I used an iFi Elite for a year or so on my EE8 Switch. It was good but now Iām using a Fared Super3 and like part of the title of this thread āBlimey!!!ā itās good.
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Iāve found the Elite to be really good on my router. I tried it on my NAS device and it really wasnāt good, horrible in fact, on my TP-Link router however, very good.
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Iām using an iFI iPower X on my BT Smart Hub 2 router and I believe it gives a small uplift over the supplied SMPS.
I suspect however that further improvement could be had from a decent LPS on the BT SH2 like another Farad Super 3. Part of me also thinks this might be a bit OTT.
Any experience out there with a decent LPS powering a BT Smart Hub 2?
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I tried a MCRU LPS on mine. As Iāve described elsewhere, total disaster. Initial huge improvement followed by gradual degradation until the stock SMPS was easily superior. I canāt really explain this - but Iāve tried twice, months apart, with the same result.
Iām curious. How did you get your iFI power X to fit the BT SH2? The BT hub has an unusual DC input size that I just couldnāt source a plug for. To order the MCRU LPS I had to buy a spare BT SMPS, cut off the cable/plug assembly and send it to them to use.
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thereāre adapters available
Yes, but which one specifically and where do you get them?
I couldnāt source the correct size for the BT HH2, which I beleve is 5.5mm OD x 3mm ID. The iFI supply I once bought came with a set of adapters but didnāt include one that fitted the BT Hub so I sent it back.
Could I ask where you obtained your adapter from and is it the correct official size? Apparently there is an easily available adapter of a slightly different size that will fit but it is very tight.
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I usually buy a set on Amazon and something from it fits
Didnāt work for me on the BT hub. There was one that seemed close, but with a very tight fit. The hub wouldnāt actually switch on with this adaptor tip installed, however. As stated above, BT are using some kind of non-standard DC socket, probably to stop the use of non-approved power supplies.
If anyone does know of an adaptor tip that fits and actually works, Iād be very interested to hear about it.
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search www for Power Adapters UK
They have every combo you need. Find whatever size/fit your PS jack (plug) is that goes ātoā the correct size for the BT Smart Hub 2 which is 5.5mm x 3mm, also keep in mind the BT SH2 is centre pin +
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Iām currently sitting listening to the effects of a Chord Ground Array (RJ45 type) that Iāve borrowed. Itās now plugged into my BT hub 2. I must admit that I half expected a nice uplift in performance. However, I have to report that itās actually slightly worse. Not sure why but I can definitely hear a loss of high frequency detail when itās in situ. Itās like all the leading edges on instruments have been rubbed off and the image softened. Itās a subtle effect but noticeable enough for the wife to hear. As soon as I take it out of the router everything pops back into focus. Interestingly, I plugged it into one of the EE8 ports and the effect is even worse. Now I know Chordās ground arrays are not supposed to be a filter but that exactly the effect I seem to be getting. It reminds me of when I plugged a Russ Andrews filter into my ring main and the effect that had.
Iāve also an EE1 on loan but not had a chance to try it yet. Iām going to leave the ground array in place for a few more days to see if itās a burn in thing but Iām not holding out much hope.
I will admit to being a bit underwhelmed by the Chord demonstration at the Bristol show. They made a lot of changes to power leads, power blocks, cables, switches, isolators etc. some of which I thought made their system sound better and some that made it sound worse. It certainly wasnāt a universal improvement as they went through their products even though they thought it was.
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From memory I bought a couple of sets of DC plug converters online and eventually found one that fits.
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Thanks Mike. They do indeed have that size, BUT, it has a centre pin. With the BT HH2 the DC input socket has the centre pin so that adapter wonāt push in!
Iāve looked and looked at the usual places but I just canāt find that size. As I replied to @Mike-B Power Adapters UK have the size but it has a centre pin in the plug so wonāt push in.
Iām fascinated to read this. I have a Ground Aray RJ45 in my BT SH2 and also in my EE8 and I donāt hear that at all! In fact quite the opposite! Leading edges seem better defined and everything snaps into focus and gains considerable weight and authority. Itās almost like having a bigger amp - or like adding a better power supply to a Naim pre-amp.
What is missing, or at least is hugely diminished, is the artificial digital electronic edge and glare that was there before. On first hearing I suppose things may possibly appear superficially āsoftenedā and less ādetailedā because of this. I wonder, is this what you are hearing?
Give it time. Also do allow time for it to burn in. Mine are still getting better after a couple of weeks. They sounded great to start with but went through a few ups and downs before settling.
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It is strange I know. In fact it was your report on the effect they had on your router that prompted me to try it.
I do have a fairly unique and clean power supply to my property and wonder if this has something to do with it? Iām out in the sticks and half a mile from my nearest neighbours, my supply comes straight off high tension cables to a massive transformer, then travels about 200mm underground to an external metal kiosk by the house. This is then split into two systems, one for the house and one for the hifi. I also have fibre to the property and my router is only around 3m from the incoming fibre box.
My system currently sounds fantastic and very natural. Iāve found it very hard to get improvements but very easy to mess it up. Iāve mentioned before that none of the LPSās Iāve tried on my switch offered any advantage over the EE8ās standard supply, which to me sounds far faster and more involving.
Things that youād think would remove noise, and do on more conventional residential systems, seem to add their own little masking effects on a very (electrically) quiet systems like mine. Thatās all I can think it might be?
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The individuality of each system continues to fascinate me. Appreciate all of you documenting your observations here.
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Lucky you 
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Thatās very interesting. Yes, thatās certainly a possibility isnāt it.
We live in a big city and Iām sure our mains supply is anything but clean! Also having lots of near neighbours with wi-fi Iām sure is creating a lot of high frequency noise that gets into the system.
Iām very familair with the Chord Co. products, mains blocks, cables, Power Aray and now Ground Arays and I must say that in my system theyāve had a completely consistent positive effect, always bringing āmore of the sameā as one adds further things. I like what they do in my system because they get me closer to the music - they remove barriers. But Iām sure all these things are very system dependant.
Itās possible that you simply donāt like what they do in your set up. Especially as you say itās performing so well. My own experience is that in this case it can be very essy to upset the balance and spoil things.
Anyway give it a fair trial but at the end of the day if you donāt like it youāve saved yourself a nice little wad!
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You are now saying a BT HH2, thatās a Home Hub or do you mean Smart Hub ?
Look I just gave you a cmpy who have DC adaptors, BT say the SH2 plug is 5mm - 3mm.