And is not kept up at night by coil whine.
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Sort of yes, see the product page:
https://www.cui.com/product/external-ac-dc-power-supplies/desktop/sdm65-u-series
I earlier used Meanwellās medical grade PSUs, but these CUI ones are quite a bit better (measured noise spectrum).
That one costs $30 BTW - if you buy only one.
Please donāt flame me! Iām just reporting what I actually heard. I purchased a used AKM version of the RME ADI DAC-2-FS about two months ago. When I first got it, I was using it with an IFI fancy switching power supply that cost about $110 thinking it was still better than the Smps that comes with the rme even though they say it is a good supply. I honestly could tell no difference between the two products and I went back/forth multiple times playing the same test tracks. I went ahead and purchased a linear power supply from Teddy Pardo as I also ābelievedā I heard improvements with LPS on my sonictransporter and Ultrarendu so wanted to try same on the RME DACā¦and the improvements in sound quality were frankly obvious within seconds of firing it up! Definitely not going back to the power supply that came with the RME and I returned the iFi product to amazon! My experience onlyā¦your mileage may vary! So dont think I will leap to the RME LPS but I do think an LPS helped my RME dac somehow/someway!
Thanks
Doug
Yeah, as I said it is not even expensiveā¦
So it didnāt come with the original factory power supply?
No, it did. I just immediately thought that the iFi might sound better so I purchased it and it arrived a couple days after I had gotten the DAC. I then went back-and-forth between the two and didnāt notice the difference so the Ifi went back and ordered the teddy Pardo, which definitely was better to my ears than either the power supply that came with the RME and the IFi Power X product. The RME ps is in the box! The new RME LPS looks fancy but likely more than I Want to spend.
D
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So it makes total sense for them to bite the bullet and build their own PSU āupgradeā?
I have bought 3 for different dacs/NAAs itās great!!
It can be beneficial for the Pro version when you use the ADC with lowest noise floor possible. There are certainly cheaper solutions for the stock power supply issues if you have them, but this is one from a reputable vendor. If you donāt know if you need it, you donāt need it. Like you donāt need the Babyface if the M6 does what you need.
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Itās funny that the BabyFace is bus-powered. But of course, you could also use a $1K external PSU with it.
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Intona makes nice USB isolators that I useā¦ (I donāt have a Babyface though)
Right, I meant the Pro version of the DAC. Any news on RME DPS-2 (Page 2) ā ADI-2 & 2/4 Pro series, ADI-2 DAC series ā RME User Forum
Car batteries are not like linear PSUs really.
Linear PSUs commonly do a crap job of RF filtering, whereas SMPS require it.
Unlike linear PSUs, batteries allow you to decouple completely from any and all AC related issues.
Great for eliminating ground loop paths in complex studio setups - which is why some use them in studios.
Linear PSUs donāt help or could even harm , in terms of adding ground loop paths.
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There are LPSās and there are LPSās. Some are certainly better than the others. Same goes for SMPS.
Yes, it is not always most convenient method, so I understand that it is not for everybody. For those cases suitable LPS may be better option. Like Iāve done myself.
In my case I got rid clearly audible birdsong coming out of my tweeters by switching from SMPS power brick to an LPS. And sure no problem at all measuring this either.
Biggest issue with SMPS is their ground noise leakage.
Plus my personal issue with many of those having the annoying mechanical whine I mentioned earlier. Similar like many CRT displays in the old days (which I fixed by opening the display and sparying electronics protection lacquer spray on the coils).
It is possible that they did not release it for their digital gear but as a general use LPS. A bit expensive but there are components (amps) where PSU makes all the difference. Not surprisingly in cheaper gear. If you want to hear what Monoprice THX AAA 887 can really deliver buy any decent SMPS, stock SMPS belongs to a garbage binā¦ Of course it is silly to buy $1k LPS for $300 amp.
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I agree, they usually do. But there are as with SMPS differencies also in this product group. All boils down to what regulatur, principle and implementation. It is possible with both techniques to acheive uV level of regulation. What is problemtic though is that SMPS noise, when not properly filtered, is doing very much harm. The amount of inaudible but still exercizing circuitry noise is far higher. That is why Ifi says well filtered within the audible range. Problem is that also inaudible noise will create audible dito on the signal.
Battery is not silent. Lead/acid is good until it reaches about 70-80% charge, some are better, and then the chemical process will add noise on the power. Other power banks usually include a DC/DC converter on the output, off course of varying standard. To get the battery silent and fast enough, it requires ā¦ drrrrr ā¦ a large ecap of good standard 
From the loop isolation it is a blessing. I love the battery tech. Since a also have a dear friend that design hifi gear (regalaudio), I also get some very good intel about using the Lithium battery type together with super caps, and THAT is a smashing hit in audio use. That will probably by my next area of experiments. Mains is a problematic area today and increasingly so. To isolate mains issues is my top priority. I measure as is about 5-600 mV of mains noise and sometimes over 1 volt dc-shift. Turning on my plasma TV will add up to 1 volt AC ripple. In my AC filter, the common noise level reaches over 25 mV, commonly about 16 mV.
Power issues is problematic and require some serious thoughts and action to isolate/dampen to a level where the malicious effect is practically gone.
Thing I have learned, is that I will never know everything I need. It still show up puzzling info that require me to reformulate my opinion. I wish that I could be certain, but the only thing certain is that I will never be ā¦
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Good DACs will regulate any voltage ripple with ultra low noise regulators - so this is easy to handle.
RF and ground/leakage/RF currents are not so easy to handle.
So Iām not too concerned about DC/DC converters for powerbanks, if you use a decent DAC, it wonāt be a problem. The upside (disconnection from any/all AC related issues) greatly outweighs any downside of DC/DC converters
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