Let's discuss Baldwin HiFi External Linear PSUs

[BigAlMc]

Given the other thread has spiraled out of control I'm starting my own. As OP here are my guidelines which I'll thank people to note and please try to respect:

 

ON Topic: Discussion with the manufacturer and without asking him to reveal his secret sauce a chance to try and understand what he feels he's doing that provides high performance. Probing or critical questions are permitted as long as they are presented in a respectful manner.

 

ON Topic: Any user experience. Past, present or future with these products. Ideally any comparisons to the usual LPSU suspects.

 

OFF Topic: Assertions and arguments about building techniques that don't further our understanding of how these products may or do sound.

 

OFF Topic: Sarcastic, rude and argumentative replies that do nothing to further the discovery element of this conversation.

 

 

@Neverfinished0 -

Hi Paul - I understand your frustration from the other thread and for what it's worth I feel you've had a terrible welcome to this site.

 

That said there are some great and very knowledgeable members here and discussing details with manufacturers hopefully helps both the manufacturers and the community.

 

I'll therefore respectfully ask you to please engage here in what is hopefully a more moderate thread.

 

FWIW I have no knowledge or experience of your products beyond the other thread, but I'm intrigued. I am also potentially in the market so here's my situ:

 

• Audiolinux i7 NUC Server powered by 12V SOTM SPS-500
• Audiolinus i7 NUC Endpoint powered by 12V Uptone LPS-1.2

 

Whilst both of these PSUs are pretty great, recent posts by other users have indicated that there may (or may not) be improvements to gain by providing:

 

A. More voltage headroom. The i7 NUCs accept 12-24V and apparently higher is better.

B. More amperage headroom. The otherwise truly excellent LPS-1.2 provides only 1.1amps and users need to disable a shitload of functions on the NUC to get it running on an LPS-1.2

 

I'm therefore considering:

 

• The Clones Audio Deluxe Powerstation. Dual rail, 15V, 1.5amps. Very good if very infrequent praise on some of the forums.
• The Paul Hynes SR4. Widely regarded as THE psu to beat. But alas Mr Hynes skills are offset slightly by the notoriety of his production lines reliability. 

 

So it's fair to say I'm intrigued but skeptical about your product lines. Skeptical partly due to lack of details and partly due to the low price point. But obviously I'd be delighted if PSUs at your price point do indeed perform so well.

 

It doesn't help that is looks very much (based on posting and interaction style) that the other thread was posted by a user who has been banned twice here for a very aggressive and confrontational approach to those trying to help him. I truly hope I am wrong here. But some of the posts on the other thread exhibit a very, very similar style to that troubled user.

 

So a couple genuine questions:

 

1. What would you recommend for my needs above?

2. Why would you say I should go for your products rather than say the Clones Audio Powerstation?

 

Many Thanks,

Alan

[Panelhead]

  I power mine, NUC8, with a iFi iPower Plus. 15 volts and 4 amps. I have a 500GB Evo 970 M2 and a 500GB Evo 860 2.5” SSD installed. And 16 GB of RAM. The 4 amp supply runs everything with ease. No sure if 12 volt, 15 volt, or 19 volt makes any difference. 

  The iPower Plus was 70.00 which seems reasonable. Very 

  I believe a good switcher is better than a good LPS. The Plus seemed like a no brainer.

[BigAlMc]

Hi @Panelhead,

 

Thanks. I wasn't aware of the Ipower plus. I've owned and still own a few Ipower standards I guess and they're good products for the price. That said they're nowhere near the performance of the LPS-1.2 and SPS-500 I currently have in place.

 

Not sure how the Ipower plus would compare but my monies on my current PSUs beating it.

 

Interesting product tho for those wanting 4amps at a very attractive price point.

 

Cheers,

Alan