Keces P8 Linear Power Supply

Nov 10, 2021 at 9:08 AM Post #16 of 58
New Keces P8 owner here and has just hooked up a new set P8 onto my main speaker system. Offhand, I can hear that P8 has more defined, bouncier and firmer bass. But the previous LHY LPS has better layering and draws into the music better as one can hears more subtleties. Not sure if the cables (SOMMER Bluewater vs CANARE) make a significant difference as they have different connections at the LPS side thus I cannot swap to compare. Do P8 owners hear similar effect as well?
 
Nov 10, 2021 at 9:23 AM Post #17 of 58
I haven’t compared my PHL anything else. Has yours broken in yet? It will sound different after break in.

What DC cable are you using? Check out Ghent cables. A pretty quick turnaround and a lot of people use them. I have as well.
 
Nov 10, 2021 at 10:53 AM Post #18 of 58
Don’t think it is fully broken in as I have just received it. I planning to get a GhentAudio Neotech 7N 16awg equivalent cable using the same specifications, now just waiting for the stock. At the moment, I am using SOMMER Bluewater between the P8 and the opticalRendu. Previously was using a CANARE cable between the LHY LPS and the opticalRendu.
 
Nov 10, 2021 at 12:19 PM Post #20 of 58
May i know which model under gotham label are you using?
 
Nov 11, 2021 at 5:02 AM Post #22 of 58
Oct 5, 2022 at 10:18 AM Post #26 of 58


If you follow my ramblings here (and elsewhere), you may have noticed this device pop up in pictures on several recent posts of mine. It's just there in the background, doing its thing without calling much attention to itself. And yet, in many ways, it's the backbone of my reference system.

The item in question is a new product from a name veteran HeadFiers will probably remember - Keces Audio. The company had some popular DACs roughly 10 years ago, known for their high value and musical sound. The little DA-151 was among the very first USB-only DACs I ever encountered.



I don't believe the company ever really went away, but they seemed to focus away from the North American market for some time there. That changes now with the launch of Keces Audio USA.

The focus seems to be power products - I don't know if Keces has a larger portfolio for other markets, but for now North America gets a trio of isolation transformers plus a pair of linear power supplies. Like the early Keces gear, these models all seem to offer quite a bit of value per dollar.

The one I'm using is the Keces P8 Linear Power Supply. Some specs from the site:



Toroidal transformer: a high-mass, low-profile, low magnetic field design

No Humming or Buzz noise for 50Hz and Peak load, 100% Silent

Low ripple noise and void of high frequency noise

4A+4A or 8A continuous power

Each output has two selectable voltages

*All version included a USB output



Features

1. High Quality Toroidal Transformer provide pure power.
2. Separate ground for each output rail.
3. Ultra low ripple noise.
4. No humming or buzz noise for 50Hz and peak load, 100% silent.
5. OLED display currently output voltage and currently output ampere.
6. USB Type A 5V output
7. Dual output with USB output provide 4A for each with 1A USB output.
8. Single output with USB output provide 8A with 1A USB output.
9. Over Voltage Protection (OVP).
10. Over Current Protection (OCP).
11. Under Voltage Protection (UVP).
12. Over Temperature Protection (OTP). 1
3. The 4mm thickness of the aluminum chassis to effective to blocks EMI/RFI interference.


Compatibility & DC output version

1. Directly power DC 24V based phono stage or for all audio device that run on DC 24V.

2. Directly power DC 20V based Laptop or for all audio device that run on DC 20V.

3. Directly power DC 19V based NUC, Thin ITX system and Laptop or for all audio device that run on DC 19V.

4. Directly power DC 18V based Pro-Ject products or for all audio device that run on DC 18V.

5. Directly power DC 15V based Alpha Design Labs products or for all audio device that run on DC 15V.

6. Directly power DC 12V based Mac Mini or for all audio device that run on DC 12V.

7. Directly power DC 9V based SOtM products or for all audio device that run on DC 9V.

8. Directly power DC 7V based SOtM products or for all audio device that run on DC 7V.

9. Directly power DC 5V based Squeezebox or for audio device that run on DC 5V.

10. USB Output provide DC 5V @1A. Directly power DC5V based USB DAC.




Keces_P8_Output.png



DC Connector 2.1mm Barrel

AC Input Voltage 115V 60Hz / 230V 50Hz (Switchable)

Power Consumption 210 Watts (Full Load Output)

Casing Aluminum

Dimension (WxDxH) 300x220x66mm

Weight 6kg


As you can see, this is a flexible device that can be configured any number of ways. The most obvious would be dual outputs - one for a music server or streamer (Squeezebox Touch, sMS-200, microRendu), the other for a DDC or USB widget (Wyred Recovery, Uptone Regen, etc).

The only limitation is the total output capability of 8A - far higher than the somewhat conceptually similar Wyred 4 Sound PS-1. That device handles a maximum of 4 devices but shares 4A total between them. The Keces P8 only does two devices... BUT! Don't forget the USB output that can provide up to 1A at 5 Volts, making this a three-device PSU if your gear needs happen to match up. The USB output can be tapped using dual-head USB cables, or get an adapter from Keces USA to work with low power equipment.

Me? I got the single device version feeding a Zenion music server. But I've also got the USB output feeding a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 DDC, and the result is spectacularly clean, rich, and musical. Running the Zenion with stock power brick, powering the Matrix DDC direct via USB power, just isn't the same. Still good, sure, but I the P8 brings very tangible improvements. I particularly enjoy the inky black background it produces, which is impressive considering I already run high-end power conditioning for the entire rig. Improvement is even more dramatic when I run straight from wall power.



I really enjoy the OLED display which shows the draw of connected gear. It looks like my system generally needs somewhere between 2A-3A when playing a single stream in Roon endpoint mode. But I see the draw ramp up when I do multi-room audio and DSD upsampling. This particular system still doesn't push the limits of the P8 but I bet I could throw together something that would if I really wanted to. That's where the OLED would really come in handy.



I'll have more thoughts as time allows. Just wanted to get this out there because I keep showing pics of this thing without ever really explaining what it is and why I like it so much. Did
I mention it goes for a very reasonable $599 regardless of configuration? Single device that needs 12V, or dual outputs at 7V and 15V? Doesn't matter. That said, you'll have to inquire about custom cables for your particular devices, as I don't know what the price spread on those might be.

This one looks just like the thing I need in my setup.

I am looking for a lps for Chord TT2 that needs 15V/4A. Also looking for a LPS for my JCA USB XE PCIe which needs 5V.

I dont see any navigation. Does this powersupply autosense what the device needs?
5V/7V + 9V/12V with USB Output.
9V/12V + 12V/15V with USB Output.
9V/12V + 18V/19V with USB Output.
9V/12V + 20V/24V with USB Output.

this does not look like I can use 5V and 15V or is it possible?

...So you are also powering the matrix spdif2 from the usb out on the p8?...WOW!
 
Last edited:
Oct 5, 2022 at 10:29 AM Post #28 of 58
Oct 5, 2022 at 11:30 AM Post #29 of 58
This one looks just like the thing I need in my setup.

I am looking for a lps for Chord TT2 that needs 15V/4A. Also looking for a LPS for my JCA USB XE PCIe which needs 5V.

I dont see any navigation. Does this powersupply autosense what the device needs?
5V/7V + 9V/12V with USB Output.
9V/12V + 12V/15V with USB Output.
9V/12V + 18V/19V with USB Output.
9V/12V + 20V/24V with USB Output.

this does not look like I can use 5V and 15V or is it possible?

...So you are also powering the matrix spdif2 from the usb out on the p8?...WOW!

the usb out on p8 is 5v.
i run my ethernet/fiber converters using the usb out. I got Sean @ Affinity to make me a usb->2.1mm dc plug cable.
 
Oct 5, 2022 at 11:36 AM Post #30 of 58
the usb out on p8 is 5v.
i run my ethernet/fiber converters using the usb out. I got Sean @ Affinity to make me a usb->2.1mm dc plug cable.
but usb only 1A I wish to use it for the three outputs if possible. Powering the DDC matrix like @project86 from the usb
 

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