DAC magic PSU Upgrade?

If I had to guess I'd say the Pinkie. It's odd that it's just a transformer with no additonal or any filter capacitance. Atleast the Bolder Modded ELPAC and Welboure for the Squeeze Box products includes a beefier stack of nice caps for filter capacitance. Atleast you are getting rid of the switching part of the PS, that's the worst part.

H9

FTGV wrote: »

Because the supplied wall wart is just a transformer to step down the voltage.The rectification, filter capacitance and voltage regulation is within the main chassis.

I see, but there are filter caps and voltage regulation inside the sqb units too, except all the aftermarket power supply's added better, faster rectification as well as more filter capacitance. Why not here?

H9

FTGV wrote: »

Because the supplied wall wart is just a transformer to step down the voltage.The rectification, filter capacitance and voltage regulation is within the main chassis.

As for the OP's question I,m not sure that merely increasing the current capability of the transformer will bring about much in the way of sonic benifits since the stock wall wart trans looks to have a VA rating suficient for the job.If it's out of warranty and your handy with a soldering iron there are other options for mod's that should squeeze more performance out of that nice little DAC.

Is it not a switching power supply? and the aftermarket PS a linear? That in itself is a big difference.

At the end of the day, it's the final output that matters, and apparently, the DAC Magic has it in spades (given it's popularity and rave reviews). I think you're worrying about nothing--and in the process, missing the boat.

steveinaz wrote: »

At the end of the day, it's the final output that matters, and apparently, the DAC Magic has it in spades (given it's popularity and rave reviews). I think you're worrying about nothing--and in the process, missing the boat.

Not really Steve, you and I and others here are beyond these types of entry level mass produced pieces. The SQB Touch gets the same rave reviews this product gets, except for me it's almost unlistenable using the internal dac's and the extra performance a proper power supply adds is very noticeable.

I don't tend to buy into the faceless hype. Now if several people on here that I trusted and had similar tastes in gear as me recommended it, then I'd take more notice.

So I do worry about the cost cutting measures at this price point.

So for me when pieces get rave reviews by the general public I rarely feel the same way when I use those products. Far too many times I've been disappointed based on all the accolades certain lower to mid priced mass produced gear gets.

H9

FTGV wrote: »

No the stock wall wart is just a transformer used to step down the raw AC to a usable level.I'm guessing the DC regulation within the chassis uses the typical 3 pin IC regulators (LM78**/79** or LM317/337) as used in your Adcom.

Ok, I assumed it was a switching PS. If it's just the same as using a big torrid then why aren't more manufacturer's using this simplfied and more cost effective way of simply stepping down the raw AC. Seems they could save a lot in production costs and parts if there is no difference.

H9

ben62670 wrote: »

Would someone really have to remove the internal rectification?

Well yeah it will pass the DC minus the voltage drop across the diodes,but as you say it's redundant,so I'd remove it if using an outboard DC supply.Speaking of which a nice little external supply could be DIY'ed for this unit using a little Tamura Toroid,some fast recovery diodes with a healthy amount of Panny FC series low ESR filter caps and a Corcom IEC input AC line filter.