It’s definitely worth a try. The Powerline (not Lite) also made a difference, but the Powerblack made a bigger impact.
New Silent Angel Forrester linear ps ( 2 X 5v/ 2a), developed to power Silent Bonn N8 switch. And also can power EE 8 switch.
Thanks for posting this interesting information. I wonder if Cord/English Electric will have their own branded version. EE will have to change their claim on their site, where they say:
“Switches require high speed power supplies so we could not opt for a linear power source due to their speed limitations. We set about improving the power signal by using an extremely high-quality wall supply. This clean supply permits an optimum quality network signal, driven by high-accuracy TCXO clock technology.”
Melco will have own branded version (limited edition ~4k£). Try to find “melco/dela S10”.
I am convinced that a good linear ps will enhance the sound of any switch vs SMPS. It worked for me , for Netgear and now Etheregen.
Same as EE, the Uptone switch advertising says a linear ps will not improve. But it’s wrong. For me it improved very very clearly, as for others ER owners here.
For EE, @PatM uses the Uptone lps 1.2 which improved his EE.
Just read a comment on EE 8 switch thread. Someone found a nice improvement with the Forrester ps on his Silent Bonn switch. So no reason to not have same results for EE.
Hi @Darkebear ,
I just reread your comment about your first impressions with the ER.
Even though we put things differently, your view seems to be aligned with my first impressions. Especially your “over-lean” perception. I guess I feel that too.
I suppose that the noise reduction provided by the ER simply leaves the ND555 sounding as it should sound.
I have to admit that this added noise (without the ER) was quite pleasant with some recordings (orchestral). It added some relief to the pieces. Of course, that “added effect” of noise was enjoyable with those pieces only (with some lean sounding orchestral recordings).
For the rest I still enjoy the clean and liquid presentation the ER allows.
The ER ‘lean’ effect does pass with extend (many weeks/ a few months) run-in. I also found that cables in and out of the ER make a huge difference - despite the idea about that they do not.
I found an AQ Vodka cable on the input side of the ER (once the Vodka runs in - a lot) and a cheap commercial (KabelDirekt 1.5m Cat6) work very well - the latter filling-out the sound and revealing the tone colors nicely in my system. Experiment. AQ Cinnamon also works very well instead of the AQ Vodka on the ‘in’ side of the ER (not the side to the ND555 - or in my case Melco-ND555).
I also found - a lot later - that plugging ER PS into a separate clean mains feed from the HiFi made a marked difference, which probably aligns with all the good reports of the PS upgrade being worthwhile. The latter PS upgrade is still ahead for me - but it (the system) is sounding so blisteringly good now that I can easy wait.
DB.
For a moment I thought I clicked the Computer Audiophile thread
Can’t avoid 'pooters somewhere in the chain in this brave new age of streaming!
Haaaa…nice answer
That “lean” (or clean) effect doesn’t bother me.
Cutting as much noise as possible coming from the network is the very goal of the ER, especially when connected through fiber.
But I suppose I got used to the grainy effect that noise produces. And I have to admit it was quite enjoyable in the context of poorly recorded symphonic music (it adds some relief).
For piano, voices and especially well recorded symphonic music the “cleaning” effect of the ER is really nice!
In fact it’s a shame Naim didn’t include a SFP port on the ND555…
Yes - percussive music in general is now very realistic and has more apparent dynamic rage - meaning that there is far less temporal blur of the spectral energy and hence it is actually perceived louder.
My neighbor has a real piano and she does not have to play hard for me to hear it easy!
But I was also saying there is an additional ER run-in artifact in with the ‘lean’ that will disappear over time, as I’ve heard it.
yes, that is what my Cisco 2960 sounds like without the ER after it feeding the HiFi. It sound full and very nice, but grainy and comparatively lackluster - even though the Cisco 2060 made my previous Cisco 2940 sound fat and dull…
…good it is all imagination and it really makes no difference!
DB.
Of course they do, why wouldn’t they? They are made of copper, aren’t they? Depending on their length and construction they interact differently with the streamer. That’s all about noise shaping after all.
I didn’t experiment much with cables. I have to admit that tweaking isn’t really my thing, with the exception of room acoustics, of course. I spent a lot of time reading about that particular subject.
I tried an industrial grad cat.6a cable and the AQ Vodka. Nothing really impressive in terms of difference.
I probably should sell the AQ Vodka, but don’t have had time for that. So I keep using it.
You put the words on it !
That’s exactly what I meant with my long description about the ER.
Yes, for me, the ER adds nothing. It removes that “temporal blur” and therefore allows one of the things the ND555 is so good at : "percussive music in general is now very realistic and has more apparent dynamic rage"
Very well said!
And that’s so very much apparent with pieces like :
Uptone’s JS-2 LPS arrived on my doorstep yesterday. Hooked it up to my ER & Mac Mini server and gave it 24 hours to warm up. With both components being supplied with upgraded power, I guess this is two steps forward.
First impressions: it does what it says on the box. In summary, it extends (by some margin) the ER’s apparent lowering of the noise floor – and thus the rather enjoyable audible benefits described in elsewhere in this thread.
Yes, with the ER + JS-2 up and running, one of the first things I noticed was that cymbals, high hats etc. sound ‘right’ for the first time in my system. Vocals are also more expressive and nuanced.
Hoping the JS-2 will continue to improve over coming weeks, but it’s already pretty damn good.
Eager awaiting the arrival of my SR4T linear supply.
For those who have made the substitution are you running your ER from the linear supplies at 12v rather than the 7.5v of the supplied standard supply?
I’m running mine at 12V which is what John Swenson, the designer, recommended. Apart from anything else that should keep the temperature down by keeping the current down, but I can’t say I noticed any temperature difference…
The ER draws the same power and you either have more volts and less current or the other way around, so the heat dissipation should be independent of the supply voltage.
I saw the Designer recommended 12v so that is where I will eventually go when I upgrade my PS.
I found allowing plenty of space around the ER helps a lot with minimizing case temperature.
DB.
Thanks Michael and DB I will go for 12v then as the designer recommended.