Forums - Chinese Linear Power Supply

HockessinKid Seasoned Member Posts: 1129	Chinese Linear Power Supply 05/16/24 at 14:43:05 Many thanks for the member recommendation on this low cost linear power supply. I picked up a 12V variety up to use with my Netgear extender. Very promising 1st listening streaming session this morning via my Modwright modded Cambridge Audio CXN V2 https://www.ebay.com/itm/353532995691?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&s... HK
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Steve Deckert

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If the 1st watt
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Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #1 - 05/16/24 at 16:28:21

This would be the upside to buying low cost audio gear that is manufactured with a DC wall wort. You can transform it from mediocre to fairly damn good with a real linear power supply and while the power supply will often cost as much as the low cost audio component, it gives buyers a way to step into the investment.

Of course, in the world of linear power supplies some are going to be better than others. When I shop, I look at the overall weight, number of capacitors, and price.

Steve

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CAJames

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Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #2 - 05/16/24 at 18:19:00

I’m glad it is working out for you. My experience is that in addition to removing all the switching noise from the SMPS they also just work better. The wall wort power supplies typically have just barely enough power to run the device with which they are supplied. Several times I’ve seen “network problems” that were just the cheap power supply not providing enough juice for the switch. The switch was on, but not working reliably. A LPS spec’d for more watts than required eliminates this issue.

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HockessinKid Seasoned Member Posts: 1129	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #3 - 05/16/24 at 18:28:36 CA James, many thanks. I think some residual noise I attributed to my ZMA was actually coming from my Netgear wallwort. The LPS cleared it right up and system sounds even better. HK
Back to top	Nottingham Interspace TT w/ Audio Technica AT-OC9XML cart + Modwright PH 9.0XT phono OR Modwright modded Cambridge CNX V2 > CSP3-25th Ann. preamp > ZMA-25th Ann. amp > PI Audio UberBUSS > Caintuck Audio Lii15 Magnum speakers > Snake River Audio & ZenWave cables IP Logged

Palomino Seasoned Member Posts: 2491	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #4 - 06/11/24 at 11:33:30 I use LPS on my Dac, my USB signal cleaner, and my Mac Mini. Big believer in these relatively low cost supplies.
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HockessinKid

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Posts: 1129

Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #5 - 06/11/24 at 12:29:31

Tom, agree they really clean up the signal path. Now I'm experimenting with a couple different flavors of DC cables from the LPS to the WiFi extender. Who would think that different cable recipes on a DC cable would make a difference?

I current am running a Chinese Viborg 4N soild core silver DC cable in the chain. I have a Ghent Gotham DC cable coming in shortly. It's a star quad configuation of silver coated 6N copper w/ JSSG360 dual-shielding. This seems to be a popular DC cable amongst LPS users on several forums. Should be an interesting comparison.

HK

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Nottingham Interspace TT w/ Audio Technica AT-OC9XML cart + Modwright PH 9.0XT phono OR Modwright modded Cambridge CNX V2 > CSP3-25th Ann. preamp > ZMA-25th Ann. amp > PI Audio UberBUSS > Caintuck Audio Lii15 Magnum speakers > Snake River Audio & ZenWave cables

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Palomino Seasoned Member Posts: 2491	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #6 - 06/11/24 at 12:39:34 I did upgrade my power cables. Can’t recall the source but they are much better than the cheesy ones that come with the Chinese LPSs. Shielded, better wire. Better connectors. Not sure I hear a difference but the upgrades make me feel better
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Hearafter Senior Member “In Tubes We Trust” Posts: 81	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #7 - 06/11/24 at 14:56:13 Anyone know if there is a benefit to adding an LPS to a router that connects to optical FMC’s then to a streamer with a built-in LPS?
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Palomino Seasoned Member Posts: 2491	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #8 - 06/11/24 at 14:58:43 No direct experience other than to say that I've banned all wall warts from my room and I think it made a difference. A LPS may improve the specific piece of gear its connected to, but walwarts are noisy and that may impact other gear in your room.
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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1897	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #9 - 06/12/24 at 12:10:55 Yes. For me it is much more about removing the noise in the environment that the wallwart generates than the power itself. So the closer to your system the device is the bigger the advantage of a LPS.
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Hearafter

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Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #10 - 06/12/24 at 15:08:20

Thanks for the advice. Makes sense they pollute the environment not just the device it’s connected to. I ordered 1 to replace my modem and router then another for my mesh node near to my 2 channel system network streamer. My modem and main router are in a separate room from my streamer but I figure why not it can only help.

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Donatella Verified Member Posts: 3	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #11 - 06/25/24 at 02:45:28 I also think [smiley=10.gif]
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Hearafter

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Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #12 - 06/25/24 at 03:23:23

Received my 2 Chinese LPS’s for my router/modem and mesh node. Very nice quality build and 12 days shipping. $75 each incudes tax and shipping. The more I think about it I’m not sure it was a good decision. They take up more space and I don’t hear much if any difference. I do have a Snubway installed which made a definite difference. I think adding Snubway is much better way to go. There are multiple switched power supplies and it would be insane to replace them all with different voltages. I have 4 dual LPS’s and have eliminated 7 wall warts. I still have 3 (voip phone box, phone, ethernet switch) next to my router/modem remote area and 3 on my 2 channel circuit (2- Schumann generators, tv cable wifi box). Food for thought…
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOKXKBK

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Torii Jr V2 w/ Copper Bypass
Space-Tech Lab STR-104 Super Rectifier
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Lab 12 DAC1 Reference
Bricasti M5 Network Streamer
Ohm Walsh Tall 2000
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB w/Piggy and Silver Slugs
Audio Envy Cables
Too many Tweaks

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CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 1897

Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #13 - 06/25/24 at 03:31:28

Quote:

Posted by: Hearafter Posted on: Today at 19:23:23
...I still have 3 (voip phone box, phone, ethernet switch) next to my router/modem remote area and 3 on my 2 channel circuit (2- Schumann generators, tv cable wifi box). Food for thought…

JMO but as long as you have more than zero SMPS near your system you're not getting the advantages of the LPS. And it isn't so much the circuit as the physical location. The SMPS are like little transmitters broadcasting EM noise into your system.

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[FOOBAR2000 | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E
Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

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Hearafter Senior Member “In Tubes We Trust” Posts: 81	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #14 - 06/25/24 at 03:39:24 Ok that is helpful. I will need to replace my tv wifi box to be good then. The rest are away from my main system in another room or on the other side of the room. Thanks
Back to top	Torii Jr V2 w/ Copper Bypass Space-Tech Lab STR-104 Super Rectifier Supratek Cabernet Pre Lab 12 DAC1 Reference Bricasti M5 Network Streamer Ohm Walsh Tall 2000 Vanguard Caldera Sub SDFB w/Piggy and Silver Slugs Audio Envy Cables Too many Tweaks IP Logged

Hearafter

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Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #15 - 06/25/24 at 19:06:22

CAJames- Ok so before I buy more LPS’s I did a critical listening test. I listened with my wireless cable box plugged in and then unplugging it and listening without it. No SQ difference that I could detect. Second learning was my Xfinity main router/modem tower has a special power plug end and I have not been able to connect it to my LPS without cutting and splicing and swapping plug ends. Really don't want to do that risking a tiny wiring mistake/short. Just wanted to share a recommendation to check your component plug ends to avoid the issue I came across. These results certainly could vary by system and ears.

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Space-Tech Lab STR-104 Super Rectifier
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Lab 12 DAC1 Reference
Bricasti M5 Network Streamer
Ohm Walsh Tall 2000
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB w/Piggy and Silver Slugs
Audio Envy Cables
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CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 1897

Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #16 - 06/25/24 at 19:13:22

Quote:

Posted by: Hearafter Posted on: Today at 11:06:22

...Just wanted to share a recommendation to check your component plug ends to avoid the issue I came across. These results certainly could vary by system and ears.

Excellent points. If you are talking about the DC plug you can get a set of adapters like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Connectors-Adapter-Connector-Female/dp/B07CGDPJ...

I've done that for some of my gear.

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[FOOBAR2000 | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E
Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

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Hearafter Senior Member “In Tubes We Trust” Posts: 81	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #17 - 06/25/24 at 19:44:35 CAJames- thanks for the adapter plug end kit suggestion. Worth a try it is returnable.
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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1897	Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply Reply #18 - 06/25/24 at 19:49:13 Happy to help . Just make sure the other end matches the connector that came with the LPS.
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Hearafter

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“In Tubes We Trust”

Posts: 81

Re: Chinese Linear Power Supply
Reply #19 - 06/27/24 at 06:36:43

CAJames- the adapter plug end set arrived today. The plug I needed has a center core pin and very few of those were in the set. After trying the few I thought the set didn’t have the one I needed then I noticed one that I could barely see the center core pin. And it worked and now my modem/ main router has a LPS. Not sure if it makes a difference but makes me feel better it has one. Thanks again! Smiley

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Torii Jr V2 w/ Copper Bypass
Space-Tech Lab STR-104 Super Rectifier
Supratek Cabernet Pre
Lab 12 DAC1 Reference
Bricasti M5 Network Streamer
Ohm Walsh Tall 2000
Vanguard Caldera Sub
SDFB w/Piggy and Silver Slugs
Audio Envy Cables
Too many Tweaks

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