Building a DIY Music Server

[Tatomek7]

Latest iteration.
New wiring plus new caps ( HC + SGO ) = painful time waiting for sound improvement. At the moment SQ is worse than before with ordinary market 10AWG copper wire. 
First 3 legs are done with two 14AWG stranded PVC Neotech, last 2 are with three of them. 

[Tatomek7]

I completed my ULPS. Please remember to keep AC entry module at least 2,5cm above the bottom. It has also some consequences inside the chassis. I did mistake and had to add something to feet to elevate them. Fortunately I had cedar rings in my wardrobe. 
 

 

[Tatomek7]

41 minutes ago, RickyV said:

Which choke is used in this scheme?

The same, Hammond 159ZJ

[Tatomek7]

10 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

soldering 2mm in diameter to something like 5mm diameter

I did through intermediary wiring. 

[Tatomek7]

17 hours ago, MarcelNL said:

Neotech UP OCC in 14AWG (single stretch for now)

I will repeat what @Nenon already said, wiring matters a lot, so consider to do that once and good. I know it's difficult to not check immediately, how it will sound, but if you will change wiring after, you will go through burn in process twice. BTW DC connection to Taiko ATX also impacts on sound ( a lot ). I just changed that few days ago and I was surprised, how big impact it has. 

 

17 hours ago, MarcelNL said:

no bypasses just yet.

 

I already had Vcaps ( x 3 ), KBG ( x 4 or 5 ) Mundorf Supreme SGO ( x 2 ) and Miflex KPCU ( x2 ). Each of them impacts on the final sound signature. VCaps gives lot of space, details, micro information, Miflex gives more bottom and reduces micro information. So, rolling them you can voice the ULPS to your liking. At the moment I have 1Vcap, 1 KBG, 1 Mundorf and 2 x Miflex. Still no 100% my cup of tea.

 

[Tatomek7]

2 minutes ago, oneguy said:

what’s you guy’s preferred thermal paste?

Grizzly Hydronaut :)

[Tatomek7]

I use two 8pin EPS outputs with no issues.

[Tatomek7]

4 hours ago, Cazzesman said:

Q2. The HDPlex DC/ATX has an Input voltage of 16v-30vdc.    So I am presuming the ULPS at 35v will kill the HDPlex.    Is that correct?

To be precise; HDPlex DC-ATX 400 will be killed, but DC-ATX 800 has 10 - 63VDC, so 35V will be OK, same Taiko ATX

[Tatomek7]

On 3/30/2022 at 2:54 PM, sakso136 said:

The Xe is now powered by keces p8 thru dxp 3A.

 

I had a chance to test in my system the LPSs from Jcat: Optimo Duo with 2 x 5V and Optimo S ATX.

 

First comparison was between Optimo S ATX and ULPS + Taiko ATX to power my server based on Asus Sage with two Xeons.

Jcat had no problem to power it and temperature of the LPS was quite moderate. I powered only ATX and CPUs. At this stage of the test LAN and USB card was powered by SJ ARC6 DC4 & DC3. In my case it’s Jcat Lan Femto and Jcat USB XE.

Every disconnection of power cord from S ATX requires 2 -3 days for stabilisation of the sound.

My ULPS was built initially based on Nenon’s V2 and after V3 scheme, but at the final stage I went to slightly different option and I have one 10A custom made choke and 4 x 22 000uF and 2 x 47 000uF Mundorfs HC caps. Bypass capacitors are also different, only the last one in the chain is VCap Odam, but I will order more of them in the future.

Coming back to S ATX and how it sounds. It’s really great LPS, what is really outstanding is 3D soundstage and top end registers. Bass is also very good. If anybody is looking for a LPS to power his server and consider to build ULPS to power Taiko ATX, Optimo S ATX could be nice option particularly, you are not forced to tinker yourself the ATX wires.

Differences between ULPS + Taiko ATX and S ATX? Of course there are, but thanks to both of them, you will be able to achieve high quality of the sound.

Further improvement was achieved, when S ATX was moved on the platform, what improved every aspect of the sound. I will have chance to say more, when I will disconnect it and come back to my ULPS + Taiko ATX.

 

Second set of comparisons I did; Optimo Duo vs SJ ARC6 DC4 & DC3.

 

In the past I compared Keces P8 with Jcat Optimo Duo and latter was much better. I was really delighted by the increase it offered over Keces. Now I had a chance to compare it with SJ ARC6 DC4 & DC3. Comparison was done on the Jcat USB XE card ( DC4 ) and Jcat LAN Femto  ( DC3).

 

I compared DC4 and Optimo connected with the same DC cable, which was JSSG 360 Mundorf SGW solid wire terminated on one side with Neutric SpeakOn and Oyaide DC2.1 on the other. DC4 is better than Optimo Duo. ARC6 DC4 internal wiring is also based on Mundorf SGW,  what makes initial expensive project even more expensive, but it returns with better sound.

I did also comparison of DC3 and Optimo Duo. The results was;  as DC4 is better, Optimo is better by significant margin over DC3.

 

So my ranking is Keces P8 > ARC6 DC3 >> Optimo Duo > ARC6 DC4

 

All tests were done with DC cable based on Mundorf SGW. DC cable really makes the difference and if you have possibility to make it, please do, it will pay you back with important uptick in the sound.

 

When I did the test of DC4 vs Optimo powering USB card, Lan card was powered by DC3. During the test of Femto card powered by DC3 vs Optimo, I discovered, DC3 was limiting the performance of Femto card, so I did one more comparison of USB card powered by DC4 or Optimo, when Lan card was powered by Optimo. The distance between was closer, but DC4 is still better, nevertheless I can understand some could prefer Optimo, particularly, if you have softly sounding amp. Optimo is just playing more contour sound, when DC4 adds some softness,. 

[Tatomek7]

14 hours ago, sakso136 said:

My system imo is lacking in resolution ,and in the lower register,and optimo wasnt scoring much according to his table...

Optimo sounds darker and bass goes deeper, but DC4 gives you more differentiated bass. The differences are not that big, at least in my system. Please take one note; I did comparison with the same DC cable. I do not think, it was the case in audiobacon review. Mundorf SGW elevates the Optimo to be closer to DC4, with original cable, the distance between is much, much bigger.

 

14 hours ago, Exocer said:

I now have an Optimo on my radar as I rotate out the Keces P3

I did comparison of Keces with Mundorf SGW DC cable and DC3 with Neotech (teflon ) and Keces sounded the way I like, but after change of DC cable for Mundorf, DC3 started to shine. 

 

I did also comparison of nvme disk powered by DC3 and Optimo. Hear no differences worth the money. Maybe the reason is the dc cable, which is ordinary one, because it was the only one I had with an angled barrel..  

[Tatomek7]

I did one more ULPS + Taiko comparison, now nvme drive and Jcat Lan Femto card were powered from Optimo Duo ( before it was DC3 ), XE USB card from DC4 ( no change ).

 

Unfortunately, you can’t make a comparison by switching power supplies, because the connection itself takes a while and the capacitors need time ( min 24h ) to stabilize after connecting to the power supply. Therefore, it requires a bit of patience and the first impressions are blurred a little.

 

Nevertheless, I have some conclusions;

ULPS gives a bigger stage and everything seems bigger in general, there is more air between the sound sources. The sound from the Optimo S gives a more intimate, vivid scene with a very good source location. ULPS gives better sound textures. Optimo S gives a little more magic. ULPS has a brilliant, very diverse bass, and the Optimo S has a wonderful shiny, clean, resonant treble.

 

There are no losers in this comparison.

 

Someone, who can make a power supply himself, will want to try it for himself and tune the sound to his taste, and other people have an alternative to the challenge of making ULPS and ATX and PCU cables very well.

I am sure that I can get more out of this project (ULPS), e.g. by replacing the current bypass capacitors with Vcap ODAM capacitors.

 

 

[Tatomek7]

I have between Capacitor and PowerConn 32A, which I use as a connector on the ULPS back side,  2 wires for each ( 14WAG ). Between Powerconn 32A and Taiko 3 wires for positive and 3 for negative ( 14AWG each wire ).

 

[Tatomek7]

1 hour ago, Nenon said:

BTW, it's available on the Taiko website now

Hmm, it's out of stock now

 

[Tatomek7]

37 minutes ago, RickyV said:

is the ARC6 module also CLCCCCC type

yes, it is, with the last one bypassed

[Tatomek7]

14 hours ago, RickyV said:

Was that a worthwhile upgrade and how much was it?

I highly valued Ogonowski chokes vs Hammond. According the prices, as it was already a year ago, prices changed many times, that time it was comparable to Hammond ones.  In my last iteration I replaced the 5A, 10mH chokes with one 10A, 6mH what gave more fullness/body to the music. Currently it's  a hybrid scheme of V2/V3 with CLCCCCC ( 4x22000 HC and 2x47000uF HC). I consider to come back to previous model with first C = Mundorf AG 33000uF 40V bypassed with Mundorf Supreme Evo Oil 3,3uF.

On 7/12/2022 at 12:35 AM, Nenon said:

So if 4 inches of wire or a connector between the capacitors matter,

+1 

It's so sensitive for any changes, it requires a lot of patience to compare, which changes impacts on the sound most.  

[Tatomek7]

3 hours ago, BCRich said:

Thanks, when did you place your order?

I’ve ordered it the 5th ( monster cap ) and delivery will be today. 

[Tatomek7]

1 hour ago, Gavin1977 said:

I’m definitely looking forward to trying out the Mundorf AG and bypass caps for the Taiko rectifier

I don’t have Taiko rectifier, but with Saligny I user Mundorf AG 33000uF 40V and Mundorf Supreme Evo Oil 3,3uF

[Tatomek7]

It will be great to get first hand information, how LTSC compares to Euphony v4. I also prefer LTSC over Euphony v3, which licence still posses. 

 

In the meantime, for those using Roon, please check, if it works for you. You can achieve nice uptick in SQ,  deleting DSP filters ( even if, its already off). It can be reversed, so there is no risk. I observed increase in clarity, but at the same time my ULPS got Taiko cap so, I'm not 100% sure, what is responsible for the changes in SQ observed. 

[Tatomek7]

1 hour ago, MarcelNL said:

22/22/440 capacitance values

Are you sure it was 440mOhm?

[Tatomek7]

On 9/30/2022 at 9:37 PM, MarcelNL said:

How are people's experiences with breakin in the 220.000uF Mundorf HC

I've replaced the 4 x 22000uF and 2 x 47000uF HC caps for 1 x 22000uF and 1 x 220000uF ( both scenarios with 1 x 10A choke ). Just after switch to the Taiko cap, it was obvious, there is improvement in low end, but the separation of instruments and soundstage was worse, flat no 3D image. Highs were in my opinion too offensive. With the time of break-in every aspect has improved, except low end, which is less profound, but better differentiated. After the month of burn-in ( maybe more ), the sound is still changing, so no final opinion, but ..., if someone is at the decision stage to build LPS and still didn't decided which caps to use ( plenty of HCs' caps or one Taiko ), do not hesitate, you will not loose SQ with Taiko cap. The obvious gain is less space required and all the mess with lugs, connectors and wiring. 

Unfortunately I was late with order of Taiko rectifier, so no comparison. I use Saligny standard rectifier, which works fine for me.

[Tatomek7]

4 minutes ago, Nenon said:

Also, the Taiko USB card will be made available to non-Extreme users later this year.

Do you think, dedicated Taiko drivers will be available as well?

[Tatomek7]

I have Asus Sage with JCat Femto LAN and JCat USB powered externally by SJ DC3 & DC4. Serwer is powered by Nenon’s ULPS and Taiko ATX.

 

I went trough ULPS V2 -> V3 -> V2 with Hammond, Ogonowski and SoulAnalogue (SA) chokes with different total capacitance applied, but rather on the bigger side ( min. 130K uF with 5A and min. 170K uF plus with 10A choke).

Hammmond and Ogonowski chokes are rated with 5A and SA 10A. Currently I have Mundorf HC 22 000uF, SA choke and Taiko monster cap. I never had any problem with booting computer.

 

Recently I’ve changed the Windows power management settings and immediately computer started to behave differently -> slow down booting / repeated booting  and problems with loading OS, so I returned to original power management Windows settings. Also changing settings in BIOS ( CPU & RAM setting fix voltage ) had in my case an impact on the way, how computer was booting, so I returned to automatic settings.

 

My second server is based on AsRock Taichi X99 Mobo with strong 10 core Xeon and also no problems with booting.

 

Booting problems can be also caused by too tight screwed CPU.

[Tatomek7]

59 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

serious interest in Hi-B cut chokes for LPSU

+1

[Tatomek7]

13 hours ago, BCRich said:

Oyaide might fit as well.

I already mount Oyaide Power Inlet PP and it fits w/o problems. BTW I had the same QC issues, but already sort it out with help of Taiko. I'm at the latest stage to make it operational.

[Tatomek7]

here you are