One Box, Two Box, Three Box more

[UltraFast69]

Reducing noise in a component that can interfere with playback plays a big part in sound quality.

To me, isolating power in a separate box from other electronics is beneficial, but no
matter the price point, manufactures take either this path or build it all in.

What’s your take?

What’s your preference?


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[Mike]

External power supply like my VAC preamp, VAC Phonostage, MSB DAC and NAIM, among others.


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[Mike Lavigne]

i'm not a techie at all. i'm an observer.

what i observe is that power supplies, transformers and A/C grid related issues are very dominant in performance of high end electronics. and one approach to optimization is separate boxes for power supplies. or battery power. some way of keeping active signal path circuits from the power supplies. or simply allowing more box space to the power supplies. how much of these approaches are for isolation? and how much for more space and parts? how can end users really know this?

in my system i have the 3 box MSB Select II dac, with it's 2 separate power supplies....one for the analog circuits, one for digital. then i have the battery powered darTZeel preamp (with my 2 phono stages) and it's separate charging box. third i have my King Cello tape repro with it's separate power supply box. last year i had both the Lamm ML3 mono blocks each with a separate power supply chassis, and the VAC Statement 450 mono blocks each with a separate power supply box. i kept neither set of tube amps and instead preferred my dart monos (a pair single chassis amps).

i don't see this as essential, but at the top of the food chain it's common and seems to bring higher performance.

i'm guessing at some point i will see another 4th MSB Select II box (Select III?) when they separate digital circuits and analog output circuits (yes, i know there is no active analog output circuit). it's just the logical evolution at the top.

i have enough space and so far have supported the investment.

[Spock]

I believe in the benefits of separate boxes. A friend of mine put in a different box the giant transformer of his giant amplifier, and it was a noticeable upgrade.
Those like me who don´t have a dog, they hunt with a cat.