Really need a $399 Desktop Power Supply? - Page 2

O well, don't worry to much, the astrodyne is o.k. You can always ugrade later. In the meanwhile let it go and enjoy

I'm with the guys who say try the DPS, first, before you decide the Astrodyne is fine. Don't do a quick A and B. Instead, stay with the Astrodyne for a while, for a few days at least. Then switch in the DPS. The difference will be pronounced. I'm beginning to realize it's not just sheer power that makes a difference but how quick and how responsive that power is to the demands of your music. The quickness inserts a completely black background for every instrument and voice, with little or no bleeding. The result is clear and clean separation, a sense of vast soundstage. The most demanding bass notes are quick, punchy, bouncy. I use the HRD and HRDB in different locations. For a while, I used the Astrodyne with the balanced. When I switched in the DPS, I was floored. I hadn't realized what a huge difference it would make. I ended up getting a second DPS, used, on eBay. How important is the PS? It's like the engine under the hood of your car. Pouring all your money into the body and cutting corners in the engine compartment doesn't make much sense if performance matters to you. When you floor that pedal, you want the full power to kick in instantly. Zero hesitation. Zero balk. Zero hiccup. The maximum power has to be there when you need it, in the instant you need it. A split second later won't cut it. That's the DPS difference. At least, that's how I hear it.

The way you said 'The difference will be pronounced', has me wondering which power you're referring to, one possibility being the power of persuasion. 'You are feeling sleepy...'

Seriously though, you're causing me curious side to be most restless. I'm wondering how the UltraMicro stack would sound with the DPS.

It really does matter how much the bucks are worth to you, but I do have to agree with feifan, many people underestimate the performance improvements given by the power supply in audio gear.

It's all in that subtle stuff, stuff you don't hear on quick listens or at meets when there's lots of noise and distraction. But during those supremely quite late-night listening sessions, when all the bits and pieces come together in a complete listening experience, the kind of nuanced control and microscopic articulation that all that juicy horsepower (to use his word) delivers is pretty satisfying.

So, yeah, it'd be a very cool upgrade for an Ultra Micro Stack ... if it's within your budget.

It most definitely is within my budget, and I'll be taking you up on that recommendation.

It's just that it's never a nice thing to upgrade at whatever cost and not hear any significant returns. Albeit, there's always the fallback plan of using the HeadRoom return policy.

Because of the proprietory connection, or is it? that the DPS has, can the DPS power other device that doesn't take that kind of a connection? I have the ultra stack and the DPS, but I always wanted to know if there is an adaptor for a universal connection so my other device can benefit from the monies I spent on the DPS also.

DIY kicks in.

The DPS can pump out plenty of current. As long as you know what you are doing with +15V, G, -15V pins in the DIN connector, you should be fine....

I look at the DPS as a power supply for a HeadRoom product. Once it's presented as a separate component, there's the tendency to think of using it in other contexts.

Anyway, I've since ordered one and will let you all know what I think. With it and the Ultra Micro stack, I'm just thinking of it all as essentially one unit. Not necessarily for flexibility.

One of my Astrodynes can go back to powering my Micro Amp at work.

Ok. First impressions are positive and your description is pretty much on the money. Pun intended.

So, I'd recommend the DPS, only if you can really afford it.

So as not to assume, do I use the DPS switch to power the stack on and off, or do I continue to use the stack component on/off switches? I've got to be sure since I'm now hearing that I could potentially destroy an amp by unplugging headphones when the amp is on and the volume up!!

Potentially.

Sure, you can switch it off with the PS.

No takers from HeadRoom with regards to this question?

I personally have my DPS just behind and to the left of my Ultra Micro Stack. I'm assuming that the DPS is shielded since I'm seeing it beside computer equipment and such. My external hard disk isn't far from it and it's still working fine.

Meh. I suppose there will be slightly more 60Hz AC interference if you stack them...we have never measured it so I don't know what the magnitude of the issue is, but it's inaudible.

You know, there are about a billion things that could bring interference into your system; every thing from fluorescent lights and your refrigerator putting noise into your AC, to halogen lamps and all the switching wall wart cellphone chargers radiating high frequency rf noise around your desk. I stack my stuff all the time on the Desktop PS and have never heard any 60 Hz.

I guess it's just an issue of how hard you want to work to rid yourself of small sources of interference. Untill you run dedicated AC into your home from the pole, you're gonna get some from somewhere. I wouldn't fret too much about it.