Something related: http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/pop-goes-dsd-why-does-this-happen/
My New Lumin
- Thread starter MtnHam
- Start date
es347
New member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2014
- Messages
- 13
..thx buddy...looks like I'm stuck the annoying pops...sigh
Turning on PCM -> DSD conversion may help a bit since it reduces the number of times the unit need to switch between PCM mode and DSD mode.
Late to the party here, thinking about getting a second hand Lumin A1. You guys love the Lumins!
I am also considering the Aurender N10 with either the MSB Analog (with Quad USB and Power Base) or TotalDAC d1-dual. A single unit (for considerably less) seems like a bit of a bargain in comparison. I have the Simaudio Moon Neo 430 headphone amplifier.
Quick question, what do you think is the better investment, Kenneth Lau PSU or Shunyata Digital cable? The latter is not restricted to the Lumin, of course.
Hello, by the way :¬)
I am also considering the Aurender N10 with either the MSB Analog (with Quad USB and Power Base) or TotalDAC d1-dual. A single unit (for considerably less) seems like a bit of a bargain in comparison. I have the Simaudio Moon Neo 430 headphone amplifier.
Quick question, what do you think is the better investment, Kenneth Lau PSU or Shunyata Digital cable? The latter is not restricted to the Lumin, of course.
Hello, by the way :¬)
Thanks Joe. I've enjoyed reading your posts on various pieces of equipment. The A1 specifically. Along with Mikes of course. You two are quite a passively persuasive pair :¬)
Hi Yoga!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BlueFox
New member
What do you mean by the Shunyata Digital cable? I have a Python AES digital, two Anaconda AES digital, two Alpha Digital power cords, and one Sigma Digital power cord. Or are you referring to another type of cable. FYI, I have the Sigma Digital on my Lumin S1 power supply.
Actually, on rereading I think you are referring to power cord for the Lumin. I looked into the PSU upgrade, decided not to do it for now, but forgot the reason. If I did I will still use the Shunyata power cord since its job is to filter noise generated by the PSU from getting back into the other components.
Your latter statement is the correct one, the linear PSU or power cable. I'm opting for the former after asking a few owners. I'll be sourcing a medical grade power cable which is (obviously) highly insulated and well built for the time being :¬)
BlueFox
New member
Great. You will be able to do a great A/B test when you replace it.
the professor
Well-known member
For the A1 - the Shunyata Alpha Digital is a better upgrade than the Lau PS. I've tried both on an A1 and the Shunyata alpha is great addition and the Lau PS changed the sound more than being necessarily better. I do really like the Super Lau PS he has for the S1, but it's twice the price of the one for the A1.
BlueFox
New member
Interesting. I can't see how a 'hospital' power cord will make much, if any, difference. I seriously doubt if it has the filtering to keep noise from being sent back into other gear. When I put an Alpha Digital on my Bryston BDP-1 my jaw dropped to the floor at the improvement.
atmasphere
Active member
Power cords don't filter anything but they can have a measurable effect on equipment and its easy enough to measure the performance of the power cord as well.
I can go into in more depth if you like.
I can go into in more depth if you like.
I'd like.
atmasphere
Active member
A power cord can have a voltage drop across it. With some amplifiers the voltage drop can be significant. I've seen a 2 volt drop rob a 140 watt amplifier of about 40 watts at full power.
In addition, power cords have a high frequency aspect. Power supplies in general consist of a power transformer, rectifiers which convert AC to DC, and filter capacitors to store the DC energy. The rectifiers only conduct when the filter caps are at a lower voltage than what is coming out of the power transformer. When the circuit is drawing power most of the time the filter caps will have only lost a very small voltage from the peak of the AC input waveform (60 Hz 117V in the US) to the next. This means that the rectifiers will only turn on and conduct at the peak of the AC waveform and then for only a few microseconds or milliseconds.
However a fair amount of current might have to move in that small amount of time. The current spike at the peak of the waveform is thus of very short duration which translates to high frequency. If the power cord lacks the bandwidth to allow the full amount of current to flow the power supply might not get charged up properly- the equipment might be starving a bit for more power and raising the input voltage might not be the cure due to the high frequency bottleneck.
The result is that you can hear a difference between the power cords. One other thing that can be seen from this is that some types of circuit will be more prone to power cord issues than others. For example if the circuit has heavy power supply regulation you might not hear very much in the way of effects from the power cord. Analog, digital, class D circuits, tube or solid state all are affected, to varying degree. Romex found in the walls has excellent high frequency characteristics and this would be a non-issue of power cords could legally be made from Romex, but such is unsafe.
That's it in a nutshell...
In addition, power cords have a high frequency aspect. Power supplies in general consist of a power transformer, rectifiers which convert AC to DC, and filter capacitors to store the DC energy. The rectifiers only conduct when the filter caps are at a lower voltage than what is coming out of the power transformer. When the circuit is drawing power most of the time the filter caps will have only lost a very small voltage from the peak of the AC input waveform (60 Hz 117V in the US) to the next. This means that the rectifiers will only turn on and conduct at the peak of the AC waveform and then for only a few microseconds or milliseconds.
However a fair amount of current might have to move in that small amount of time. The current spike at the peak of the waveform is thus of very short duration which translates to high frequency. If the power cord lacks the bandwidth to allow the full amount of current to flow the power supply might not get charged up properly- the equipment might be starving a bit for more power and raising the input voltage might not be the cure due to the high frequency bottleneck.
The result is that you can hear a difference between the power cords. One other thing that can be seen from this is that some types of circuit will be more prone to power cord issues than others. For example if the circuit has heavy power supply regulation you might not hear very much in the way of effects from the power cord. Analog, digital, class D circuits, tube or solid state all are affected, to varying degree. Romex found in the walls has excellent high frequency characteristics and this would be a non-issue of power cords could legally be made from Romex, but such is unsafe.
That's it in a nutshell...
BlueFox
New member
Don't bother. You haven't been keeping up with technology.
SIGMA power cords work far more efficiently than traditional power conditioners because they intercept noise at its very source -- the component power supply, and prevent it from being shared with other electronics in the system via CCI (Component-to-Component Interference).
Essentially, Σ SIGMA Series power cords function as independent, high-current power conditioners. All three Σ SIGMA power cord models cancel the specific frequencies of noise associated with the class of components they are designed for -- Digital, Analog or High-Current.
Σ SIGMA model power cords are entirely non-reactive. They present no interference or impedance challenge to electronic power supplies (Unlike most power conditioners). What this means is, Σ SIGMA power cords are complementary to all electronic power supplies within their named classification and allow all components to perform at peak efficiency both in terms of current delivery and lowered noise.
http://www.shunyata.com/our-products/pwr-cables/54-tron/549-tron-sigma#!sigma_digital_detail2
atmasphere
Active member
I've kept up on technology just fine. What is needed here is a clarification of terms.
A 'power conditioner' conditions the AC power getting to the equipment in use.
Blocking noise that that particular piece is making is not a power conditioner- its a filter.
The best power conditioners that we have seen were made by Elgar- and had the ability to produce a sine wave of less than 0.1% THD with a full load of 28 amps continuous at 117V. In addition they could hold the line voltage steady while the load varied. I've seen no 'high end audio' power conditioners that could do that.
These power cords can do none of that, although they are nice power cords and I imagine they might be able to block certain high frequency components generated by the equipment they serve from getting back on the line. But FWIW one of the more pesky artifacts that can get on the AC line is the 5th harmonic, and these power cords can't filter that- they simply don't have what is needed in them to do it. For that matter, most 'high end audio' power conditioners don't either.
The 5th harmonic causes power transformers to run with noise and to run hotter; it causes power rectifiers to radiate more RF energy and creates adverse forces in AC synchronous motors that make them want to run backwards. Its caused by AC power transformers (like the one outside on a power pole) that has enough of a load on its secondary that the transformer begins to distort the AC waveform. Most high end audio power conditioner companies ignore this phenomena because its expensive to remove.
A 'power conditioner' conditions the AC power getting to the equipment in use.
Blocking noise that that particular piece is making is not a power conditioner- its a filter.
The best power conditioners that we have seen were made by Elgar- and had the ability to produce a sine wave of less than 0.1% THD with a full load of 28 amps continuous at 117V. In addition they could hold the line voltage steady while the load varied. I've seen no 'high end audio' power conditioners that could do that.
These power cords can do none of that, although they are nice power cords and I imagine they might be able to block certain high frequency components generated by the equipment they serve from getting back on the line. But FWIW one of the more pesky artifacts that can get on the AC line is the 5th harmonic, and these power cords can't filter that- they simply don't have what is needed in them to do it. For that matter, most 'high end audio' power conditioners don't either.
The 5th harmonic causes power transformers to run with noise and to run hotter; it causes power rectifiers to radiate more RF energy and creates adverse forces in AC synchronous motors that make them want to run backwards. Its caused by AC power transformers (like the one outside on a power pole) that has enough of a load on its secondary that the transformer begins to distort the AC waveform. Most high end audio power conditioner companies ignore this phenomena because its expensive to remove.
madfloyd
New member
Thanks, Ralph, that's very informative. I think you are correct about the Shunyata power cords blocking a certain amount of noise from re-entering the line.
Does the Elgar block the 5th harmonic?