02-09-2009, 04:20 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 23
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Really need a $399 Desktop Power Supply?
Hello guys, I´ve just bought a HR desktop ULTRA to hook my new AKG K702. It comes with and an excellent power supply called Astrodyne. I don´t feel that I am short of power here, and I trust my ears. So, although I read and reread all about this matter in the HeadRoom site, I still think that I don´t need more power for the ULTRA. Oh! and yes of course , I´m using the Max Dac too!
Any HeadRoom expert can tell me that I´m wrong here? .gif "Confused Face(1)")
__________________
...... Phones protect my music from neighbors late at night 
Phones: AKG K702, AKG K701, Senn 600, Senn 580, expecting Senn 800
Sources: dCS P8i CD-SACD player and PC (Soundblaster XFi), via Toshlink to MaxDAC
Amp(s): HeadRoom Ultra Desktop with MaxDac, Rega Ear, Creek OBH-11
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02-09-2009, 04:26 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New York
Posts: 853
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I have the Ultra and the DPS and LOVE it. The clean, regulated power is a MUST...
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02-09-2009, 05:56 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: FLA.
Posts: 230
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You definitely should buy a Desktop Power Supply!!!! It makes a big difference.
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02-09-2009, 05:57 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,248
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You know you will always wonder if you dont buy it.
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02-09-2009, 08:03 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 197
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The DPS is a big improvement, you can try it for 30days, but I bet you won't send it back 
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02-09-2009, 08:52 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,439
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Firstly, you don't 'need' it. FYI the Astrodyne actually has a much higher power output capacity than the DPS, both of which are way way above what is needed by any of the amps that can use them.
You certainly don't need to spend the extra $'s to enjoy the amp. It's simply an upgrade that is easily available to you if you have the cash to burn. If you have the money can can spend it without issue, then there isn't much of a reason not to go ahead - no point wasting your energy thinking about it. Otherwise, save your money!
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02-09-2009, 11:05 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jamaica
Posts: 629
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Guguplex,
Congrats on the purchase!! I was soooo close to getting one of those and then settled with the Ultra Micro Stack. The sale was too much to resist.
With my Ultra Micro Stack, I have two Astrodyne's, i.e., one for each unit. However, with the Ultra Desktop Amp, you get one Astrodyne which drives both amp and DAC.
I personally would've gone for the DPS, but I now see it listed for $499, and could've sworn it was originally $399.
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02-09-2009, 01:21 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: FLA.
Posts: 230
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I paid 399.00 Maybe its a typo. Call Headroom and check.
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02-09-2009, 02:02 PM
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Garmentus Vulgaris & Headphoneus Supremus Premier Sponsor HeadRoom
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Posts: 2,855
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Yeah, $499, the price went up.
We recently did some significant studies of our prices and margins. It allowed us to lower prices on some stuff, but it also caused us to discover the Desktop PS was significantly underpriced.
The good news is that we put in a new, large transformer a while ago. And The Sloth os right, you don't NEED it, but I would say that if you've got the rest of your system in line, it's a good last step to take to get the performance as high as possible.
Sorry, really sorry.
__________________
Cheers!
Tyll (Like on the floor, only spelled different.)
I just blogged all over my keyboard.
Last edited by Tyll Hertsens; 02-09-2009 at 02:04 PM.
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02-09-2009, 04:37 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 23
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Thanks to all of you guys for your ilumination, but ....... bad news here.... now I´m 100 bucks more troubled with this matter.
__________________
...... Phones protect my music from neighbors late at night
Phones: AKG K702, AKG K701, Senn 600, Senn 580, expecting Senn 800
Sources: dCS P8i CD-SACD player and PC (Soundblaster XFi), via Toshlink to MaxDAC
Amp(s): HeadRoom Ultra Desktop with MaxDac, Rega Ear, Creek OBH-11
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02-11-2009, 12:39 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 985
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I love the HR stuff and have owned the DPS in a previous system. I enjoyed what it did for the sound and agree that in a maxed-out system it provides a worthwhile SQ difference pretty much across the board.
My quibble, and it's only a quibble, is that a 599.00 amp (Ultra Micro, say) plus a now-499.00 DPS suddenly looks like an 1100.00 amp, and in a hobby that's as price-band sensitive as this one, then enters a different and more competitive arena. I appreciate the flexibility that this upgrade path offers but I also wonder at a power supply that now costs as much as some very respectable amps. Then again, you guys have done a heck of a job making the Micro and Ultra lines far more affordable and that's a balance certainly worth preserving. Erm, what was my point again?
best,
o
__________________
Sources: iPod 5.5 /// Azur 840c // Macbook Pro via HR Max/Ultra electronics
Amps: HR Max/Ultra // Cary SLI-80 Signature (on loan) ///EarMax Pro
Phones: Ultrasone Edition 9s [sold] /// RS1 ("vintage") and New ///Balanced JVC/Victor DX-1000 // HD650 w/ Cardas // Vintage SR325s
Cables: Chord Signature
Away from Headfi between August 16 and 21 2009 so may not be answering PMs
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02-11-2009, 12:48 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: North Georgia Mountains
Posts: 408
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I noticed the price changes in a few items and wanderd what was up, now I know.
Sweet!!!
__________________
Amps: ALO/RWA Amphora, Meier 2Move, Total Airhead
Headphones: ESW9
Source: iPod, 2Move
Alone in my room, lights off, tubes aglow and music flowing, I discovered something. No matter how much hi-end gear I put between the recording and my ears, its the music that moved me to tears. Less is always more.
Kevin
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02-11-2009, 12:58 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jamaica
Posts: 629
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orkney
I love the HR stuff and have owned the DPS in a previous system. I enjoyed what it did for the sound and agree that in a maxed-out system it provides a worthwhile SQ difference pretty much across the board.
My quibble, and it's only a quibble, is that a 599.00 amp (Ultra Micro, say) plus a now-499.00 DPS suddenly looks like an 1100.00 amp, and in a hobby that's as price-band sensitive as this one, then enters a different and more competitive arena. I appreciate the flexibility that this upgrade path offers but I also wonder at a power supply that now costs as much as some very respectable amps. Then again, you guys have done a heck of a job making the Micro and Ultra lines far more affordable and that's a balance certainly worth preserving. Erm, what was my point again?
best,
o
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Are you claiming then that it should benefit my UltraMicro Stack that's already powered by Astrodynes?
It would seem that what makes the more expensive amps so pricey and large compared to the HeadRoom units is the cost of a very decent powersupply that's already integrated in the amp.
I was sort of tempted to get the DPS for the Ultra Stack and use one of the Astrodynes for the MicroAmp at work, but the extra $100 price tag killed the temptation ... for now. 
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02-11-2009, 02:00 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 23
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The DPS comes ready to feed up to 6 HR devices at the same time .... but I´ve got just one. May be a lot of extra power here that perhaps I will never use. Another thing is: ..... what can I do with the astrodyne PS that came with the Desktop Ultra if I buy a DPS? ... Of course..... I am just hearing you ..... sell it!! But in the country I live there´s no market for an astrodyne sold separately 
Please don´t misunderstand me here, I do not mean to criticize the HR guys because they do a wonderful job in favor of all of us who love cans and music, I´d just want to debate these points with all of you and learn a bit from your own experiences 
__________________
...... Phones protect my music from neighbors late at night
Phones: AKG K702, AKG K701, Senn 600, Senn 580, expecting Senn 800
Sources: dCS P8i CD-SACD player and PC (Soundblaster XFi), via Toshlink to MaxDAC
Amp(s): HeadRoom Ultra Desktop with MaxDac, Rega Ear, Creek OBH-11
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02-11-2009, 02:24 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 985
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guguplex
The DPS comes ready to feed up to 6 HR devices at the same time .... but I´ve got just one. May be a lot of extra power here that perhaps I will never use. Another thing is: ..... what can I do with the astrodyne PS that came with the Desktop Ultra if I buy a DPS?
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Sell it to me....?
o
__________________
Sources: iPod 5.5 /// Azur 840c // Macbook Pro via HR Max/Ultra electronics
Amps: HR Max/Ultra // Cary SLI-80 Signature (on loan) ///EarMax Pro
Phones: Ultrasone Edition 9s [sold] /// RS1 ("vintage") and New ///Balanced JVC/Victor DX-1000 // HD650 w/ Cardas // Vintage SR325s
Cables: Chord Signature
Away from Headfi between August 16 and 21 2009 so may not be answering PMs
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