One step forward: ER +lpsu

So the Hynes SR4 showed up without warning today. Nice Friday surprise.
I placed it where I originally wanted it to go—on the Chord Qutest—instead of having it powered from a 5v setting on the Uptone JS-2. Without getting too long-winded like I tend to do, I already like the presentation better. I’ll be up-front that I just didn’t care for the JS-2 in this application. It is an outstanding LPSU, just not on this particular DAC in my system. For one, it generated an audible hiss through the speakers. It was even pretty obvious from the listening position, which surprised me, as the Uptone LPS-1.2 I used briefly here was silent. The SR4 is dead-quiet. No hiss, just as it was with the ‘lesser’ Uptone. It also sounds as if it has more muscle…bolder, if that makes any sense. I think I’m really going to like the SR4—a lot.

I’ll give it a few days with the Qutest and switch it to the eR and report back if anyone’s interested.

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Interesting findings. But strange for the JS2 hiss. Mine was powering the Unitserve at 12v, and a switch at 5v. Was dead silent.
Maybe something wrong with it?

Hi @frenchrooster!
Not certain, but I don’t think so. I also don’t want to over-embellish the hiss I encountered. Comparatively speaking, it was obvious. Everything else it powers has been flawless. There’s any number of things that could be going on to account for it, and honestly, that was the least of what I’d noticed. The presentation was good, but not great. Comparing with the OEM SMPS back-and-forth, the improvement in areas that matter most to me was marginal. It seemed like a waste. I was prepared to put the JS-2 on the eR and switch back the LPS-1.2, as I really liked what I was hearing with it in place. Curiosity being what it is, I had the opportunity to get an SR4…
Now I’m using the extra output on the JS-2 to power my turntable. Using the KAB Speedstrobe, I adjusted the speed just a hair, and now it is rock-solid within 0.03% drift.
For additional reference, I’m using the copper supplied DC lead first and an AudioQuest Z3 PC on the Hynes.

Well, I believe your experience. No problem. I have not tried the JS2 on the ER, so can’t really say.

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It is interesting… and I suspect many don’t realise in the Hi-Fi world, but internally Ethernet driver chips use DC to DC converters to get the required negative line voltages… these DC converters can often use high frequency switched mode powersupplies…

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Be careful Simon, such comments will lead you to the “actus fidei” :sweat_smile:

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Indeed Simon. Too much paranoia generally about SMPS inspired by the horrible wallwart power supplies that proliferate on too many gadgets these days. Linn, Soulution and many others believe that properly implemented SMPS is the way to go. I own a Linn Klimax Radikal and have heard and been bowled over by Soulution amps, so the thought that occurs to me is that if we took the budget for a decent, real world LPS generated 12V DC supply ( £500 - 1500 ?) and applied it to a high end SMPS supply for a switch, what might be achievable? The stock Uptone SMPS (that I think greatly preferable to LPS solutions) costs about £21 as a standalone purchase. What could be achieved with a higher budget SMPS 12V supply I wonder?

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Ferrum Hypsos might be (kind of) what you were contemplating…

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