Best affordable Linear Power Stage

@toneranger58 

“So received my LHY LPS for the uDDC. As advertised it’s like putting the uDDC on steroids, great product and result. I ordered this from Alvin at Vinshine Audio, this one is specifically noted on the site to be the preferred LPS for the LAIV uDDC unit.

Very pleased and only took about 5 days to get here. For anyone with a LAIV uDDC I would highly recommend giving it a try.”

I also just got the LHY LPS in and on positive phase it really rolls off the edges. Definitely sounds warmer but lots of detail lost and bass sounds hollow and weak.

On negative phase it doesn’t sound cloudy and it sounds marginally more refined. A bit lower noise floor and edges softened without losing too much detail compared to the included switching PS.

When you say it’s like it’s on steroids, what do you hear? Also, how do you have it setup? There were two cords and two outlets.

@sizzitrail84 what I’m hearing is as follows:

very big sounstage, wider; deeper and more depth.

sounds develop from a black background, fills out with weight and decays back into the background. 
 

every instrument is placed in the soundstage with great space around it and separation from the other instruments. Warmer top end with plenty of air, full accurate midrange and tight focused bottom end with punch.

it just sounds so right. I’m sure it has a lot to do with my system. 
 

System: from router, SmoothLAN into Innuos MK 3, to uDDC with LHY LPS,I2s out to Denafrips Terminator 2 12, balanced XLR via Nordost Valhalla cables to Sim Audio 700i to Focal Sopra 2’s. I feel there’s a lot of synergy with the system and the end result gives a great presentation as noted above. I’m only using one chord and out on the LHY LPS. Hope this gives a good description of what I’m hearing. I was getting a lot of this before the addition of the LPS but it kicked things up for me a major step with the addition of the LPS on the uDDC.

I have a couple of the Allo Shanti 5V LPS. Well built and reasonably priced. Chicago Electric used to sell them, but since their merger with the PiShop they no longer carry it. Audiophonics.fr has them, but I'd guess there are now tariff issues that might come into play...

Does this link not work?

@toneranger58 

Got it. Thanks. I hear some of that but not to the level you are apparently. My system is resolving and I heard a lower noise floor, more definition around the instruments, less glare on the high end, but all the other factors were about the same. Definite improvement but limited. Maybe the uDDC improves the Denafrips more than the LAiV. Anyway thanks for the info.

Magnetar UDP800 (SACD) and Denon DCD-SA1 (CD)

(Magnetar via HDMI out to HDMI > I2S and Denon coax)

LAiV uDDC

(I2S via HDMI)

LAiV DAC

(RCA)

Anthem AVM60

(Transparent Plus RCA)

SimAudio Moon 760A

(Transparent Plus)

Wilson SabrinaX + REL S/812 x 2

@hdm I purchased an r-core power supply and a silver plated dc supply cable in the teeth of the current trade environment.  If they arrive, I will report.

kn