Linear vs. switching power supplies

When it comes to the powering of computer audio equipment, is a SMPS alright or is it better to upgrade to a linear power supply?

[graxjpg]

I love to watch Mr. Carlson’s Lab, he has a knack for not only repairing old equipment (not just audio), but he usually redesigns the thing to be indestructible LOL. People call this change the Carlson effect.

[AnalogueGround]

Switched mode power supplies are not inherently bad, in fact they are capable of delivering more stable and noiseless power than linear supplies. They are small because they are much more efficient than linear supplies. That being said, it’s easy to cut corners when designing SMPSs, especially to save money. Skipping on conformity can result in noise getting back through the mains supply which is a bigger problem than noise on the output side. Generally the switching speed is an order of magnitude above the audio spectrum although slower switching speeds are often used. There is a good case for using Apple computers in a high end audio system as Apple don’t scrimp on their power supply designs, even their phone chargers are ‘quiet’ and that’s why they cost much more than a cheap knock-off charger. The public don’t care though and Apple get accused of over pricing. A lot of design goes into a good power supply and several PS Audio products use ICE power amp modules that have integral switched mode power supplies and these are really well designed. You get what you pay for!

[dajikbatarang]

Raspberry Pi with a Hat board can sound excellent, a good power supply will help. I have no idea what would make you think it sounds worse than Bluetooth.

[joshua]

Medical grade SMPS's from reputable manufacturers can be had a good prices. Certainly far cheaper than "audiophile" ones. They will go a very long way to getting rid of noise problems.
I had an issue with the walwart that came with my Chromecast polluting my audio. Replaced it with a $12.00 unit from Mouser and the problem vanished. In fact, the cheap unit from Mouser is better than my $50.00 iPower unit that turned out to be a total disappointment.

[hudo]

Weird. So many people using RPi HATs with great success, and Paul says it sound worse than bluetooth!? Internet is full of reviews...
I am using Pi2AES HAT on Raspberry Pi, which comes with switching PSU (looks decent brick), and that thing sounds much better than any PC, and think I would have to spend more than 1000$ for dedicated hifi streamer to get maybe a little bit better sound.
So people, try it yourself before blindly believing what someone says on YT.

[zachariahadams]

When's the last time someone called a system "IBM compatible"?

[williemckinney]

Garden looks great Paul! You are truly blessed and thanks for blessing us with your videos, I've learned so much thanks to you over the years. The best to you and yours!

[GD-uvlc]

All the audio companies are scared of rasberry pi. It rivals anything even close in price when done right. My set up: linear 5v psu for the pi (version 3b). Separate linear 3v supply for the Ian Canada hat isolator/reclocker board. Upgraded clocks on the reclocker. Then via i2s (avoid inbuilt pi spdif output) to Nos Dac that is also separately fed with 12v linear dc. You can build such a setup all in one box for under well under 2k (up to you how much to spend on psus :)). Your system will beat Paul's hands down for a fraction of the price... Get yourself educated and don't only listen to people who have a business bias...

[kdbmeb]

Pure Rubbish ! - The Bias of this is spectacular! There is so much wrong with this video. Use it to fertilize your tomatoes. --

[AntonioPenja]

I’ve seen alot of the videos but this one was one the best of allready good videos

[CinematicTouchProductions]

Hello Paul, I came across your video obviously because I am trying to decide on whether I should go one way or the other with linear or switching, and I have to tell you I just love your very subtle sense of humor, the " I haven't even had my first beer" LOL your a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for making my day!

[allansh]

I just bought my first dedicated stream instead plug in directly into my computer. The improvement in sound quality is so huge. I've been thinking, upgrading a $1000 DAC to $2000 one might not be as cost-effective as adding a $1000 streamer.

[marcseen]

The best sound I've ever heard came from the PC! Lossless files and the PC connected via USB to a high quality external DAC! Superb! 👍

[johnnytoobad]

If you do DIY audio, like I do, linear PSU's are much easier to build and service. No hf noise just lf noise.

[highcurrent]

I've been using, for many years, a California Audio Labs amp with a switching power supply. Very quiet amp and a brute in terms of power. Absolutely a steal on the used market. Keeping it alive is another matter...

[voodooaudio]

It's easy to see thru his anti-Raspberry Pi propaganda. It's very clear to me he doesn't even know what it is.

[ThinkingBetter]

I suspect there is some confusion about the wide-band often audible digital noise that a PC motherboard can induce into a USB powered DAC and what the PC switch mode power supply itself does. What matters is that your DAC is powered through a low noise power supply separate from your computer (don't use the USB cable from your PC to power your DAC) and that you keep your gear grounded avoiding common mode current noise through the USB cable or other interconnect cables. Besides, modern switch mode power supplies are usually with low ripple noise and at a frequency that is outside what you can hear. If you have an oscilloscope, you can obviously measure how bad it is and also add filter components (inductors and capacitors) to reduce it. And if I had to choose between switch mode power supply ripple noise or linear power supply ripple noise at similar level, typically I would prefer the switch mode power supply noise, as it wouldn't be audible.

[paulapplewhite]

A lot of the cheap-and-nasty switched-mode power supplies use feedback across the isolation gap. If you're going down the switched-mode road, I think it's good to also look at the quoted "ground leakage current". 10-20 micro-amps, not too bad. 100-200 micro-amps plus, not so good!

[Antoon]

He said Umbuntu not Windows :) BTW I send my music via Ethernet and de-galvanize by converting to optical and back just before the steamer. Works fine. I use a linear power supply for my streamer and the last ethernet switch (converter).

[WELLINGTON]

I’m a linear ac adaptor breaker and switchmode entrepeneur. I’m glad that iron cores is still going steady.