Building a DIY Music Server

[Nenon]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Hello Soul Analogue, it was brought to my attention that nine days before telling me you are merely a hobbyist, you solicited a product review from another website by saying you are a builder of custom linear power supplies (see your post below). 

 

As of right now, you must follow all the rules that others with a commercial interest follow on Audiophile Style. Your signature line below every post must indicate your affiliation in the industry and you shouldn't talk about your products unless someone asks you a questions about them. 

 

If you'd like to communicate without restrictions, you're welcome to open a sponsored forum here like other manufacturers who support Audiophile Style. 

 

 

 

 

For complete transparency (and in the spirit of a drama free forum) - I am NOT the one reporting @Soul Analogue, if that is what is triggering Chris's posts. 

 

In fact, I reached out to @Soul Analogue privately asking him if it's possible to get one of his unregulated power supplies to listen to in my system. I told him if it is as good as he claims, I will post about it and recommend it to everyone asking about it. And if it is not that good, I will return it and not post publicly about it. He said he would consider, and that was the last communication between us. 

 

I am extremely busy and have very little time for DIY these days. A lot of people reached out to me about the unregulated LPS. It will be a huge relief if @Soul Analogue's ULPS sounds better (or as good) and he takes over that part from me. I will gladly refer everyone to him. He uses much cheaper parts which makes his product more affordable. But until I listen to his ULPS, I cannot recommend it. Both Emile and Sean have hinted that it's not worth my time trying a choke input ULPS for this application, and this is why this is an unexplored area for me. I've learned to trust both of them over the years. 

 

But I am still a curious DIY audiophile. If anyone can arrange for me to listen to @Soul Analogue's ULPS, I will give my unbiased feedback about how it compares to the v2 and v3 designs. TBH, I might be slightly biased, because I really want his ULPS to sound better. 

[auricgoldfinger]

15 minutes ago, Nenon said:

I am extremely busy and have very little time for DIY these days. A lot of people reached out to me about the unregulated LPS.

 

Were you unable to find someone who would build the unregulated LPS for $500 labor plus parts as you had hoped at one time?

[elan120]

59 minutes ago, Nenon said:

I've tried a 600 VA transformer and a 750 VA. They are both sitting unused now. I am sticking to a 400 VA transformer in my case.

I won't go into the reasons why, although I might have mentioned bits and pieces in earlier posts. 

You have, and I am going to build your V3 version very soon (some time in Oct), once I have few more parts ordered including the enclosure delivered, and if it is ok, I will share the build process with details similar to my other power supply build thread.

[Nenon]

15 minutes ago, elan120 said:

You have, and I am going to build your V3 version very soon (some time in Oct), once I have few more parts ordered including the enclosure delivered, and if it is ok, I will share the build process with details similar to my other power supply build thread.

Good man! Your guide last time was awesome. Looking forward to this one. 

 

37 minutes ago, auricgoldfinger said:

Were you unable to find someone who would build the unregulated LPS for $500 labor plus parts as you had hoped at one time?

I did. But we are still waiting for the Noratel transformers! I think I will give Noratel another week for an update before giving up on them. 

[Dev]

23 minutes ago, Nenon said:

 

I did. But we are still waiting for the Noratel transformers! I think I will give Noratel another week for an update before giving up on them. 

 

On Aug 24th Taiko said this to me:

 

" Last I heard about the transformers is that they are on their way here by boat. Having them shipped by air turned out to be way too expensive. So they have been on the boat for at least a couple of weeks now (I think like three weeks). We haven't heard anything since then. "

[Dev]

Deleted.

[Exocer]

2 hours ago, Nenon said:

For complete transparency (and in the spirit of a drama free forum) - I am NOT the one reporting @Soul Analogue, if that is what is triggering Chris's posts. 

For the record, neither did I. But I too am interested in hearing @Soul Analogue's unregulated LPS and will hopefully do business with him when the time is right.

 

There have been a lot of changes in my system lately...most of which have caused me to drift away into the beautiful world of listening. Further away from the nervosa than i've been in quite a while:

 

1. I upgraded the binding posts on my speakers.

2. Switched to different speaker wire.

3. Obtained a JCAT Femto XE USB card (to borrow)

4. Swapped out my Yggy's analog board for the LIM (Less is more).

5. Unfortunately had to switch back to the PH SR7T for power because I accidentally killed the Taiko Active rectifier. (I have a Saligny on the way). Hopefully I can compare the two for any SQ differences but I would expect them to be subtle at most.

 

Up until now, I was a bit apprehensive about spending big bucks on a USB card. I will have to admit that I was missing out on some serious audio goodness by doing so. Upon switching back to the regular USB cards, I could not believe the dimensionality, soundstage, detail, musicality,, and slam I lost without the audiophile card.

 

Powered by a modest MPAudio ALS-HPULN rail, I can easily tell that the CoreAudio P24 OCXO and JCAT Femto XE USB are much better than standard USB cards based on the same chipsets. If I have to choose from generic cards, this one sounded better than the Startech ASM3142 based card I had been using for a while: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AJMNKI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Here are some pics of Nenon's V3 (partially built because I was still tinkering with placement at the time) in the Slimline 3U chassis. It would have been nice if the tray were a bit deeper but everything managed to fit. I can't wait to fire it up again! and listen. It feels very hefty and solid with the base plate! 

 

Cheers,

-Rob

 

 

[Soul Analogue]

 

6 hours ago, Nenon said:

 

In fact, I reached out to @Soul Analogue privately asking him if it's possible to get one of his unregulated power supplies to listen to in my system. I told him if it is as good as he claims, I will post about it and recommend it to everyone asking about it. And if it is not that good, I will return it and not post publicly about it. He said he would consider, and that was the last communication between us. 

Yes it is possible when I have the time... I have been busy fulfilling some other committed requests

 

Quote

Both Emile and Sean have hinted that it's not worth my time trying a choke input ULPS for this application, and this is why this is an unexplored area for me. I've learned to trust both of them over the years. 

I have been repeatedly saying my design is NOT a choke input ULPS...

 

 

BTW, how to add a signature on every posts? I cannot find such option anywhere...

I have no commercial interest on Audiophile Style, and am not affiliated with the industry... but I had better make a signature about custom power supplies

and to comply with the rules here, I will not talk about my creations until someone asks questions

[Soul Analogue]

10 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Hello Soul Analogue, it was brought to my attention that nine days before telling me you are merely a hobbyist, you solicited a product review from another website by saying you are a builder of custom linear power supplies (see your post below). 

 

As of right now, you must follow all the rules that others with a commercial interest follow on Audiophile Style. Your signature line below every post must indicate your affiliation in the industry and you shouldn't talk about your products unless someone asks you a questions about them. 

 

If you'd like to communicate without restrictions, you're welcome to open a sponsored forum here like other manufacturers who support Audiophile Style. 

 

 

Hello Chris,

I had been a hobbyist of power supply design...

The reason I post a request for review in "another website" because I would like to see how my lifetime creation fares amongst the line up of the top commercial products in the market... but eventually the "review" did not turn into reality as they considered my creation was not a standard product readily available for sale.

I DID not mean to do business or make profit by posting here...

 

but since I expressed by views and experience sharing here in mid August 21, I received many sincere requests for helping hands...

and I agreed to help some of them here

Thank you for clarifying the rules

Due to the "change" of my "role or identity", I will NOT further post or describe the design of my creation, unless someone ask questions

and I agree to put a signature - Builder of Custom Power Supplies ... but how to make it? I cannot see the option anywhere... Please advise.

 

If situation becomes viable, i may become a sponsor in the future...

Please feel free to PM me the conditions and financial implications for being a sponsor for my consideration

Thanks

[elan120]

5 hours ago, Exocer said:

Here are some pics of Nenon's V3 (partially built because I was still tinkering with placement at the time) in the Slimline 3U chassis. It would have been nice if the tray were a bit deeper but everything managed to fit. I can't wait to fire it up again! and listen. It feels very hefty and solid with the base plate! 

Hi Rob,

 

Thank you for posting the picture of your V3 ULPS, it looks very nice.  One thing I noticed that you have 7 main caps in your ensure, but Nenon's V3 description show a total of 5 in CLCLCCC configuration.  Could you comment on the two extra main caps in yours?

 

Thank you,

Kevin

 

[Soul Analogue]

14 minutes ago, Soul Analogue said:

I agree to put a signature - Builder of Custom Power Supplies ... but how to make it? I cannot see the option anywhere... Please advise.

 

Found the option in Account Settings... thanks...

 

[Exocer]

33 minutes ago, elan120 said:

Hi Rob,

 

Thank you for posting the picture of your V3 ULPS, it looks very nice.  One thing I noticed that you have 7 main caps in your ensure, but Nenon's V3 description show a total of 5 in CLCLCCC configuration.  Could you comment on the two extra main caps in yours?

 

Thank you,

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

Good question. I just did things a bit differently:

 

 

So in that portion of the circuit I went with 5 22,000uF caps instead of 2x 47,000 + 1x22,000uF. I wanted to emulate the way @Nenonconfigured his V3. I'm sure either will sound great. In retrospect, going with 2x 47,000 + 1x22,000uF would probably have saved a significant amount of enclosure space and you end up with more capacitance (110,000uF vs 116,000uF) in the last portion of the circuit.

 

Hope this helps,

-Rob

[elan120]

7 minutes ago, Exocer said:

Hi Kevin,

Good question. I just did things a bit differently:

 

 

So in that portion of the circuit I went with 5 22,000uF caps instead of 2x 47,000 + 1x22,000uF. I wanted to emulate the way @Nenonconfigured his V3. I'm sure either will sound great. In retrospect, going with 2x 47,000 + 1x22,000uF would probably have saved a significant amount of enclosure space and you end up with more capacitance (110,000uF vs 116,000uF) in the last portion of the circuit.

 

Hope this helps,

-Rob

Got it, thank you, Rob,

 

In my V3, I will be using 3x47,000uF in the final portion, and it is a tight fit as well.

 

Kevin

[derBen]

Hi,

 

I just finished my second DIY Audiio Server and I would like to share some impressions.

 

I'm running a Aaeon Mini-ITX board with 16GB Apacer Ram, a 250GB Samsung 980Pro M.2 SSD and a Intel i7 9700T CPU.

For the connections I use JCAT FEMTO cards: USB and NET.

The operating system is Euphony OS running ROON.

 

The server is built into two cases:

- One external PSU regulating 16V + 16V + 9V + 7V from a custom 400 VA toroid

- The main case containing the local PSU (regulating 12V + 12V + 5V + 3,3V) and the computer components

 

Both cases have the same shape and dimensions, only the button in the front is missing in the PSU case.

 

What dio you think?

Ben

[MarcelNL]

13 hours ago, MarcelNL said:

Further, what specs for the ATX module I can find say that the module can handle up to 10.000uF for 12V....did nobody go there yet? I have not found out how much capacitance already is located on the motherboard, but if possible I'd like some capacitance as close as can be at the MB.

anyone here who added some capacitance after the ATX? 

Does the ATX come with any more specs/application notes that what is on the website?

 

@Nenon thanks for your response, it is just that without any specific reasoning behind what appears a non logical choice (the ATX will not generate power on it's own, or Taiko has cracked the energy problem) I am hard pressed to pick another route than 'tinker to the max'. That is not critisism, I am grateful for your reports and the information you share. I also do understand that sometimes proprietary information cannot be shared.

 

[guiltyboxswapper]

8 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

anyone here who added some capacitance after the ATX? 

TBH if you can keep your cables ultra short, you may not need to do this?

 

Going from 60,000uf to 165,000uf (both Mundorf AG) has proven to be a dramatic difference with the audio grade SMPS I helped put together, and its not even been a week yet (still breaking in).  Much extended (subsonic) bass response at even normal listening levels, with transient response (including gut wrenching impact) stepped up quite a notch in the process.  

 

More is better!

[MarcelNL]

I get what you say, BUT ;-) The very reason to keep the cables short may be a grood reason to add some capacitance at the end...

 

I think we may end up with a Le Monstre Server, I am not yet able to calculate ripple etc for the CLCLC network as I seem incapable of using the PSUDII properly, I will start at three time 47000, but may well end up adding a couple

 

[guiltyboxswapper]

4 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

I get what you say, BUT ;-) The very reason to keep the cables short may be a grood reason to add some capacitance at the end...

 

Kind of- the PSU supplying the caps still plays a big part in the outcome.   

 

Ever tried attaching a brand new PSU to a broken in set of caps?  Sounds dreadful as the new PSU settles down.   

 

You maybe better off soldering the 4th input pair on the Taiko DC DC for better impedance (the one left open), whilst keeping cables as short as possible.

[RickyV]

43 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

@Nenon thanks for your response, it is just that without any specific reasoning behind what appears a non logical choice (the ATX will not generate power on it's own, or Taiko has cracked the energy problem) I am hard pressed to pick another route than 'tinker to the max'. That is not critisism, I am grateful for your reports and the information you share. I also do understand that sometimes proprietary information cannot be shared

I am no expert and wondering out loud.

Mobo’s do not draw a lot of continues current it draws extreme current spikes.

The 400VA of a transformer is the continuous power delivery but it can deliver more in a spike. Not sure but the big capacitance may help with spikes.

I could be all wrong of cause.

[Audiomaster]

49 minutes ago, guiltyboxswapper said:

TBH if you can keep your cables ultra short, you may not need to do this?

 

Going from 60,000uf to 165,000uf (both Mundorf AG) has proven to be a dramatic difference with the audio grade SMPS I helped put together, and its not even been a week yet (still breaking in). Much extended (subsonic) bass response at even normal listening levels, with transient response (including gut wrenching impact) stepped up quite a notch in the process.

 

More is better!

 

59 minutes ago, guiltyboxswapper said:

TBH if you can keep your cables ultra short, you may not need to do this?

 

Going from 60,000uf to 165,000uf (both Mundorf AG) has proven to be a dramatic difference with the audio grade SMPS I helped put together, and its not even been a week yet (still breaking in). Much extended (subsonic) bass response at even normal listening levels, with transient response (including gut wrenching impact) stepped up quite a notch in the process.

 

More is better!

I think that it was not in vain that Taiko installed such an array of capacitors in the last ripple smoothing cascade C5 - C16 - 564000 mKf. As my experience in other DIY designs shows, the large amount of energy in the capacitors makes the sound bigger and more dynamic.

[RickyV]

57 minutes ago, guiltyboxswapper said:

TBH if you can keep your cables ultra short, you may not need to do this?

 

Going from 60,000uf to 165,000uf (both Mundorf AG) has proven to be a dramatic difference with the audio grade SMPS I helped put together, and its not even been a week yet (still breaking in).  Much extended (subsonic) bass response at even normal listening levels, with transient response (including gut wrenching impact) stepped up quite a notch in the process.  

 

More is better!

Really curious how your smps solution would compare to the ulps but that will be difficult I guess.

[guiltyboxswapper]

30 minutes ago, RickyV said:

Really curious how your smps solution would compare to the ulps but that will be difficult I guess.

 

Happy to compare to be honest, but yes not sure how short of building my own ULPS at this stage.  

 

Will remove the VCAP on Sunday to see how that impacts things too.

[guiltyboxswapper]

38 minutes ago, Audiomaster said:

I think that it was not in vain that Taiko installed such an array of capacitors in the last ripple smoothing cascade C5 - C16 - 564000 mKf. As my experience in other DIY designs shows, the large amount of energy in the capacitors makes the sound bigger and more dynamic.

 

 

Yep, literally what I found within 30mins of starting up revision 3.  The only reason we didnt go to 198,000uf is in an attempt to keep the PSU small enough to place inside a PC chassis of sorts.  

[MarcelNL]

O I am a strong believer in capacitance. Just look up the le Monstre Amp and see.

 

It is more that I want to understand what each item does, what impact it has at a little more fundamental level than 'I did this and it sounds great' it is not until you find out what makes each part of the chain sound good that you can mix and match for best SQ until then it is really a bit of a crap shoot. 

[MarcelNL]

1 hour ago, guiltyboxswapper said:

Kind of- the PSU supplying the caps still plays a big part in the outcome.   

 

Ever tried attaching a brand new PSU to a broken in set of caps?  Sounds dreadful as the new PSU settles down.   

 

You maybe better off soldering the 4th input pair on the Taiko DC DC for better impedance (the one left open), whilst keeping cables as short as possible.

using capacitance where it is pulled from the earliest in a transient is a bit more elegant and faster you still need a large container to fill up but I'm thinking that the transients caused by the CPU are filled by the MB, so we need to find out what transients the MB is drawing, then what the taiko ATX can deliver and what the ATX itself is capable of drawing.

 

That we need large capacitance and choke(s) to adequately filter ripple is clear looking at the current drawn. I'm just trying to establish what capacitance needs to go where max SQ. I seriously think that a little capacitance at the MB will do a lot, it'll help overcome the cable resistance/ which creates lag and a nice bypass will also help removing crud being picked up on it's way to the MB.