UpTone JS-2 Power Supply Listening Impressions

[Audioclyde]

This is just a very short summary of my early listening experience using the the Uptone Audio JS-2 linear power supply that Alex & John have come up.

 

I received my JS-2 Monday; the fit and finish are outstanding! I put my 2010 Mac Mini back in service as my music server since it was already setup to run off DC power (I have previously powered it off battery using my BatteryBuss from Dave Elledge/PI Audio Group).

 

Just let me say that the JS-2 is outstanding IMHO. Blacker background, better separation and the bass just kicks with more slam and articulation! I've only had a couple hours of listening experience with this setup, but not a single track has played that hasn't made me perk up a bit and really be amazed at the sound quality. I can't wait to get the internal pwr supply removed from my 2012 Mac Mini (which I run bootcamped with WS2012 and Audiophile Optimizer) so I can put it back in the system and power it from the JS-2!!

 

Outstanding job, well done Alex & John!!

 

Thanks!

 

Randy

[Audioclyde]

I just picked up my newer, 2012 Mac Mini, which is my main music server now--I had it's internal power supply removed and the DC cable attached, so I can put it back in the system, powered by the JS-2, tonight !

[Superdad]

Randy:

 

Thanks for posting your early impressions. It's great that you were able to temporarily convert your 2012 for DC while you wait for us to finish and ship our "Mac mini DC-conversion/Linear Fan Controller Kit" (MMK). First PCBs for that will be here at the beginning of the week and everything else in on order.

 

Just to keep confusion down for others early in this thread, "SandyK" above is of course not the Alex you are referring to (that would be me and John Swenson), and the photo Aryoh is not the UpTone JS-2 dual-output, user-selectable voltages, choke-filtered, low-noise linear power supply. This is:

 

$925 as shown, plus shipping.

[Audioclyde]

For those that say with the linear power supply sounds better, do you have the computer in a power conditioner and your DAC use the +5v from USB?

 

I have my digital front end, including the computer's power supply, plugged in to an Equitech balanced line conditioner, with the Equitech plugged in to a PI Audio UberBuss.

 

My dac does need to see the 5v from USB, but I have the USB feed going through an iFi iUSB device, with the USB cable from that to the DAC having separate pwr and data legs.

[rdsu]

I have my digital front end, including the computer's power supply, plugged in to an Equitech balanced line conditioner, with the Equitech plugged in to a PI Audio UberBuss.

 

My dac does need to see the 5v from USB, but I have the USB feed going through an iFi iUSB device, with the USB cable from that to the DAC having separate pwr and data legs.

So, it seems that clean power reduced the computer jitter, and make it more accurate...

[Audioclyde]

I'm no expert, far from it, but IMHO clean power equates to less noise.

 

After extensive listening last night with the 2012 Mac Mini in place, I am very very pleased with the sound. Even compared to my aural memory of the battery powered Mac Mini, I'm hearing more detail and articulation, but natural sounding, not bright, edgy or glaring at all. Separation is better as well. I have a SET amp, tubed pre and tubed DAC, yet the detail I'm hearing surpasses any of my prior setups, including my memory of prior SS equipment.

[rdsu]

I asked that because usually avoiding SMPS is better to not contaminate other HiFi components, and also because Motherboards have a lot of things that generate noise and aren't filtered...

 

But if before you use the SMPS, isolated from other components, and didn't use the +5V of USB, and now it sounds even better, the LPS must be doing something good....

[Artifex]

Hi could someone post photos of the JS-2 power supply, from the front? Also, anyone know what the dimensions of the casing is?

 

Many thanks!

[Superdad]

Hi could someone post photos of the JS-2 power supply, from the front? Also, anyone know what the dimensions of the casing is?

 

Many thanks!

 

Hi Artifex:

 

The dimensions are: 9.0 inches wide x 9.1 inches deep x 3.3" tall (with feet).

 

Here are some recent pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the separately available Mac mini DC-conversion/Linear Fan Controller Kit (MMK)

 

[Audioseduction]

I'm no expert, far from it, but IMHO clean power equates to less noise.

 

After extensive listening last night with the 2012 Mac Mini in place, I am very very pleased with the sound. Even compared to my aural memory of the battery powered Mac Mini, I'm hearing more detail and articulation, but natural sounding, not bright, edgy or glaring at all. Separation is better as well. I have a SET amp, tubed pre and tubed DAC, yet the detail I'm hearing surpasses any of my prior setups, including my memory of prior SS equipment.

 

How is it performing now that you had it for a few months? I'm thinking of purchasing one for my dedicated silent music server.

[Audioclyde]

audioseduction: I'm still very very happy with the JS-2, and I haven't even take. The time to install fan controller kit!

[Audioseduction]

I just placed my order today for a JS-2 today.

[Superdad]

I just placed my order today for a JS-2 today.

 

And it should arrive to you on Wednesday! Many thanks George!! I am confident you will enjoy it. Do let me know when you locate the proper plug for your Bel Canto 3.7 DAC's power jack so you can try powering both your CAPS and your DAC from the JS-2. That should sound fantastic.

 

Best,

ALEX

[drmike]

could this ps be used for the sb touch?

thanks,

drmike

[Superdad]

could this ps be used for the sb touch?

thanks,

drmike

 

Absolutely! And I just verified that the SB3 and SB Touch both use a 5.5mm x 2.5mm DC barrel connector, and that is the exact size of the plugs on the custom cable we ship with the JS-2. (Though I also stock the 5.5mm x 2.1mm size of the Oyaide barrel plug for those that need it, and I occasionally will make a custom configured cable for a JS-2 owner.)

[jtwrace]

Looking forward to my JS-2 next month.

[Audioseduction]

Looking forward to my JS-2 next month.

 

Excellent call! Congrats!

[jtwrace]

Excellent call! Congrats!

 

Guess this means you're still happy. :-).

[hifial]

Ordered my JS-2 and MMK over the weekend. The next 4 weeks are going to be loooong. Wah! I want it NOW!!

 

Will be comparing to my Paul Hynes SR-3. And possible my friends Core Audio.

 

I am also on the list for a Regen.

 

April is going to be a FUN month.

[EuroDriver]

Ordered my JS-2 and MMK over the weekend. The next 4 weeks are going to be loooong. Wah! I want it NOW!!

 

Will be comparing to my Paul Hynes SR-3. And possible my friends Core Audio.

 

I am also on the list for a Regen.

 

April is going to be a FUN month.

 

Which USB 3 cable do you have in your system ?

[hifial]

Which USB 3 cable do you have in your system ?

 

Hi Edward. I have the TotalDac USB cable. I need to update my sig.

 

By the way am I correct that you will be in the NYC area later in March? If so maybe we can get together depending on our schedules. PM me.

[jtwrace]

Ordered my JS-2 and MMK over the weekend. The next 4 weeks are going to be loooong. Wah! I want it NOW!!

 

Will be comparing to my Paul Hynes SR-3. And possible my friends Core Audio.

 

I am also on the list for a Regen.

 

April is going to be a FUN month.

 

So you're going to use it on a Mini and Regen?

[hifial]

So you're going to use it on a Mini and Regen?

 

Jason, my plans as of now is to use it on the Mini and my exaSound DAC. If possible the SR3 on the Regen or if I get a NAS, on that. Though it might take a voltage change on the SR3 for any of that.

 

Alex, is it possible to use a 12V / 2.5A power supply on the Regen?

[jtwrace]

Ok. Look forward to your feedback. I'm pretty sure the SR3 is fine on the Regen from what I remember from the thread.

[Superdad]

 

Alex, is it possible to use a 12V / 2.5A power supply on the Regen?

 

Yes, as long as you are not running the REGEN into a DAC that is relying on the USB VBUS for its power.

 

The REGEN has a separate, ultra-low noise regulator (the terrific TI TPS7A4700) for the 5VBUS. It's a 1A regulator and can take up to almost 20V, but the heat generated (on a chip without a heat-sink) in the drop to 5V will go up with the current drawn by whatever USB device it is powering. We are trying to keep the chip from having to dissipate much more that about 2 watts.

 

USB 2.0 devices--even 100% bus-power DACs are not supposed to draw more than a maximum of 500mA (0.5A), and some USB>I2S input boards will themselves draw that if they are relying on bus power (just needing a power pin for handshake does not tell you that if it actually is using bus power for its input circuit).

 

So for example, a 12V PS into the REGEN would get dropped by 7 volts to get to 5V for the USB bus. 7V * 0.5A = 3.5 watts. That's a bit warmer than we would like. But with a 300mA load and 12V external supply you'd only generate 2.1W and that is fine.

The REGEN will come with a 7.5V supply so a 500mA device will generate 1.25W and an excessive for USB spec 1A would still be just 2.5W.

 

So if you want to use a 12V supply with the REGEN, use your judgement--and your calculator if you can know the real draw of a device.

 

And as I mentioned elsewhere, even a 5V supply will work to power the other regulator for the REGEN's primary function, but then don't be expecting the USB VBUS out of it to be delivering 5V (regs need a drop to do their thing!).

 

Ciao,

AJC