Inexpensive Alternatives to the Uptone LPS?

[DancingSea]

Wondering if anyone has found a good inexpensive battery based alternative?

 

Want something to power my Matrix Audio X SPDIF 2, 9 volts. 

 

I found this on Amazon and wondering if things like this are worth the effort? 

 

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Rechargeable-11000mAh-14500mAh-26400mAh/dp/B016BJCRUO/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=Dc+battery&qid=1554411883&s=gateway&sr=8-7

[Jud]

32 minutes ago, DancingSea said:

Wondering if anyone has found a good inexpensive battery based alternative?

 

Want something to power my Matrix Audio X SPDIF 2, 9 volts. 

 

I found this on Amazon and wondering if things like this are worth the effort? 

 

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Rechargeable-11000mAh-14500mAh-26400mAh/dp/B016BJCRUO/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=Dc+battery&qid=1554411883&s=gateway&sr=8-7

 

There are reasonably low cost (same neighborhood as the battery supply) linear power supplies to be found on eBay that are probably higher quality.  Look for an R-core transformer (radiates less electrical noise) and if you can find what type of regulator is used, Google it or ask someone here (besides me!) if it's good.

 

Or, if you're handy at a little DIY, you can buy a switching supply or use one you have, and search the forums here for John Swenson's trick of shunting the switching noise to ground.

[DancingSea]

Thanks.  Are you referring to battery rigs on eBay?

[4est]

7 hours ago, DancingSea said:

Thanks.  Are you referring to battery rigs on eBay?

I think Jud was referring to wall powered supplies by his mention of transformers. I think you might ought to be more specific/clear as to WHAT Uptone power supply you are interested in. I am going to assume that you mean their LPS 1.2. That uses super capacitors and not batteries. There is a big difference. If you are looking to replicate that, you should be looking into super capacitor based supplies. IIRC, they regulate after the capacitors as well, and so this is likely a two step DIY. First find the capacitor bank and charging circuitry, and then procure a damn good regulator board. Personally, even though I am fully capable of building one, I'd likely pay homage to JS & Alex. I do not think enough money can be saved to justify the work(remember that a purchased item has resale much more-so than a DIY solution) unless you are itching for a project.

[Jud]

7 hours ago, DancingSea said:

Thanks.  Are you referring to battery rigs on eBay?

 

No, linear power supplies on eBay.  Search for references on the forums to "El Cheapo" for links.  🙂

 

I have gotten the impression that relatively inexpensive battery supplies will not usually be of equally good quality to relatively inexpensive linear supplies (someone correct me if I'm wrong).  An even less expensive switching supply and a little DIY to shunt the noise to ground can work well too.

[Shangri-La]

From what I read TeraDak LPS are of good quality and can be had on ebay for a lot less. 

[DancingSea]

Thanks for the feedback.  Anyone have an opinion on the Small Green Computer LPS?

 

https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/products/7v-linear-power-supply?variant=12730873053218

[Jud]

Thought you needed 9 volt?

[DancingSea]

I think it can be 5 to 9 volt actually.  

[Dev]

The Matrix X-SPDIF2 will work with 7v perfectly. In fact, that is the voltage I am using with mine.

[ktm777]

@Judx-SPDiF 2 is 6-9 V. 

@DancingSea use cheap LPS and add Ldovre LT3045, think it’s the best alternative for Uptone.

[Jud]

Then the shunting of power supply noise to ground has already been done internally in UpTone's $17 switching power supply, 7.5 volts.  I have 3 in my system, work beautifully, and will put out less noise than the linear supplies that are several times more expensive.

[DancingSea]

3 hours ago, Jud said:

Then the shunting of power supply noise to ground has already been done internally in UpTone's $17 switching power supply, 7.5 volts.  I have 3 in my system, work beautifully, and will put out less noise than the linear supplies that are several times more expensive.

 

Do you have a link to Uptone’s $17 switching power supply?  I couldn’t find it.  Thx

[sandyk]

BTW, large capacity Li Ion batteries have inbuilt electronics which is likely to increase their output impedance and noise levels.

As an example if you put too high a load on them they will automatically shut down. This is possibly due to something like a series FET device at their output which is turned off under excessive load conditions.

 As an example, my JLH PSU add-ons have a very high, short term  start up current, and even a 15,000mAh 12V Li Ion battery will shut down when plugged into them unless I limit the maximum current drawn for several hundred milliseconds  by using a series resistor or other current limiter.

[Melvin]

14 hours ago, DancingSea said:

Thanks for the feedback.  Anyone have an opinion on the Small Green Computer LPS?

 

https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/products/7v-linear-power-supply?variant=12730873053218

 

I'm happy with mine .. I use it to power a microRendu. Before purchasing I powered the microRendu with my SOtM battery supply and iFi iPower. I prefer the SGC power supply. Nice build quality at a great price. BTW, I tame the incredibly bright blue LED (my only complaint) with Light Dims. Best.

 

[Jud]

4 hours ago, DancingSea said:

 

Do you have a link to Uptone’s $17 switching power supply?  I couldn’t find it.  Thx

 

https://uptoneaudio.com/products/uptone-branded-7-5v-4-8a-36w-smps-with-internal-ground-shunt

[mav52]

4 hours ago, DancingSea said:

 

Do you have a link to Uptone’s $17 switching power supply?  I couldn’t find it.  Thx

 

wow $17 bucks

 

[AnotherSpin]

1 hour ago, Jud said:

 

https://uptoneaudio.com/products/uptone-branded-7-5v-4-8a-36w-smps-with-internal-ground-shunt

 

Is it good for amber regen?

[bobfa]

17 hours ago, DancingSea said:

I think it can be 5 to 9 volt actually.  

You can adjust the trimpot inside of that supply and it has a handy voltmeter on the front!!  I have one.

 

 

[bobfa]

Dig around on aliexpress and look for GZLOZONE and other linear power supplies.  

[Jud]

56 minutes ago, AnotherSpin said:

 

Is it good for amber regen?

 

Pretty much anything you can attach a 7.5 volt supply to, so yes.

[DancingSea]

4 hours ago, Jud said:

 

https://uptoneaudio.com/products/uptone-branded-7-5v-4-8a-36w-smps-with-internal-ground-shunt

 

Where does this thing go?  For instance, I have a Gophert switching power supply (per Cornan’s suggestion) powering a RUR.  It goes power cable from wall —> Gophert (set at 7.5V) —> Ghent DC cable —> RUR.  

 

Where in that chain does this shunt go?

[Jud]

3 hours ago, DancingSea said:

 

Where does this thing go?  For instance, I have a Gophert switching power supply (per Cornan’s suggestion) powering a RUR.  It goes power cable from wall —> Gophert (set at 7.5V) —> Ghent DC cable —> RUR.  

 

Where in that chain does this shunt go?

 

In place of the Gophert, after the power cable from the wall.  It has a DC cable and barrel plug built in.

[DancingSea]

8 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

In place of the Gophert, after the power cable from the wall.  It has a DC cable and barrel plug built in.

 

Is this the Uptone version of the iFi wall wart?  So conditioned by expensive upgrades, its hard to imagine a $17 device providing something meaningful.  Do you use 3 of these as power supplies in your system?

 

Do its benefits still happen without a LPS 1.2?

[Jud]

It shunts noise to ground, unlike the iFi unit which puts noise on the line. It's just a simple electrical means to keep noise out of the system, so no need to charge a lot for it.  Certainly if you want to spend more you can.

 

I use mine fo power an LPS-1, an ISO Regen, and a microRendu.  Love the sound of my system, but I've never claimed to have golden ears, so it's certainly possible they're bad and I'm not hearing it.