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External Power Supply for Octave V70SE: What Improvements to Expect?

Hi everyone,

I’m new to the forum, but I’ve been a hifi-enthusiast for a while now and have read lots of great advice on the forum before having joined. I hope people can help me out with this.

I have an Octave V70SE and I’m considering (eventually) getting the Black Box external PSU capacitance supplement for it. I’m curious whether anyone who’s had this combination could testify as to the benefits added by the Black Box. More generally, I’m wondering what benefits an external PSU adds to the sound of an integrated tube amplifier. Does it affect the sound more drastically than, say, an external PSU for a turntable?

Thank you for your time and your help.
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8 responses Add your response
audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
316 posts
 
@undefined 
Great amp, congratulations!  I have recently purchased the V70 Class A with the SBB. Before that demoing the V40se with the BB.
Depending on your speakers and sensitivity you will hear dramatic differences in low frequency control and overall dynamics. If your speakers are difficult to drive then yes a noticeable improvement.
Either way you still have a stunning amp!
Happy Listening!
rshad0000
265 posts
 
I have focal scala evos and found the addition of the SBB to my V80SE to be a dramatic improvement.   Bass of course was better but the soundstage and imaging improved the most. Great addition if you have the $s.


undefined OP
33 posts
 
@audiosaurusrex:

Thank you! I love this amp very much. The midrange is perfect for my ears. The V70SE is driving a pair of Harbeth P3esrXDs—I’m not sure whether those count as “sensitive” or not relative to other speakers. Their sensitivity rating is 83dB and impedance is 6ohms. To my ears, the bass sounds very controlled as is.
Do external power supplies or external supplements to internal PSUs make more of a difference with more sensitive speakers?

@rshad0000
Yeah, I’d like to upgrade but ~$1750 seems a bit steep, so I want to understand more about how such upgrades work to affect the sound quality before I pull the trigger. 
audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
316 posts
 
@undefined 
I would say the BB and SBB would make more of a difference with less sensitive speakers as yours are. My speakers are 92db and I got the SBB to drive the 15” woofers of my Spatial M3 Sapphires. Yours rated at 83db would surely benefit from the additional PSU IMO. I would reach out to Andreas from Octave who is extremely helpful and will not try to over sell you.
How loud do you usually listen? 
undefined OP
33 posts
 
@audiosaurusrex:

I usually listen at low to medium levels during the week. I live in the city so I have to be conscientious of my neighbors. On weekends, I’ll sometimes listen fairly loud. 
audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
316 posts
 
@undefined
Tough to say whether the cost justifies the result. My initial thought would be yes, another factor is the size of your room and listening environment. But you’re right $1700 for that upgrade might or might not be worth it. Would your dealer be able to let you demo one? I had a great experience with my dealer in Massachusetts.
undefined OP
33 posts
 
@audiosaurusrex:

My room is quite small--about 9x10. The listening environment is as good as it could be given the city noise. 

I have three dealers I regularly go to, only one of which carries Octave. Unfortunately, that dealer is quite far outside of the city so I don't demo there. I may be able to ask them to send a loaner my way. Or I suppose I could find a used or open-box Black Box to get at a reduced price. Let me know if you come across one!
undefined OP
33 posts
 

Sorry to revive this post, but I finally found an Octave Black Box for sale and want to get some insight before I purchase it. 

My Octave v70se is running P3ESR-XDs which have an impedance of 6 ohms (which Harbeth says is easy to drive), though they have a lower sensitivity of 83/dB. I'm unclear as to whether the Black Box is meant primarily to make the v70se compatible with driving lower impedance speakers (2 ohm), or if it is meant also to improve the sound quality and power of higher impedance speakers with low sensitivity (like mine). Could someone help me out here? $1000 is quite a bit of scratch for me at the moment, so I wonder whether it is worth it?

 

Thanks.

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