Linear Power Supplies...much difference between them?

[spiritofmusic]

Planning a little spend for early 2021. I've just installed a SOTA tt motor/speed controller to replace my stock motor, and it's fast becoming a massive boost to my LP enjoyment.

It runs on a crappy 24V DC wall wart SMPS, and I know from personal experience how much my stock motor, and Soundsmith Straingauge cart energiser benefitted from LPS upgrades.

I managed to secure my previous LPSs at beta testing prices, a new one from the same source would be quite a bit pricier than alternatives from Farad, SBooster, Plixir, Paul Hynes, Longdog Audio/MRCU etc, so decisions to be made.

My current LPSs apparently utilise medical grade R-core transformers, and massive oversized chokes, plus other high quality gubbins.

So, a few Qs...
First, do these brands all sound different, or do they converge more than they diverge?
Is the quality/choice of components used very different, designs very different?
Can anything justify price of LPS multiples more than the competition?

Answers to any other Qs that I haven't posed would be great as well

 

[Vienna]

I am in the position to assure you that a quality power supply for the tt’s motor is making a dramatic improvement.
It was hard for me to understand the reason but I heard the improvement the moment that I replaced Phoenix Engineering‘s supplied switching power supply with the Keces P8, the moment that I replaced Brinkmann’s power supply with RONT and these days experimenting with Derenville motor.
Always (at my case) the linear power supply proved to be a major sound upgrade.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Oh Vienna, no argument from me. I'm curious as if the range of LPSs in the industry sound very different from each other. The LPS that I had been using on my stock tt motor is 3x cost of Farad or Keces. The pitch is utilising special transformer and oversize chokes...and it sounds very special on that motor and Straingauge.

The Q is whether the more commercially available, and cheaper, Farad Kecces Plixir SBooster PHynes etc, are a level down.

 

[Vienna]

By ‘level down’ do you refer to their price or to their sound quality? if you are referring to the price level, then I would tell you that the power supplies that you have been using were three times more expensive but your SOTA and stock motor are three levels down comparing to Brinkmann and Derenville.

So a good LPS must be combined with a quality motor to make sense

 

[spiritofmusic]

Vienna, that's very true. Unless I go Derenville, the SOTA motor is my likely final destination. Since I can't audition these LPSs, but know how good my current custom order LPS is on my Straingauge energiser, I'm just trying to view the lay of the land.

Most LPSs are in the £500-700 range, plus cost of DC cbl. Incl your Keces P8 and Farad.
A couple are £1200-1500 plus DC cbl.
My custom order one is £2500 incl DC cbl

 

[Lagonda]

Vienna, that's very true. Unless I go Derenville, the SOTA motor is my likely final destination. Since I can't audition these LPSs, but know how good my current custom order LPS is on my Straingauge energiser, I'm just trying to view the lay of the land.

Most LPSs are in the £500-700 range, plus cost of DC cbl. Incl your Keces P8 and Farad.
A couple are £1200-1500 plus DC cbl.
My custom order one is £2500 incl DC cbl

Marc maybe your old one can be reconfigured for use with your current setup ?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Not sure Milan, 21V versus 24V for the SOTA.

 

[Lagonda]

Not sure Milan, 21V versus 24V for the SOTA.

As you will probably never get around to selling the old one anyway , you should ask the manufacturer, it could be a inexpensive process off moving connection points on a transformer

 

[spiritofmusic]

Haha, the manufacturer is the guy pitching the new one to me. Beta price then, full price now.

 

[Lagonda]

Haha, the manufacturer is the guy pitching the new one to me. Beta price then, full price now.

If he is not willing to modify a specially made product for an existing customer, he is not worth dealing with anyway, that is just bad service. I'm assuming he is a little guy, not a major company.

 

[Lagonda]

By ‘level down’ do you refer to their price or to their sound quality? if you are referring to the price level, then I would tell you that the power supplies that you have been using were three times more expensive but your SOTA and stock motor are three levels down comparing to Brinkmann and Derenville.

So a good LPS must be combined with a quality motor to make sense

In all fairness Savvas, you never tried the SOTA motor on your Brinkmann !

 

[Kcin]

Not sure Milan, 21V versus 24V for the SOTA.

Most linear supplies use adjustable regulators or resistors to raise V+ above ground to meet an output requirement. I bet it could be adjusted to 24v as I bet the headroom of the transformer is there. FWIW.

 

[Direct Drive]

Most linear supplies use adjustable regulators or resistors to raise V+ above ground to meet an output requirement. I bet it could be adjusted to 24v as I bet the headroom of the transformer is there

Completely agree. 24v if well designed and built, should not be a problem. If it is not, stay away as it is bouncing at the top at 21v.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I can approach a couple of guys to help with this. Tbh these LPSs have worked a treat on my old motor and Straingauge energiser, seems pointless not to be able to adapt one for my new motor.

Despite that, I'm still intrigued if there is a major SQ difference between the half dozen or so LPSs that I could also choose from.

 

[Lagonda]

I can approach a couple of guys to help with this. Tbh these LPSs have worked a treat on my old motor and Straingauge energiser, seems pointless not to be able to adapt one for my new motor.

Despite that, I'm still intrigued if there is a major SQ difference between the half dozen or so LPSs that I could also choose from.

As usual you just insist on spending more money Marc, you are a true audiophile !

 

[spiritofmusic]

You've just found my epitaph. But don't choose my gravestone just yet. I have a little more spending left to do.

 

[microstrip]

(...)
Despite that, I'm still intrigued if there is a major SQ difference between the half dozen or so LPSs that I could also choose from.

Many people will tell you that if there are major SQ differences between LPSs power supplies it means the controller is poorly designed ...

 

[Lagonda]

Many people will tell you that if there are major SQ differences between LPSs power supplies it means the controller is poorly designed ...

As most controllers create the power used to drive the motor i have to agree. The improvement you are hearing is probably because the SMPS is not polluting your power line

 

[Vienna]

In all fairness Savvas, you never tried the SOTA motor on your Brinkmann !

This is true my friend. I tried hard with both SOTA and Bill to have a custom made pod (in terms of height) to fit to my BB but didn’t manage to get one. I could only get the production one, which was very tall in comparison.

 

[asindc]

I am in the position to assure you that a quality power supply for the tt’s motor is making a dramatic improvement.
It was hard for me to understand the reason but I heard the improvement the moment that I replaced Phoenix Engineering‘s supplied switching power supply with the Keces P8, the moment that I replaced Brinkmann’s power supply with RONT and these days experimenting with Derenville motor.
Always (at my case) the linear power supply proved to be a major sound upgrade.

What voltage and amp specs did you get for your Keces P8 that replaced the Phoenix power supply?