmith]

I've so far tried 3 PSU's with my DDDac --

- 12v 40ah SLA battery
- SMPS - various models, 3A-6A, experimented with stiffener caps.
- Linear regulated with Elna SIlmic caps.

I must admit it's very hard to hear differences between them. I do slightly prefer batteries -- haven't noticed what Doede said about fizzy highs, but have noticed a slightly lower noise floor and, perhaps, a better soundstage.

There are so many variables involved, and this would make it hard for anyone to recommend a particular off-shelf model.

And again, in my system (FLAC>ASIO>DDDac> modded Audiodigit 2020 T-amp>frugel horns), the differences are subtle. It's not as if I switched to batteries and my jaw dropped or a massive veil came off my music.....

I also decided to go with batteries for practical reasons -- in India the 230v power supply fluctuates between 180-290 volts AC , meaning I'd have to invest in yet more voltage stabilisers, filters, surge suppressors...
So in my case batteries are far more simple -- and in practice I find it not too bad -- I have 2x 40ah SLA's. One battery easily runs both the DAC (24 chip version with USB input) and amp from dawn to dusk while the other one charges, and there is plenty of juice to spare for late night/early hour sessions. The two batteries and the charger cost me US$160.

[t.]

Originally posted by zhai
I've just found an
SMPS supply which looks pretty much perfect. Does anyone have any experience with this?

These are actually very good, I've tried one with a diy TDA1543 dac and the results was great, I added a 10k Siemans Sikoral cap on the output of the SMPS 12v out which then went to the dacs onboard regulation.
These SMPS's also work very well with the little Tripath amps