UltraCap™ LPS-1 launch thread!

[Superdad]

With the first debate of the 2016 presidential election just moments away (heaven help us!), this is clearly the oddest timing for a product launch announcement.

 

As I type this, the below e-mail is being sent out to the 6,000+ people around the world who have either purchased an UpTone Audio product or asked to be on our mailing list.

 

Here it is for those of you not on our mailing list. The real fun begins in the morning and over the next 3 weeks. No debating that!

 

And the web page for the UltraCap LPS-1 is up now. The AddToCart order button will appear in the morning.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

We are pleased to announce that tomorrow morning (Tuesday, September 27) at 9:00 a.m. California time, the uptoneaudio.com website will begin accepting orders for the world’s first bank-switching, microprocessor-controlled, ultracapacitor-based, external linear power supply, the UltraCap™ LPS-1.

 

Over a year in development—with all engineering and programming by my dear friend and partner, the brilliant John Swenson—this groundbreaking new power supply will redefine considerations and expectations about what is important in audio power supply design.

 

Ultracapacitors (often called supercapacitors) are unique and somewhat new high-energy density storage devices, and can be thought of as a cross between batteries and traditional capacitors. While they are now finding use in electric cars, medical devices, and many other demanding circuits, they have never been designed as the heart of an external DC power supply for audio components as we have done with the UltraCap LPS-1.

 

You can read more details on the technical features and benefits of the LPS-1 at UltraCap™ LPS-1 – UpTone Audio.

 

Here are some highlights of this fascinating new power supply:

*100% galvanic isolation from the AC mains at all times. The output of the LPS-1 is NEVER connected to the “energizing/charging” supply that feeds it. Its sophisticated bank-switching/charging circuitry and logic charges one string of ultracapacitors (60 Farads worth!) while the other string supplies a cascade of ultra-low-noise output regulators.

 

*The LPS-1 is like a miniature power plant. You could think of it like a battery supply—but without all the disadvantages of batteries. It silently charges and discharges its banks—and can do so millions of times without wearing out.

 

*The LPS-1 completely blocks the path of AC leakage currents from entering into the portion of your audio system it is connected to. This is a complex and not broadly understood area, but our research—and likely some of your own component listening experiments—proves that reducing leakage currents and loops is one of the most important final steps to improving audio system performance.

 

The UltraCap™ LPS-1, our first application of this exciting new technology, has a single output and a switch permitting you to choose between 3.3 volts, 5 volts, and 7 volts. Maximum output current is 1.1 amps.

It will be an excellent choice for powering a wide range of audio and computer devices. Examples include: UpTone's own very popular USB REGEN, the Sonore MicroRendu, small DACs and headphone amps, USB>S/PDIF converters, specialty computer USB cards, SSDs, fibre media converters, the PS Audio LANRover, and many others.

 

Our own comparative testing with the UltraCap LPS-1 has been very satisfying, and we can’t wait for everyone else to discover how this small but mighty component will enhance their musical pleasure.

 

The price for the innovative UpTone Audio UltraCap LPS-1 is US$395, and we back the product with a 3-year warranty.

 

Production has begun and the first 150 units will begin shipping by October 14th. Fast and affordable worldwide delivery options are offered.

 

Orders will be filled in the order they are placed via our secure web site. It is expected that this first mid-October batch will sell out very quickly, so please set your alarms for tomorrow morning (or whatever time it will be for you when it is 9:00 a.m. in California).

 

Don’t worry, if you miss out on the first ones, we are gearing up for more production in the weeks following. However, as with the wildly successful US REGEN, demand is likely to exceed monthly supply for some time. So placing an advance order is always a wise choice.

 

Please join us and other friendly audiophiles in our sponsored forum area at ComputerAudiophile.com. UpTone Audio (Sponsored)

It is a great place to learn, ask questions, and have a good time on your own audio/music adventure.

 

Many thanks for your interest, your business, and your enthusiasm.

 

Sincerely,

 

Alex J. Crespi

 

P.S. If you are in need of a larger, high-current linear power supply, please be sure to check out our acclaimed JS-2 choke-filtered, dual-output, 5-7 amp LPS. It is beautiful, powerful, reliable, and more readily available than ever before.

 

UpTone Audio LLC

Mariposa, California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.P.S. I took all those photos on our infamous ping-pong table--with mostly natural lighting. No bad, eh?

[Superdad]

Is the 9v iPower suitable to use as the energizing supply for the LPS-1? If so, how does the 9v iPower compare to the MeanWell as far as pollution of the mains?

 

Yes, it will work fine, and as I posted here, I did not hear a difference between the two. That's really the point of the LPS-1.

 

Thanks,

 

AJC

[Superdad]

The fun has begun--and orders are rolling in fast. 120 sold in the first 5 minutes! This is insane.

You guys are the greatest!

 

Thanks a ton. You won't be disappointed.

 

Best,

 

--Alex C.

 

P.S. I'll come back and start answering the posted questions later today. Once I recover from this shock.

[Superdad]

Well that was quick.

First 150 sold in first 10 minutes! Taking orders for the next 100 for end-of-October shipment.

 

If your order number is 4175 or below, you made it into the first group--with October 14th ship date.

Order numbers 4176 and above will be ready to ship at the end-of-October.

This should also be reflected in the order confirmation e-mail.

 

Now my staff and I really need to knuckle down and get to work on these. The boards arrive tomorrow.

 

MANY THANKS AGAIN.

[Superdad]

Alex, can you provide the dimensions of the LPS-1 ? I would like to put an extension on my microRendu/Ayre Codex wooden structure for the LPS-1.

 

110mm wide x 112 mm deep x 30mm tall (excluding the rubber feet which add 6.5mm in height). Leave about 40mm at the rear for plugs.

[Superdad]

Or 4 if you need more current.

 

Actually paralleling for more current won't work well.

Putting them in series for higher voltages works fine, as does putting them in series and center-tapping to create a bi-polar (+/-) supply. But from John's tests we find that I would have select matched-pairs of units with output voltages within about 20mV of each other in order to parallel them and have them track close enough so that one unit does not end up with all the current burden.

 

It is a bit complicated, and John even both calculated and tried extra resistance (including that from the included 70cm cables we provide), but even the 50mV difference of the two boards he has was enough to keep a pair from achieving 2A. This is no different from what one faces with any other power supply. Its also why one replaces all the batteries in a flashlight or other device at the same time.

 

Maybe later John can explain more. And certainly when I have time with a big pile of production boards I'll see if picking a very closely matched pair allows for the greater current/paralleling trick to work.

[Superdad]

That's great news and I look forward to getting one for my microRendu.

 

Will there be a 12v version in the future?

 

We have not yet planned out a whole line of UltraCap™ supplies, so that future could be quite a ways off (we have one or two other product launches planned to come before).

 

As mentioned, two LPS-1 units in series--one set for 7V, one set for 5V--will give 12V, but that's not cheap for what will still be a 1.1A max current.

 

12V in one unit, and with greater current capability? That means a great many more and larger ultracapacitors, a much bigger chassis (at least 4 times the size), and a higher price. Back about a year ago, John and I sketched out a design for a monster--4-output, 6-10 amp, 5-18 volt--unit, code named "Dominator." But it would be about the size of two JS-2s (not LPS-1s)--and I can't remember if that even included the feeder PS. Napkin addition said it would sell for almost $3K.

 

I am sure we could do something in-between, but for right now we are concentrating on making the LPS-1 a success and trying to keep most everyone happy.

[Superdad]

Will I save freight cost by not choosing Mean Well SMPS ?

 

Can choosing Mean Well SMPS slow down the delivery, as you may not have 150 Mean Well SMPS available today ?

 

As stated on the product page, freight cost is the same with or without the Mean Well supply. For Priority Mail--both domestic and international--we use a small flat-rate box or flat-rate padded mailer. My actual cost for overseas with insurance is a little more than $34 for Priority Mail, but we only charge $32. Our FedEx and Express Mail international rates are also $2-4 below our actual cost. I know everyone (including me) hates paying a lot for freight.

 

As for slowing down shipments, no, we have 270 Mean Well supplies in stock, and I am about to order more (more of everything really!).

 

Thanks,

AJC

[Superdad]

Is it UL tested?

 

The supplied Mean Well "energizing" supply--the only piece that plugs into the wall--has almost a dozen certificates and certifications, including UL and CE.

 

The UltraCap LPS-1 DC>DC unit does not have any certificates, nor does it really need any. We may eventually waste a bunch of money on CE, but the only country where than has been any bother (with the REGEN) is Germany--and ironically that has only been when local customs offices look at the Mean Well and don't believe its legitimate CE cert. (Now for Germany-bound REGENs we put extra commercial invoices on the outside of the box and Frankfurt airport customs clears it, thus skipping the petty local customs offices and saving a lot of time).

[Superdad]

I have both HDPlex 100W and iFi SMPS 9V.

 

What would you use to power UltraCap for microRendu?

 

They should sound the same. Why put another 2A/9V load on your HDPlex--unless its winter and you want to warm up the room some more.

Personally I would use the included Mean Well as its regulation measures better than the iFi, and as a Level VI supply it spreads its noise way up high and broad, and at a low level.

Remember, SMPS don't do much harm if:

a) you are not using it to directly powering a device within your audio system (charging the LPS-1 is not directly connected) and thus not concerned with its DC output noise spec;

b) its AC leakage current (the real evil of SMPS units with their "Y" capacitors) is blocked and can not induce a "leakage loop" with other supplies in your system. And that's how it is when using one with an UltraCap LPS-1.

 

Elsewhere I proposed this simple test: Take a modern SMPS (built within the last 4 years) and plug it into the same wall outlet or power strip as the rest of your audio gear. But don't plug its output cable into anything. You most likely won't hear any difference. If you do, then that is the tiny degree to which an SMPS powering an LPS-1 can do. I've done it with the Mean Well and the iFi iPower and a couple of others. Nothing, nada.

 

[Superdad]

What is the difference between the three options for delivery? Maybe because I am from Europe I do not know the difference between USPS and FedEx etcetera... Faster/ more reliable? #4047, chose FedEx...

 

The USPS (Unites States Postal Service) has agreements with government postal services all over the world (though in some countries packages get handed over to and delivered by a private carrier). Priority Mail International (our $32 service) is an insured and moderately well-tracked service that takes a total of about 12-16 business days to most European countries (except Poland and Hungary--add a couple of weeks to those ).

We have shipped thousands of packages via Priority Mail with very few incidents or delays. (Partially because we know what we are doing when it comes to the paperwork and declarations; not everyone does.)

 

Another option we offer is USPS International Express Mail, known in other countries as EMS. It is like a public-carrier version of FedEx. It is much faster and more secure than Priority Mail. I advise against using EMS to South America as if a package gets lost, the USPS does not want to pay the claim; whereas for Priority Mail we use a private insurance system that pays claims in a week with a few mouse-clicks).

 

FedEx is a worldwide private carrier (similar to DHL and UPS), and they generally maintain their own "customs cages" in the countries they serve. They are VERY fast 3-5 days at most, and quite secure. Expensive for small items, but we use them exclusively for international shipment of our big JS-2 choke-filtered, dual-output, 5-7 amp LPS. They have a program called "Great Rates" for packages over 5kg, and we can ship the 7kg JS-2 box anywhere in the world via their fastest service for about $95--and it gets there in 3-5 days, often sooner.

 

Sorry for the long answer. I take shipping very seriously. To my mind, the sale is not complete until the product is in your hands, in your system, and you are grinning with the music!

[Superdad]

Okay, most questions answered, 215 units sold so far... I'm going to take my son to dinner!

 

(Oh shoot, one more e-mail to Japan for the next 250 cases.)'

 

THANKS EVERYONE!!

 

--Alex C.

[Superdad]

My PayPal account was debited does that mean my LPS1 has shipped?

 

No. As indicated on the product order page, your UltraCap LPS-1 will ship in October (by the 14th or the 30th depending upon if your order number is above or below #4176).

 

Logistically--and here at launch--financially, it is very difficult for us to just do pre-authorizations on orders and to make the final charge at ship time.

 

This is the closest you are likely to ever see UpTone getting to "crowdfunding" (or as I like to refer to it crowd fleecing). While it goes against my moral fiber to take money from people more than a week or two in advance, in the case of the costly LPS-1 circuit boards (close to $150 each; plus $50 in other parts) we were initially only in a position to buy 150 boards (our board house is 100% pre-pay).

 

So now, based on the strong initial demand--and the proceeds from yesterday--we have gone ahead and ordered another 350 boards (that includes the 100 coming mid-October for the October 30th-promised people), plus another 250 cases, etc.

This is $50-70K flowing between accounts and vendors, etc. And if anybody thinks all this high-finance does not make me nervous they are mistaken.

 

This is why we would not accept a single order until the product engineering was 100% complete and I had a bulletproof, fully programmed board in my hands--one that is exactly as the production will be. John spent a lot of programming time to be sure that it will tolerate all sorts of things: being hooked up backwards, switching the output switch in use, overcorrect protection, etc.

The board I have has been running continuously under load for 5 days without incident.

 

While the above gives me confidence that the whole launch will go smoothly and everyone will be happy, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have major butterflies in my stomach. The adrenaline and the many tasks at hand are what's keeping me going. That and the kind support and enthusiasm from all of you fine folks.

 

Best,

--Alex C.

[Superdad]

I think you may have misunderstood the CE requirements. As I see it, it can only benefit Uptone Audio to add CE marking to their products.

 

And it does not cost you anything. (Except the cost of adding that sticker to the print board and the case.)

And add a CE declaration on your website.

 

If I understand this correctly the CE sticker is something you add your self to a product, in order to state your product is within the CE requirements.

 

https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/ce-marking_en

 

Thanks.

I have understood the process and requirements for many years (went through it with Hovland Company), and I keep up-to-date with changes in the regulations. Don't kid yourself about there not being significant costs--even to self-certify. If and when it becomes a real issue we will deal with it. But the AC-connected unit is fully certified, and the LPS-1 itself is in a sealed box, so nobody need worry about safety.

[Superdad]

Gents:

I removed a few of today's posts regarding the iFi iPower. This thread should not be used to disparage the function or performance of other manufacturers' devices.

 

The 9V iFi iPower units that John and I have seem to work fine energizing the UltraCap LPS-1. When used for this purpose there seems to be zero sonic difference between it and the 7.5V/2.93A Mean Well tabletop that normally comes with the LPS-1. Since there is only a $15 difference between buying the LPS-1 with or without the Mean Well, perhaps some of you will find a better use for the iPower in your systems.

 

Fo those of you who wish to add the Mean Well back to your order, this afternoon I will look into devising a logistically easy way to handle those requests. Lot's else to do, so give me a little time.

 

Lastly, I see ALL of your e-mails, and I will respond--to urgent ones first and then others as the days go. Client correspondence is VERY important to me, but it is also the least productive third of my days.

 

Thanks,

 

--Alex C.

[Superdad]

If you guys are referring to the attached, it's NOT suitable to use with the LPS1 !!!

It's fine for the Regen though, which needs no more than around 500 mA

Do yourselves a favour and pay a little more for the Meanwell as well.

You can try suitable Linear PSUs later.

Alex

 

High-end 30W DC9V HiFi Linear power supply Regulated PSU for DAC headphone amp

 

Alex K.:

 

While I agree that it is smarter for folks to order the LPS-1 with the 7.5V/2.93A Mean Well (if they don't already have one that came with a REGEN), I do not think you are correct about the "El Cheapo" not being suitable. With a 9V input, the UltraCap LPS-1 only draws an intermittent 2A during each charging cycle. The web page for the "El Cheapo" claims 9V/3A, but even if it can't muster that, I am pretty sure it will handle 2A for the LPS-1.

 

But it is unlikely to make ANYTHING sound ANY different than with the Mean Well (back our blocking the SMPS' evil leakage current). Until people start reporting that Level V or VI SMPS units plugged into the wall--with their output not connected to anything--cause an effect they can hear, I will continue to say that the "energizing" supply for the LPS-1 makes ZERO difference to SQ.

 

For fun I am going to take 6 Mean Wells and plug them all into a powerstrip and plug that power strip into the socket right next to my DAC and preamp. If there is something to fear from SMPS units used for our isolated supply, I should hear that right away.

 

--Alex C.

[Superdad]

Alex C

I disagree with you on this one, and it has also been discussed previously elsewhere..

This design uses an LM317T which is normally rated for 1.5A maximum, and your specs say 9V at 2A.

You will see in the better photo that I have attached, that the heatsink is WAY too small for this kind of current and is likely to will get excessively hot unless beefed up.

 

Regards

Alex K

 

I am going to AGREE with you Alex! A supply that can't cut it should not be used.

 

At this very moment I am rechecking if the 9V iFi iPower is even going to cut it. We may not have checked it with the LPS-1 in its high-amperage mode. The LPS-1 has a low current mode and a high current mode. Still no connection to the feeder, but for consumption John has put logic in for two levels of draw, just so that we don't draw 2A from the feeder when powering a device using just .45A.

 

Please stay tuned with regards the iFi iPower. Some people have already asked to add the Mean Well back to their order, and I am working on logistics to do that. If it turns out that the 9V iFi is not suitable, then everyone who ordered with the "Omit energizing supply" option will have a chance to add it back in.

[Superdad]

Okay gents:

 

John and I just got off the phone. We both have digital programmable load units that we use for PS testing (the one I bought for him is fancier). And we both have iFi iPower 9V SMPS wall warts.

 

His came later, in the box marked 2.0 amps. Mine is the earlier one (courtesy of my friend Rich at Signature Sound), with the box marked 1.5A.

 

Setting aside the LPS-1, we just put our iPower warts directly onto our load boxes. Mine craps out completely at 1.6 amps, John's makes it to 2.1 amps.

 

There you have it. Sorry to report that whoever said that all the 9V units were always capable of 2.0A (and that it was just a test/certification thing) appears to be incorrect. Of course it is possible that my unit is an anomaly.

 

So at this point, those of you planning to use an iFi iPower to energize your UltraCap LPS-1 (for reasons of convenience as I have already explained it won't sound any better than the Mean Well), you need to check the label on your iPower. If it says 9V/1.5A, then it won't allow your LPS-1 to reach full current (but it is a charging mode level thing--the input is not otherwise related to the output).

If your iPower says 9V/2.0 amp then you fine for full function of the LPS-1.

We have not tested the iPower 12V/1.5A version, but that should be fine as well. Remember, the guidelines are: 7.5V/2.5A, 9V/2.0A, 12V/1.5A.

 

Honestly, the point of offering the LPS-1 without the Mean Well was mainly to save a few dollars (just $15) for the thousands of you that got the exact same supply with your USB REGEN. There are not going to be sonic differences between feeders--definitely not between SMPS--that's about 100% certain.

[Superdad]

I am shocked, delighted, and sad to report that all 250 UltraCap LPS-1 units available for October shipment (150 by the 14th, the other 100 by the 30th) are now sold.

 

And thanks to all your orders, we were able to today make full pre-payments to all our suppliers for quick turn-around on parts for the next 250 units. The parts will arrive at the beginning of November, and if I keep cracking the whip on my staff--or give them pastries and coffee--we will begin shipping the first of the next 250 units by November 18th. Remember, orders are filled in the order received.

 

Somewhere in the middle of that we will move ourselves into my new building. Luckily it is going to be the world's shortest business relocation--all of about 30 feet! For an inside look, check out the blog post (with pictures) I wrote the other afternoon while procrastinating something more important: UpTone Audio New Blog

 

Thanks again everyone!

 

--Alex C.

 

P.S. I promise to work my way through all your e-mails and reply. There are more than 100, so I may have to do a marathon over the weekend.

[Superdad]

I've started a new thread for those of you who wish to discuss (the non-issue in my mind) of appropriate and inappropriate AC>DC supplies to feed the new UltraCap LPS-1 with.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f27-uptone-audio-sponsored/discussions-alternate-energizing-charging-ps-units-use-ultracap-linear-power-supply-1-not-any-will-make-any-difference-output-30026/#post587088

 

Below is the first post I made there (though I have to see if Chris can move it to above the earlier-dated ones).

Please keep your posts on that topic over there. And do come back here with other questions, impressions, etc.

 

Thanks,

 

--ALEX C.

 

 

================================

 

In the interest of keeping the main UltraCap™ LPS-1 launch thread of getting cluttered with all the side conversations of suitability of other AC>DC converters that could be used to feed/energize/charge it, I have moved all posts on the topic over here.

 

As stated many times, the quality (noise, isolation, blockage of leakage current) of the output of the LPS-1 is 100% not affected by the the AC>DC converter that feeds it. Period.

It is also our stance that the vast majority of the evils of SMPS units in audio systems are due not to the high frequency switching noise they kick back into the AC mains as traditionally thought.

 

Modern Level V- and Level VI-certified units like the Mean Well we ship with the LPS-1 and REGEN suppress and spread their noise very high up (hundreds of Khz range), and traditional linear power supplies have their own diode switching noise down low (at multiples of 50/60Hz),and that big PS in your power amps really kicks a bunch in the wall (a big part of why power cord differences are more readily heard with power amps--they vary in filtering the harmonics going back into the wall!).

 

No, the evil of the SMPS is in the high amount of AC leakage current they transfer into the audio system (because their design requires use of what are called "Y" capacitors: read the first answer here: switch mode power supply - What does the Y capacitor in a SMPS do? - Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange). But in fact it takes more than one PS in a system (and combo of LPS or SMPS) for leakage current "loops" to form.

 

Please read this great post by John Swenson on the topic:

John Swenson's Tech Corner – UpTone Audio

 

Anyway, since the UltraCap LPS-1 does not EVER connect the output of its feeder supply (be it SMPS or LPS) to its clean DC output side (that's what the hassle and expense of the FPGA-controlled, opto-isolator filled, bank-switching scheme is all about), zero leakage current gets added into your system from the LPS-1 or whatever device it is powering.

An SMPS powering an LPS-1 might as well be powering your telephone answering machine.

 

So when considering what to energize the LPS-1 with, all that leaves is the choice between the high-spread harmonics of SMPS that is not connect to you audio system versus the low frequency harmonics (and transformer ringing) of cheap linear supplies (and the diode bridges those use are pretty nasty).

 

Very soon everyone will find out for themselves that when using our crazy new isolated supply the choice of the feeder really does not matter.

 

What does matter though is that whatever feeder/charging supply you use (ideally just the Mean Well that is normally included) meets the voltage and current specs we put forth. Otherwise your LPS-1 will not work properly. Again, those specs are:

 

7.5V/2.5A, 9V/2.0A, or 12V/1.5A--and it MUST be a REGULATED PS (all SMPS are, and most all of the linears that get considered are; but some of you may find an old unregulated transformer brick around--don't use that!).

 

And for those not well versed in power supplies, the current rating for units at any of those voltages is allowed to be higher. In other words, a 9V/3A or 12V/2A are also both fine. And hypothetically, if you had an 8V/2.5A or 11V/1.8A, those would work as well.

 

But nothing under 7.5 volts and nothing over 12 volts please. And check the current ratings.

 

Lastly, no feeder/charger (that meets the above specs) is going to change the maximum output current capability of the LPS-1. It is a 1A supply. (Today's first testing of many production boards has them maxing out at between 1.1-1.2 amps as expected)

 

===========================

[Superdad]

So far about 25% of the people who have ordered an UltraCap LPS-1 chose the "Omit the energizing supply" option (which saves $15 off the $395 complete package price).

 

That option was presented primarily for the great many USB REGEN owners out there, since that product came with the same 7.5V/2.93A Mean Well supply, and if the LPS-1 is going to be used to power a REGEN, they already have the correct AC>DC unit to "energize"/charge the LPS-1. We are for saving the planet and saving you a little money.

 

However, we have seen some requests (both here on the forum and via e-mail) from people who now wish to add the Mean Well back to their UltraCap LPS-1 order.[/i]

 

Maybe they either realized that what they have on hand for the task does not meet our stated requirement range of 7.5V/2.5A, 9.0V/2.0A, or 12V/1.5A.

 

Or maybe some are starting to believe what I have been posting about the unimportance of the ultimate quality of the energizing unit to the output of the LPS-1 and that blocking SMPS AC leakage current will render it benign.

 

In any case, I have come up with an easy way to handle your requests, one that won't be a logistical nightmare for us, and which won't affect your place in the order queue--so you will receive your full UltraCap LPS-1 product when originally promised.

 

Just go to this special product/order page on our web site, click "Add to Cart" and check out:

Add a Mean Well AC>DC 7.5V SMPS back to your UltraCap LPS-1 order

 

The above is not a page you can navigate to from menus on our web site. This is a semi-private link, as it is just for those who have an existing advance order for an LPS-1. We will not be shipping this item separately, and anyone who orders this SMPS & cord without already having an LPS-1 on order will see us cancel it and refund your $15.

 

Please be sure to type you first and last name exactly the same as on your original LPS-1 order. It will make it much easier for us to combine them.

 

THANK YOU.

 

--Alex C.

 

P.S. We are on track with production. Here is a photo of our present program/test/torture station (until we move into the new space between batches or on weekends--once the floor is in).

 

[Superdad]

Ok, a good spectrum analyzer can do it. Looking forward about the measurements.

 

Sorry, I think you missed John's point. He has a good analyzer. But the cables pick up more noise than the LPS-1 even generates!

[Superdad]

Seriously. The LPS-1 can't get here fast enough.

 

Believe me guys, it's happening! Programming, testing, assembling--day and night...

 

:)

 

 

 

[Superdad]

FYI:

Contrary to my earlier report (which was based on early firmware wherein the LPS-1 was stuck in low-current mode), I am happy to report that LPS-1 is easily capable of powering the MicroRendu while it is in turn powering/charging a 100% bus-powered DAC/headphone amp such as the iFi iDSD.

 

Here are the photos to prove it:

(and yes Jud, I turned on the iDSD's power/knob switch AFTER connecting the MicroRendu's USB output--which makes the iDSD run from VBUS instead of from batteries).

 

And a shout out to member "Confused" for his PMs which prompted me to take timeout to check all this this morning. His concern was if the LPS-1 would handle both the MicroRendu and bus-powered Mutec +USB converter, ad the answer there is yes as well since Mutec states 350mA max draw, and as you see the MicroRendu itself is a nothing draw of 160mA--even when booting.

 

Now back to testing/cooking the boards. About 100 more to run through between today and tomorrow!

 

Cheers,

 

--Alex C.

 

 

[Superdad]

How does this combo sound?

 

Sorry, I'll have to ask one of my clones, the one who has time to eat and listen.

 

I did listen to the LPS-1/microRendu combo last week, but it was into a DAC powered by a JS-2. Now that is see the LPS-1 has no problem with the microRendu/iDSD, you can bet I'll put it into my system one night soon.