...it's not baffling at all. The included ps is fine, but guys like to tinker. If they included a "better" lps for more money:
a) some would complain about the increase in price as they already have a great lps to use.
b) some would complain this more expensive lps is not as good as Xlps, and away we go.
Some of us took apart our 12K DAVE dacs to replace the smps with a 7K power supply, $500 cap board, and then upgraded the ps with the ARC6 board for another couple of g's. And I use a Denefrips Gaia to bypass the old Amanero USB implementation, for another 1,500 bucks.
This is an old lament: why no "good" power cable, lps, etc.
...makes sense. You tinker with motorcycles because you have the experience and confidence to feel safe to ride it afterwards. I've gone downhill a few times on my bicycle, speeds over 50 mph...on wheels I built. I knew they were bomb-proof.
No one should mess around with anything they're not comfortable with, if it involves safety/injury, etc.
I believe there are a lot of owners who use the included brick with their ER.
UpTone does have external linear supplies available for anyone wanting to go to the next level.
Other than initial purchase price and upgradability, which @MarkusBarkus mentioned, the small size of the actual unit can be an advantage. My audio rack is crowded, the tiny ER fits nicely. The much larger Teddy Pardo supply tucks in underneath the shelving, out of sight. Another potential advantage of an external supply is that radiation from a big transformer is further away from EMI-sensitive components. This necessitates a longer DC cable, but a good quality star-quad cable reduces resistance and resists EMI/RFI.
...makes sense. You tinker with motorcycles because you have the experience and confidence to feel safe to ride it afterwards. I've gone downhill a few times on my bicycle, speeds over 50 mph...on wheels I built. I knew they were bomb-proof.
No one should mess around with anything they're not comfortable with, if it involves safety/injury, etc.
I think that the same that happens with other kind of audio equipments, switches brands have different effects.
as it happens to digital sources, APL ANS SR switch is a great choice if you want a natural and analogue like solution.
I agree. Why add to the selling price when customers are likely to want something different/better?
I honestly don’t see how it can be baffling at all as it’s clear that the products that haven’t been packaged are with a good power supply have been very popular with customers. A few of them were such big sellers that the manufacturers, at times, couldn’t meet demand. It’s like being baffled that McDonalds sells fries a la carte - as in wondering why they just don’t always include a burger. The answer is the same: because that’s what many customers want.
I was using the After Dark power supply with my Uptone Regen and replaced it with an iFi power supply. And surprisingly, it provided better sound quality over the expensive After Dark unit. That is with a more solid presentation, i.e., bass, soundstage etc.
I agree. Why add to the selling price when customers are likely to want something different/better?
I honestly don’t see how it can be baffling at all as it’s clear that the products that haven’t been packaged are with a good power supply have been very popular with customers. A few of them were such big sellers that the manufacturers, at times, couldn’t meet demand. It’s like being baffled that McDonalds sells fries a la carte - as in wondering why they just don’t always include a burger. The answer is the same: because that’s what many customers want.
I never eat at McDonald and never have in my entire life!
So with that logic lower the price even more and do not send me a cable or chitty wall-wart at all.
Baffling it is just baffling. Just build a quality product from front to back and be done. It's how I buy my Ducati's and Aprilia's full factory race.
I was using the After Dark power supply with my Uptone Regen and replaced it with an iFi power supply. And surprisingly, it provided better sound quality over the expensive After Dark unit. That is with a more solid presentation, i.e., bass, soundstage etc.
Interesting is that several reviews of the Silent Angel Bonn N8 by Darko and Twittering Machines not very flattering. The guys at Alpha Audio have also had similar findings on other so called AP grade ethernet switches.
Guess if you are not having issues then why bother?
Interesting is that several reviews of the Silent Angel Bonn N8 by Darko and Twittering Machines not very flattering. The guys at Alpha Audio have also had similar findings on other so called AP grade ethernet switches.
A stock Bonn N8 is not impressive, but it is a slight improvement over the TP-Link and Netgear switches I was using at the time. It also scales better than mass market switches. What I mean is, it gains more from adding an upgraded linear power supply than the mass market switches. Nothing will bring it to the level of an EtherRegen, but I needed eight ports and I already had a suitable LPS.
Guess if you are not having issues then why bother?
It seems you have bothered, so why shouldn't others? Your Teradak FMC is an audiophile switch, which would cause "bits are bits" network professionals to snicker.
IME, adding any switch between a router and streamer will improve the sound somewhat. Audiophile switches are not about fixing issues, they are intended to upgrade sound quality, and the six that I have tried all do that, to a greater or lesser extent.
A stock Bonn N8 is not impressive, but it is a slight improvement over the TP-Link and Netgear switches I was using at the time. It also scales better than mass market switches. What I mean is, it gains more from adding an upgraded linear power supply than the mass market switches. Nothing will bring it to the level of an EtherRegen, but I needed eight ports and I already had a suitable LPS.
It seems you have bothered, so why shouldn't others? Your Teradak FMC is an audiophile switch, which would cause "bits are bits" network professionals to snicker.
IME, adding any switch between a router and streamer will improve the sound somewhat. Audiophile switches are not about fixing issues, they are intended to upgrade sound quality, and the six that I have tried all do that, to a greater or lesser extent.
Only reason for the TeraDak was to consolidate boxes and for the FMC. Snicker all you like. I am on the page with Darko and Mike. So really I had a goal of less boxes and maintaining a predominately fiber network. Interestingly the folks at Alpha have had the same findings and Mike at TM has reviewed much more expensive switches from several manufacturers and the result is the same, zip no improvement. So some of us are blessed with not having crappy internet and being on a fiber network. I think there are some psychoacoustics at play for some. Have a good rest of your day.
Only reason for the TeraDak was to consolidate boxes and for the FMC. Snicker all you like. I am on the page with Darko and Mike. So really I had a goal of less boxes and maintaining a predominately fiber network. Interestingly the folks at Alpha have had the same findings and Mike at TM has reviewed much more expensive switches from several manufacturers and the result is the same, zip no improvement. So some of us are blessed with not having crappy internet and being on a fiber network. I think there are some psychoacoustics at play for some. Have a good rest of your day.
I did not snicker, I clearly said that network audio professionals would snicker when looking at a switch with a linear power supply to improve sound quality.
I do in fact have crappy internet. Even though this is a new neighborhood, our internet is fed from copper lines in an adjacent, very old, neighborhood.
I don't care much about what Twittering Machines or Alpha Audio say, they are both in learning mode, just like everyone in this newish field of network audio. When researching gear, I read opinions from professional reviewers and audiophiles, and IME audiophiles lead the way, pro reviewers are invariably behind the curve.
I am an audiophile with decades of experience. I know not to rely on useless A-B testing. The only way I can tell whether something is good or not is to listen, for an extended period, in my room, through my system, with my music. I hear a great deal about listening bias and it does not hold water. I have frequently chosen or rejected gear that went against my biased preconceptions.
The $1,400 Reiki switch uses the Zyxel GS-108B v3 board, in elaborate casework. English Electric, NuPrime and Silent Angel, all use that same board, sometimes with a power supply mod and/or slightly upgraded clock. View attachment 132182
I am Mr Reiki Audio. I'm interested in how you might have concluded this re the board of course though the Zyxel is an excellent board...
But I also wanted to say:
1) I'm here and happy to answer any questions!
2) Unlike the other devices you mention, there are no RFI-emitting LEDs in my products
3) What you describe as an elaborate case is actually a very simple but highly effective case - 5mm milled aluminium, copper-lined, engineered here in England to extremely tight tolerances etc... and the case plays an important role in the performance as audiophile network switches are 100% about noise reduction.
But I also wanted to say:
1) I'm here and happy to answer any questions!
2) Unlike the other devices you mention, there are no RFI-emitting LEDs in my products
3) What you describe as an elaborate case is actually a very simple but highly effective case - 5mm milled aluminium, copper-lined, engineered here in England to extremely tight tolerances etc... and the case plays an important role in the performance as audiophile network switches are 100% about noise reduction.