Squeezebox Touch - Best, Cheapest Linear Power Supply Upgrade

[hionhifi]

I'm interested in upgrading the noisy SMPS on my SBT. I've been looking at a couple namely the following.

 

Astron Sl-11R: Astron Linear Power Supply 13.8 Volts 11A SL-11R (http://www.astroncorp.com/linear.shtml) and really good pics at: http://store.stsi.com/sl-11r.html

 

Welborne Labs Squeezebox Linear Power Supply: http://www.welbornelabs.com/squeeze.htm

 

The Welborne is ready made and cost's only $212 + shipping.

 

The Astron looks to be a good value at under $100, however it needs some mods to make it compatible with the SBT. First it needs a proper power plug. Second, the power supply needs modification to bring it down to 5amp, and 12volts. Currently it is a 7a, 11a power supply (although it measures 13.8 volts).

 

Has anyone any experience with these or others?

[Radiotron]

Just to add to what the OP asked, Mains Cables R Us also have theirs:

 

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/power-supplies/346-mains-cables-r-us-dc-power-supply.html

[melomaniac]

hionhifi, I had the welborne and sold it. I would recommend the CIAudio PSU instead. you can find it on the Channel Island Audio site

 

 

I'm interested in upgrading the noisy SMPS on my SBT. I've been looking at a couple namely the following.

 

Astron Sl-11R: Astron Linear Power Supply 13.8 Volts 11A SL-11R (http://www.astroncorp.com/linear.shtml) and really good pics at: http://store.stsi.com/sl-11r.html

 

Welborne Labs Squeezebox Linear Power Supply: http://www.welbornelabs.com/squeeze.htm

 

The Welborne is ready made and cost's only $212 + shipping.

 

The Astron looks to be a good value at under $100, however it needs some mods to make it compatible with the SBT. First it needs a proper power plug. Second, the power supply needs modification to bring it down to 5amp, and 12volts. Currently it is a 7a, 11a power supply (although it measures 13.8 volts).

 

Has anyone any experience with these or others?

[hionhifi]

hionhifi, I had the welborne and sold it. I would recommend the CIAudio PSU instead. you can find it on the Channel Island Audio site

Thank you for the recommendation. I'd like to know what you liked and didn't like about the Welborne? How long did you have it in your system? Etc. etc.

 

Why recommend the CIAudio PSU. What did do that the Welborne didn't do? Thanks for the recommendation, just would like a little more back story as to the pos and neg's.

[Julf]

I'm interested in upgrading the noisy SMPS on my SBT.

 

Just curious - how have you verified that the SMPS is noisy, and more importantly, that it actually affects the sound?

[hionhifi]

Just curious - how have you verified that the SMPS is noisy, and more importantly, that it actually affects the sound?

Good question. No I haven't. My understanding is that SMPS's are noisy inherently and that linear power supply's can lower the noise floor.

 

I imagine there is a test to find out how much noise the SMPS is contributing to line noise.

[Julf]

Good question. No I haven't. My understanding is that SMPS's are noisy inherently and that linear power supply's can lower the noise floor.

 

Cheap, badly designed SMPS's are often noisy. A well-designed SMPS doesn't have to be. I have just been measuring the Hypex SMPS600 supplies I use with my (nc400 D-class) power amps - and they are extremely quiet, both in terms of noise on the power line and radiated RF. And a good SMPS can provide much better regulation than a linear power supply.

 

I imagine there is a test to find out how much noise the SMPS is contributing to line noise.

 

Well, line noise is easy to measure even with just a scope, and radiated RF can be measured with a suitable antenna attachment (but a good RF frequency analyzer is better). What is harder to measure is the possible audible effect of the noise.