Question about power supplies

[bodiebill]

My control PC has a mini-ATX motherboard that takes 12V via a single DC plug.

As I do not have a spare 12V linear PSU, but I do have a spare HDPlex 400W DC to ATX converter, would it be possible to use a 19V linear PSU feeding into the HDPlex and use the 12V output of the HDPlex to feed the PC?

And if yes, would there be any SQ benefits compared to a direct 12V feed?

[bodiebill]

deleted

[bodiebill]

No one? I do not want to make the special cables in vain, or take a risk... 🙂

[STC]

You can feed 12V DC from any source provided it can provide the required ampere. Can’t answer about the SQ but I doubt it will make any difference. 

[bodiebill]

37 minutes ago, STC said:

You can feed 12V DC from any source provided it can provide the required ampere. Can’t answer about the SQ but I doubt it will make any difference. 

 

Thanks!

I hope it will make some difference as I am now feeding it with the stock SMPS.

[mansr]

The mini-ATX board almost certainly has a smattering of switching regulators on it to provide the much lower voltages required by the various chips. I too doubt the external 12 V supply has much (or any) effect on the sound quality.

[bodiebill]

3 hours ago, mansr said:

The mini-ATX board almost certainly has a smattering of switching regulators on it to provide the much lower voltages required by the various chips. I too doubt the external 12 V supply has much (or any) effect on the sound quality.

 

To be clear: I was wondering about any difference between

(1) 12v LPS => motherboard (direct)

and

(2) 19V LPS => HDPlex 400W DC-ATX converter EPS connection => 12V => motherboard

[mansr]

1 hour ago, bodiebill said:

To be clear: I was wondering about any difference between

(1) 12v LPS => motherboard (direct)

and

(2) 19V LPS => HDPlex 400W DC-ATX converter EPS connection => 12V => motherboard

As STC said, the motherboard doesn't care as long as it gets sufficient power. Nothing will break, so try it and see if you find any improvement.

[rickca]

1 hour ago, bodiebill said:

 

To be clear: I was wondering about any difference between

(1) 12v LPS => motherboard (direct)

and

(2) 19V LPS => HDPlex 400W DC-ATX converter EPS connection => 12V => motherboard

Well, you can't get from 19V to 12V without a switch mode buck regulator in the DC-ATX.  So option 1 is likely going to sound better if your 19V LPS and 12V LPS are the same quality.

 

And despite the switch mode regulators on the motherboard, a good quality LPS still makes a significant difference in sound quality in my experience.

[bodiebill]

2 minutes ago, rickca said:

Well, you can't get from 19V to 12V without a switch mode buck regulator in the DC-ATX.  So option 1 is likely going to sound better if your 19V LPS and 12V LPS are the same quality.

 

And despite the switch mode regulators on the motherboard, a good quality LPS still makes a significant difference in my experience.

 

In that case (and rickca's claim seems to make sense), I guess I will not even try.

[rickca]

2 minutes ago, bodiebill said:

 

In that case (and rickca's claim seems to make sense), I guess I will not even try.

Someone is sure to come back and say I'm clueless. 😋

 

 

[Ralf11]

I will say that if your DAC needs isolation from 'hash' then give it isolation.

 

I will also say that LPS vs. SMPS isn't the real issue - it is LPS vs. cheap crummy SMPS

[sandyk]

4 hours ago, rickca said:

 

And despite the switch mode regulators on the motherboard, a good quality LPS still makes a significant difference in sound quality in my experience.

 Agreed.

 The John Swenson designed replacement Linear PSU for the Mac Mini was  very well received by hundreds of members , with virtually all purchasers, not just from  this forum , reporting a marked improvement in SQ. No, it wasn't expectation Bias either !!!

 It also had a Kelvin Sensor option which resulted in a highly stable output voltage under load, as well as a Linear Fan Controller PCB which smoothed the onboard PWM Fan Controller output to eliminate the radiated RF/EMI harmonics  from the basically 25kHz square wave type output of the PWM controller which was found by many to result in a further audible improvement .

[sandyk]

4 hours ago, rickca said:

Someone is sure to come back and say I'm clueless. 😋

 

 

 Not me. I agree with you, and several years ago I was warned for using that very word.

 How times change .

[Middy]

@sandyk

@rickca

@mansr

SainSmart MDP-XP Mini Digital Programmable Power Supply Set with 30V/5A 90W 2.4G Wireless Connection, 2.8 Inch TFT Screen https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VVJT496/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_05lbEb6NQ101V

 

I was looking at this as a feeder power supply and wondered what you thought?Looks clean for a lab supply low ripple, has a scope to start learning or at least measuring  but it is small compact with the ability to stack supplys as add ons?

5 supplies 1 screen all wifi connected?

 

If anything just some reading over the break and would it be useful practical for the non EE to use in our rigs?

 

Cheaper available than amazon but for you guys doing multiple supplys on ATX rails, SSDs.

 

Just a thought..

 

 

[rickca]

@Middy I have no idea how to evaluate that device.

[Middy]

Me neither, just saw a potential of 5 clean adjustable supplies with the bonus of a scope on a small footprint.

At non audiophile prices... was hopeful it was a Benefit to some of us...just wanted an experts  view point. Atx, Nucs, feeding another supply or other applications?

Not even for me, i thought of this thread when i saw it...

Cheers Rick have a lovely new year..

 

 

 

[mansr]

2 hours ago, Middy said:

30V/5A 90W

This doesn't add up, or should I say multiply.

 

How would you be using this device?

[Middy]

To be honest I am not sure Mansr but looked better than a cheaply made LPS and can be fed from a laptop battery. Its the adjustment to many different voltages with 'unverified' decent  specs.  I thought place before a NUC is my only user case. 

German guy on youtube seemed impressed running it through his bench scope.

 

But  5 + stacked like a few old mobile phones is a hell of a space saver for the spaghettification people have and thought that might be useful with a built in scope. For those you can use it and info for those who can't like me....

 

I thought it could help in some user cases and ask knowledgeable people like yourself first.... 

 

Have a great new year Mansr, thanks for replying.