Teradak low noise linear power supply - cheap and clean 5V USB power source

[pete_mac]

Hi George,

The supplied cable is 2.1mm ID and is positive centre.

[georgehifi]

Hi George,

The supplied cable is 2.1mm ID and is positive centre.

Perfect thanks, another tweak for my customers. 

 

Cheers George

[jackaudio]

Take a look at this, lampizator measured the standard power supply for the duet

http://www.lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/Squeezebox/SQB-Power/squeezeballs.html

[Guest fordgtlover]

Take a look at this, lampizator measured the standard power supply for the duet

http://www.lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/Squeezebox/SQB-Power/squeezeballs.html

 

Thanks

[mloutfie]

So the million dollar question, is there a difference in the sound using this and just regular USB power from a computer? I'm actually interested on getting one

[pete_mac]

I've never run my DAC via the USB output of a PC, so I can't say for certain.

I feel there is a slight improvement in sound quality compared to running my DAC via the USB output of the Squeezebox Touch, and the Concero is known to have quite decent USB power regulation incorporated into its design. Accordingly, I'm happy with the modest cost of this power supply. I think the scope of improvement really depends on the DAC in question and the quality of the USB power output from your PC. It is nigh on impossible to provide a definitive answer.

Worst case scenario, if you notice no difference, I'd wager that you could onsell it with minimal financial loss.

[Piya72]

Pete, 

 

What needs to be done to adjust the 9v output to 5v  ? - (to power a Squeezebox touch) 

 

Piya

[pete_mac]

You'll need to adjust the output voltage via the blue trimpot on the PCB whilst connected to a multimeter.

Otherwise, you could use a USB to 5.5mm plug cable and utilise the USB output socket instead, as it is already set for 5v.

Edited December 26, 2013 by pete_mac

[Piya72]

Pete, 

 

excuse my ignorance, but is this blue trimpot visible on your photo of the innards ?

 

Piya

[pete_mac]

Yep, in one of the pics it can juuuust be seen to the right of the black heatsink for the voltage regulators.

[Piya72]

Pete, 

 

Thanks for that...  assume its a twist with a screwdriver and check output with multimeter ?

 

A USB to 5.5 mm plug cable.... is this something that is buyable, or do you need to make one up ?

 

Again, thanks Pete.... 

[adamg]

I've just today started using Teradaks U9 PSU with my SBT after adjusting the voltage to 5.1 V and swapping the 2.1 mm plug on the DC cable for a 2.5 mm from Jaycar.

 

So far so good. I couldn't say if there has been any improvement at this early stage and have to agree with Pete that SQ improvements will be marginal and dependent on other variables in a particular system.

 

I don't expect much (if anything) but the principal of using a linear PSU is sound and for the $ worth trying. Not a bad unit to have in the cupboard.

 

That said I recently had an electrician in the house so had additional powerpoints installed for my HiFi set-up. These were installed for convenience and I didn't expect any gain in SQ but.....with the DAC, SBT, (pre- U9 PSU) and Audio-gd DI plugged direct to powerpoints rather than a powerboard I'm confident this has produced a welcome softening in the digital edge of my basic set-up.

[ummagumma]

Anyone used the USB +5v output of the Teradak to drive an iFi iUSB?

Currently using iFi to drive PC USB to M51...

Edited December 30, 2013 by ummagumma

[ummagumma]

Answered my own question by buying a Teradak and am now running it as the power souce for the iFi USB....

[pete_mac]

Nice one. Any thoughts on how it performs? Is there any perceivable difference vs the previous 5V supply?

[wikeeboy]

Hey there ummagumma

 

Let us know what you think of the teradak through the ifi. Which walwart do you have with the ifi? Is it the AUS one that is supplied by the AUS distributor, or the proper walwart as included outside of Australia?

[Guest fordgtlover]

I've just today started using Teradaks U9 PSU with my SBT after adjusting the voltage to 5.1 V and swapping the 2.1 mm plug on the DC cable for a 2.5 mm from Jaycar.

 

So far so good. I couldn't say if there has been any improvement at this early stage and have to agree with Pete that SQ improvements will be marginal and dependent on other variables in a particular system.

 

I don't expect much (if anything) but the principal of using a linear PSU is sound and for the $ worth trying. Not a bad unit to have in the cupboard.

 

That said I recently had an electrician in the house so had additional powerpoints installed for my HiFi set-up. These were installed for convenience and I didn't expect any gain in SQ but.....with the DAC, SBT, (pre- U9 PSU) and Audio-gd DI plugged direct to powerpoints rather than a powerboard I'm confident this has produced a welcome softening in the digital edge of my basic set-up.

 

Whether the power supply does make the device sound different, I don't really know, but as best as I can gather in some of the earlier SB the differences could be measured at the SPDIF and DAC outputs, but again whether that actually translated into audible differences remains a point of conjecture.

 

Additionally, it has been suggested by several people in the know that the supplied switcher injects noise back into the AC power supply. So, it's suggested that the big benefit of the better power supply is that it doesn't pollute your AC power. Again, whether either of these can be heard remains open to opinion. Many swear it can be heard and many swear it can't.

 

Personally, even if it is placebo, $50 for a new PS seems like a reasonable price for me to feel like I'm making a positive difference to my SQ.

 

[ummagumma]

Originally the iFi came with  the Aust walwart that came with it. Even though the distributor offered an " proper " power pack when it was approved ...it never happened.

So got tired of waiting....Only connected the Teradak last night using the iFi white cable ( about 30cm  that came with the iFi )  for USB A to 5V connection  from the Teradak to the iFi..

Initial thoughts so far are that there is no standout difference albeit I have not really sat down and listened with no other household ambient noise....

Gotta be better than the walwart... I feel that it is a step up from the walwart that came with it.

Teradak feels very solid, heavy for its size........ has a very bright,  red on light. not sure why the need to be so bright.....other than that good so far.

Buying tranaction was smooth considering I bought during the xmas period.... approx $67 delivered....I think good vlaue.

No GPO 240V power cable comes with it but it does have the 9v power cable and a USB A to USB B ( B end has is a male/female type connector ) as in pete's photos.

Thanks to pete_mac for the post and suggestion....

Edited January 8, 2014 by ummagumma

[pete_mac]

Yep, the LED is ultra-bright! I think I'll add a dropping resistor to reduce the brightness at some stage in future.

[Essence]

So the million dollar question, is there a difference in the sound using this and just regular USB power from a computer? I'm actually interested on getting one

 

I had my Duet modded according to lampizator's guide along with a upgraded power supply and I also removed the WiFi miniPCI card as I rather use lan connection. it sounds tremendously better than stock coaxial digital out from motherboard which was better than USB out. And for the cost I don't think you can get a much cheaper source. All up including the power supply, extra upgrade parts it was still under $300 aud delivered. It was quoted to trounce the "$5000 dollar CEC TL1X so badly that it isn't even funny. It literally trashes it !"

 

All with the comfort of controlling your music via GUI with any android device. And since I have my music server running in a different room this means it lowers the unwanted electronic noise leak that you would have if you had a laptop/desktop running in the same room as your listening room.

Edited January 9, 2014 by essencez

[adamg]

Whether the power supply does make the device sound different, I don't really know, but as best as I can gather in some of the earlier SB the differences could be measured at the SPDIF and DAC outputs, but again whether that actually translated into audible differences remains a point of conjecture.

 

Additionally, it has been suggested by several people in the know that the supplied switcher injects noise back into the AC power supply. So, it's suggested that the big benefit of the better power supply is that it doesn't pollute your AC power. Again, whether either of these can be heard remains open to opinion. Many swear it can be heard and many swear it can't.

 

Personally, even if it is placebo, $50 for a new PS seems like a reasonable price for me to feel like I'm making a positive difference to my SQ.

 

 

I haven't perceived any improvement in SQ but I am not one to sit down assess these things with test tracks and the like.

 

However I do believe that the small relatively cheap improvements one can make to the fundamentals (like power supply) of even modest systems (like mine) make a collective difference.

 

The only thing I don't like about these Class A power supplies is they get so hot which means I turn mine on/off at least daily. I'd prefer to leave my SBT on all the time. Had the same problem with my Audio-gd DI.

[mloutfie]

I've just got the teradak power supply today. and using Schiit modi the difference is quite obvious. the background feels darker and bass punch became more solid. It's not a big jump on sound quality but obvious none the less. It still sounds like modi but better

[ummagumma]

Definitely an improvement over the stock standard walwart ( IMO and my better half's ) based on listenening to several albums that I listen to regularly and swapping from the original walwart to the Teradak.

Edited January 10, 2014 by ummagumma

[Essence]

I haven't perceived any improvement in SQ but I am not one to sit down assess these things with test tracks and the like.

 

However I do believe that the small relatively cheap improvements one can make to the fundamentals (like power supply) of even modest systems (like mine) make a collective difference.

 

The only thing I don't like about these Class A power supplies is they get so hot which means I turn mine on/off at least daily. I'd prefer to leave my SBT on all the time. Had the same problem with my Audio-gd DI.

 

Strongly agree with this. Making sure the small details are done right adds up eventually even if the difference is not perceivable immediately. And also much easier to justify to your wallet.

[Guest fordgtlover]

I haven't perceived any improvement in SQ but I am not one to sit down assess these things with test tracks and the like.

 

However I do believe that the small relatively cheap improvements one can make to the fundamentals (like power supply) of even modest systems (like mine) make a collective difference.

 

The only thing I don't like about these Class A power supplies is they get so hot which means I turn mine on/off at least daily. I'd prefer to leave my SBT on all the time. Had the same problem with my Audio-gd DI.

 

I guess as has been mentioned various times in this thread that the PS might make s small difference, which means that even if you could do immediate A/B testing it would be pretty hard to pick. By the time you power down, swap it over and get going again several minutes have passed, so it's going to be tricky to easily pick the difference - and as you say, it may take some specific test tracks to really reveal any difference.

 

Hmmm... getting too hot sounds like a bit of a hassle.

 

Strongly agree with this. Making sure the small details are done right adds up eventually even if the difference is not perceivable immediately. And also much easier to justify to your wallet.

 

Yeah, I certainly don't disagree with the intent. It seems perfectly sensible to make sure that the small details are addressed and improved, or are at least not making things worse. And again, whether they all add up to something that can be heard, I just don't know.

Edited January 10, 2014 by fordgtlover