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atomicbob's SMPS Noise Nuke for HP amps with external SMPS

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifier Measurements' started by atomicbob, Sep 26, 2017.

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  1. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend Pyrate Contributor

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    Yes - I'm doing exactly that.

    Let me know if you hear a difference vs using one or the other on its own, I'm not sure I do :rolleyes:
     
    Biodegraded, Jul 12, 2023
    #141

  2. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend Pyrate

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    I imagine the Aiyima is worried about heat draw to constantly deliver that kind of power to the chips ALL the time, even when not needed. I guess it kind of defeats the purpose of Class D anyway. I think people see the 48V/10A as the max PSU you can get, and why not get a LPSU at that point? I just wonder at what lower voltage, but more linear will do. It could just go up in smoke.

    I do know that the competing Fosi Audio V3 uses bigger DC caps on the inside of the amp and has better ventilation.

    LPS eliminates the need for SMPS.

    Basically the noise nuke is turning an SMPS into a more linear PSU using filtering and the caps to keep the voltage steady.
     
    Azimuth, Jul 12, 2023
    #142
  3. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend Pyrate Contributor

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    Depends on the LPS. As post #1 in this thread shows, some linear supplies could benefit from the additional smoothing provided by the noise nuke. The rated peak-to-peak ripple of the Jameco linear wall-wart being 30 mV max - more than what was measured for the Meanwell SMPS in post #1 - it might be one.
     
    Biodegraded, Jul 12, 2023
    #143
  4. Justin S

    Justin S Friend Pyrate Contributor

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    As long as the draw on your device is less than 2 amps and DC then yes. It's a remarkable device.
     
    Justin S, Jul 14, 2023
    #144
  5. Justin S

    Justin S Friend Pyrate Contributor

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    Embarking on another three of these. One for my MOTU, one for an SBC NAA endpoint and one for future use. I have ideas about how to make the build more tidy this time around. I'll follow up. PXL_20230722_040228261.jpg
     
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    Justin S, Jul 21, 2023
    #145
  6. Justin S

    Justin S Friend Pyrate Contributor

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    What is everyone using for DC cables to go from the noise nuke to your device. I've been having Ghent make up some Canare 4S6 cables with oyaide connectors for me. I wondering if it's worth the time and money. People get crazy about DC power cables. I'm aiming for well made with good wire and connectors.
     
    Justin S, Jul 24, 2023
    #146
  7. Justin S

    Justin S Friend Pyrate Contributor

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    Batch 2. I feel like they are more tidy than the first batch. I used a marette to tie the choke, cap, and v+ out this time rather than having a giant solder ball at the jack. Not sure if that is a no no, but I felt like it made it more tidy. Also, this time I did not use wire ties on the caps which made them easier to fit in the case. As with the last batch, I put switches on the front of the cases. (yes i reversed the direction of the pigtails on one set of caps...a mechanical error. I just went with it.) Can't wait to get these into the chains of various systems. PXL_20230813_032839830.jpg PXL_20230812_190547156.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2023
    Justin S, Aug 12, 2023
    #147
  8. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

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    Hey everyone,

    I need something to power my Ifi Zen Can so I can make it future proof and use with low impedance headphones.

    I have the IpowerX SMPS supply which gives out 3A, but I need a solution to give out 5V 5A ( or 4A) , with as little noise as possible.

    any ideas on how to get that?

    can someone build me a noise Nuke for money of course?

    much appreciated.

    @atomicbob how does the Ifi power SMPS measure noise wise?
     
    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 1:19 PM
    #148
  9. Tone?

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    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM
    #149
  10. Tone?

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    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 2:40 PM
    #150
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless. Staff Member Pyrate BWC

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    Worth a shot to try out. There are far too many LPS out there for anyone to really know. What I think can be said is that power supplies do have their own sound.

    SMPS will have switching noise in the hundreds of kilohertz region, one primary spike and maybe a few others, usually harmonics. Whether this impacts the sound will vary. Some designs are more immune to ultrasonic noise than others. High quality SMPS will have switching noise in the megahertz region. The higher and farther from the audio band, the better.

    FWIW, the Noise Nuke uses a choke. Chokes are special are rarely found in LPS. This is because chokes are heavy and expensive, but in my experience, they do pretty magical things (with paired with caps) both subjectively and objectively (PS supply noise measurements).

    No. No choke. Just dumb caps. Also, please collect your thoughts before posting. This is a forum, not iMessage. ;)
     
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    purr1n, May 28, 2024 at 2:44 PM
    #151
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless. Staff Member Pyrate BWC

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    Supercaps are merely super high capacity (capacitance) caps. Personally, I would go for lower ESR / higher voltage caps, although it's likely Supercaps would have low ESR. There is only so much energy storage that is needed. You aren't running power amps here.

    TBH, I would seek simpler solutions and/or go slow. The amount of money and time f'ing around with optimizing power supply / exhibiting power supply neurosis can put toward a better amp and better gear. I'd say level up to audiophile level 23 with +2 DACage, +3 Ampage, and +4 headphones before futzing around with power supplies.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2024 at 3:21 PM
    purr1n, May 28, 2024 at 2:51 PM
    #152
  13. Tone?

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    Pardon for the post , I’m new at some electronics so I don’t know.
    The caps are ‘ supposed’ to clean up the power from EMI and ripple.

    I’m trying to find a good plug n play solution for my Ifi zen Can Sig. so it can play with lower impedance headphones.

    the power supply it came with is the ipowerX which is 5V and 3A. The amp is designed to take a maximum of 5A so it won’t be current starved with lower impedance headphones.

    so I’m looking for a 5V 4-5Ampere power supply that is low noise and doesn’t cost a house.

    ideas please?

    thanks
     
    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 2:52 PM
    #153
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless. Staff Member Pyrate BWC

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    What specific lower impedance headphones? I doubt your headphones are current starved or anywhere near it, unless you are running a Loki, have the bass knob turned all the way up, playing back a bass heavy track, and running at 122db SPL.

    (Yes, I've tried this before helping Schiit tune their current limiting on their tiny amps).
     
    purr1n, May 28, 2024 at 3:24 PM
    #154
  15. Wilewarer

    Wilewarer Almost "Made"

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    Even if you do have some monster planar with low impedance and low sensitivity that chokes out on the Zen Can, are you sure you shouldn't just be buying a different amp? That's the more intuitive approach, and it's a lot less fiddly than this and possibly less expensive.
     
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    Wilewarer, May 28, 2024 at 3:31 PM
    #155
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless. Staff Member Pyrate BWC

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    Also, the iFi iPower X. It's effective. Sure it's not LPS with chokes, but iFi put some thought into it. Likely other LPS with or without Noise Nuke will sound different rather than better than the iFi iPower X.

    By the time one is done with playing around with all this extra shit, one could have leveled up to a Nitsch Pietus Maximus (that comes complete with an optimized LPS inside the chassis), which is like two leagues bettar than the Zen Can Sig.
     
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    purr1n, May 28, 2024 at 3:44 PM
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  17. Tone?

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    according to ASR the low current does effect anything under 50ohms


    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/ifi-zen-can-review-headphone-amp.25224/

    thanks for the help!
     
    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 4:21 PM
    #157
  18. Tone?

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    I am going to try the benchmark DAC3 HGC.
    I have the DAC3 B so like a bonehead I didn’t get the HGC with the headphone amp.

    I do like the zen can Sig however a lot. It’s a great sounding amp

    thanks man
     
    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 4:22 PM
    #158
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless. Staff Member Pyrate BWC

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    According to ASR, low current DOES NOT affect anything under 50ohms at NORMAL LISTENING LEVELS, including VERY LOUD (HEARING DAMAGE) listening levels.

    The devil is in the details. A couple of millvolts maybe tens, a few hundred at most, is probably what you use.
    upload_2024-5-28_18-34-51.png

    ASR tends to measure headphone amps at way way too high of a level (like perma-damaging / lighting up on fire headphones levels). However, the extended levels are a good honesty check for manufacturers' advertised specs.
     
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    Last edited: May 28, 2024 at 4:39 PM
    purr1n, May 28, 2024 at 4:33 PM
    #159
  20. Tone?

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    Tone?, May 28, 2024 at 4:36 PM
    #160
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