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Mary Park: "Here are the key points of the sPS-500 which distinguish it from similar products to improve sound quality:
• Elimination of noise from the powered device by removing voltage noise elements from the powered device. This is not present in most power supplies even when including linear regulators. It improves sound quality by providing more stable power to the powered device.
• Fast transient control loop circuit. The sPS-500 uses a specially designed control circuit that compensates for the output voltage variations across the audible audio band. It very quickly stabilizes the output voltage during sudden changes in input power or output current.
• Ultra-low impedance power: All kinds of power devices use a semiconductor device for output power. The sPS-500 utilizes a device with an impedance that is lower than competing products and exhibits excellent performance in transient high output current change with our fast transient control loop circuit.
• AC power input stage noise reducer. AC power contributes a considerable amount of noise but the sPS-500 has a noise filter especially effective at the audio frequency band.
• Special selected components. We once again applied parts proven already in other SOtM products."
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| Though I'm in no position to comment on what competitors might be doing or not, it was plain that the sPS-500 was at least 50% of the tx-USBultra's ultimate potential. It really oughtn't be optional. We're back at conceptual reluctance to accord the digital transport domain much if any power to influence sound quality.
Talking about how different power supplies are audible, perhaps even silver versus copper umbilicals between it and the reclocker ... it's still bound to flip lids. And in fairness, thinking these changes important enough to bother with is a luxury few can afford to entertain. But that's performance audio. Far less is good enough for most. As in other hobbies, to care enough about incremental refinements is for the few with the right focus, dedication and overall system resolution.
In this particular case, much also depends on the relative immunity of one's DAC. Our older AURALiC Vega lagged behind the SOtM more than the Fore Audio DAISy1 which improved less whilst the Aqua Hifi Formula actually sounded slightly better direct. Just because there's a cure doesn't mean you suffer the disease. |
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That said, if you do—and you really won't know 'til you try—setting your colour intensity slider back to more pale and washed out; and your dynamic range slider to more middling... won't seem attractive at all. Unless you're prepared to invest a bit, ignorance really is bliss. Knowledge could mean innocence lost.
To keep things real, let's attempt to quantify possible improvements. In our best-case scenario of Vega, this performance delta could be bridged with a higher-current power cord on the amplifier; or even a few of them on various components. In our weaker scenario of DAISy1, the same change could be created with a single premium silver versus good copper power cord on the source stack. Is there any way to predict whether your DAC is immune? If it uses Siliconix-type optocouplers, chances are it might be.
The sPS-500's switchable output voltage can apply its goodness to all types of small or budget devices which arrive stock with a switch-mode wall wart: docks, phono stages, competing reclockers/decrappifiers, remote-controlled passive preamps and such. What's more, the sPS-500's 19V max capacity means that 2 x 9V or 1 x 7V plus 1 x 9V scenarios are possible. With one of SOtM's Y umbilicals shown at left, the sPS-500 can power two small components at once without requiring any hardware reconfiguration like Wyred's modular bays.
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In conclusion, devices like today's tx-USBultra and sPS-500 are what were a well-groomed Victorian gentleman's accessories. Cuff links, tie pin, button-hole flower or gold-chain pocket watch weren't essentials like shirt, pants, coat and shoes. But as finishing touches, they completed the look to elevate it out of the ordinary. So think of these SOtM boxes as finishing touches for the well-groomed system.
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| Looking sharp indeed, Mister Hifi! |
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