Super3 - a supercapacitor LPS, by Farad Power Supplies

jasond

Active Member
Aug 18, 2022
124
77
33
46
Check the reviews on Farad's website. My memory is foggy but I recall one that looked at both the Farad and another from Keces.
Well I guess on the Farad website they publish what’s in favour of them ;-)
I guess the Super3 is better than the P8 but others have mentioned the P8 is emphasizing mids a bit more. Apart from that there is an excellent overview of leading LPS at https://audiobacon.net/2021/08/06/the-worlds-best-audiophile-linear-power-supplies/
(Unfortunately missing iFi iPower Elite and Keces P8)
 
  • Like
Reactions: christoph

kennyb123

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2012
856
796
1,155
Kirkland, WA
  • Like
Reactions: MarkusBarkus

jasond

Active Member
Aug 18, 2022
124
77
33
46
I was just skimming that again. I have owned as many as three Super3s though I'm now down to one. I thought each of them delivered a big bang for the buck. I have no doubt there is better but if I had to do it over again I would still go with a Super3.
Why are you down to one in the meantime?
 

kennyb123

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2012
856
796
1,155
Kirkland, WA

jasond

Active Member
Aug 18, 2022
124
77
33
46
Seems the Super3 with Purple fuse and Furutech inlet really needs some burnin time.
When did you reach a stable / best performance ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocoa

Rocoa

Well-Known Member
Oct 17, 2018
118
88
115
Spain
has anyone compared the Super3 to the iFi iPower Elite or Keces P8?
I have many power supplies and with the Farad Super 3 the sound is more rounded.
On the other hand the sound of iFi Power Elite is more exciting, faster if possible.
Both are good options. Perhaps the iFi is more appropriate for digital devices like the router.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jasond

kennyb123

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2012
856
796
1,155
Kirkland, WA
On the other hand the sound of iFi Power Elite is more exciting, faster if possible.
Both are good options. Perhaps the iFi is more appropriate for digital devices like the router.

For digital gear, the most important power supply consideration is low impedance. The lower the impedance, the better the supply will do at meeting instantaneous current demands. Noise is generated inside the component when those demands cannot be met.

What I look for when assessing a power supply is some mention by the manufacturer of regulation or of low impedance. Farad mentions this as do all the better audiophile power supply manufacturers.

Some manufacturers aim instead for low noise. The more affordable power supplies like the Sbooster supplies is an example. It looks like this iFi Power Elite is another. These can be and usually are a clear step up from an SMPS. That’s usually exactly what they are aiming for. I’m dubious though that these can be competitive with power supplies that aim to be both low in noise and low impedance. But as I have no experience with this power supply, it wouldn’t be right for me to render judgement. It does look like a good option for routers as they don’t really put up demands for instantaneous current. As such I appreciate you mentioning it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: thomask

jasond

Active Member
Aug 18, 2022
124
77
33
46
But as I have no experience with this power supply, it wouldn’t be right for me to render judgement. It does look like a good option for routers as they don’t really put up demands for instantaneous current. As such I appreciate you mentioning it.
It would be very interesting if you could get your hand on one of these and compare.
I had the same listening impression as @Rocoa when using it on a streamer.
 

Superdad

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2015
92
146
263
It looks like this iFi Power Elite is another. These can be and usually are a clear step up from an SMPS.

Hi Ken:
I agree with everything else you wrote, but to be clear, all the iFi Audio iPower models (including the Elite) are SMPS units.
[With attendant significant leakage (that’s common-mode AC passed onto the DC cable connections), owing to the required ‘Y’ capacitor directly across the transformer—from primary to secondary.]
 

kennyb123

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2012
856
796
1,155
Kirkland, WA
I agree with everything else you wrote, but to be clear, all the iFi Audio iPower models (including the Elite) are SMPS units.
That’s an important clarification. Thanks for that. I was at a loss to understand how it could sound “more exciting, faster if possible”, but that could explain it.
 

_Alchemist_

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2020
144
76
93
Anyone experimented with different power cords on the farad?
What are your guys using and happy with?
 

jasond

Active Member
Aug 18, 2022
124
77
33
46
I tried a lot and can recommend the Audioquest NRG-Z3, if you would like to step it up the Monsoon is really amazing. That's what I use. Though I even use one Audioquest Dragon for Super3 on the streamer - that it quite freaky :-D
 

Rocoa

Well-Known Member
Oct 17, 2018
118
88
115
Spain
I’m using Furutech DPS 4.1 with FI-50 NCF plugs.
Very happy with the performance.
 

kennyb123

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2012
856
796
1,155
Kirkland, WA
Anyone experimented with different power cords on the farad?
What are your guys using and happy with?
I tried 3 different cords with the Farad that had been powering my TT2. There were clear improvements at each step.

1. Shunyata Venom V12NR
2. Shunyata Alpha NC
3. Shunyata Delta v2 NR

For my Farads that power digital devices (no analog stage), my favorite is the Shunyata V14 NR.
 
  • Like
Reactions: _Alchemist_

_Alchemist_

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2020
144
76
93
I ordered Furutech DPS 4.1 with FI-50 NCF plugs since I was quite impressed with the result on my dac.
@taww also reported good results with his LPSU for the Nucleus

It's double the price of the farad...
Like we say in french, la sauce est plus chère que le gigot...meaning the sauce is more expensive than the meat :D
 
  • Haha
Reactions: taww and TooCool4

thomask

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2018
1,604
1,508
275
64
Washington State, US

I had great results of Dave with Farad 3 LPS.

Dave without Farad Lps never sound this fast and dynamic.

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jasond

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing