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Well I did It! I managed to damage my phono pre-am (sigh)

So, I managed to damage my SimAudio Moon 110lp v2!

I am embarrassed to even be posting all this but whatever, perhaps someone could learn from my mistakes.

Recently I had made a post asking for feedback on Tube Phono Stages as I have been pondering about upgrading.

But I also wanted to see if I could perhaps squeeze out more performance out of the SimAudio and hence I also inquire about SUT's and what they can do.

One other aspect that I thought may improve the performance was getting a LPS.

So, I purchased the Ifi LPS as I had read good reviews of it (that unit is fine by that way). 

My SimAudio is 24vdc and I bought the Ifi 24v 2.5amp, thinking that would be the correct LPS.

It was delivered and I unplugged everything from the SimAudio.

The Ifi comes with different plug adapters but the default plug, plugged right in and I thought great, I won't have to use the adapters.

Plugged everything in and the SimAudio blue light came on but no sound!

Pugged the SimAudio back to its power adapter and all sounded fine.

Then I though, well maybe I do need to use one of the adapters and tried the correct one and same result, no sound. 

Went back to the default plug and then the blue light was flashing on the Sim and just a few seconds later, a puff of white smoke!

Unplugged everything immediately but knew right away the Sim was done for.

No other damage, the Ifi is fine and I will be returning that.

But my little SimAudio is no more.

Damn! I really liked that unit and was going to keep that around for a 2ndary system.

I feel horrible. At least it's not a terribly expensive unit but I just feel like crap about the situation.

Now for sure, I am going to have to get a new Phono Stage.

I just don't understand what went wrong, power wise, I thought for sure I was getting the correct unit.

Well, I'm just ranting here and getting it out as only you guys will understand.

Thanks for listening.

Jay 

 

jay73
troidelover1499
258 posts
 

Don't feel bad as I think everyone who has been at this for a while has had their fair share of stupid and unlucky moments.  We just have to live and learn and not make the same mistakes twice haha.

dover
2,505 posts
 

 

@devinplombier 

If the device is asking 500 mA from a PSU that's rated for 50 A, only 500 mA will flow. In other words, there is no way a PSU can damage a device by supplying it with too much current,

In theory that is true, but there are several exceptions. Remember he is switching from an SMPS to LPS. The internal regulators may have specific requirements.

My suspicion would be inrush current. Linear supplies often have large filter capacitors, which can cause a high inrush current upon startup. This can trip protection circuits or damage components in a device designed for a lower-demand SMPS.

devinplombier
1,693 posts
 

Remember he is switching from an SMPS to LPS.

@dover 

That’s what he says, but Ifi only make SMPS. They do not make LPS as far as I can tell (and I asked AI, so you know it’s true! 😂).

Regardless, PSU topology matters little, and higher-than-designed inrush current is normally fine, and if not it usually only affects bridge rectifiers. Of which his phono stage has none since it's designed for 24 VDC supply.

You see that happen sometimes in restorations, when folks replace fifty year old filter caps with same size caps to preserve the original looks, except that a modern electrolytic is at least twice the capacitance of a 1970s one for the same size.

Chances are we’re looking at operator error here.

 

dhite71
463 posts
 

@jay73 

Sorry, man!  I can completely feel that sinking feeling you must have felt as the smoke slowly rose.  I have had components fail on their own where a puff of white smoke rose and even one time had a Parasound amp with flames coming off the board!  I wasn't familiar with your phonostage but a quick search shows it to be around $500, so don't beat yourself up too bad.  While this attempt for an upgrade may have scarred you, I disagree with some of the other posts to avoid 3rd party power supply upgrades.  I don't recall the brands but I did the outboard one for about $250 for my Bluesound Node and it made an improvement.  I also have the internal upgraded PS for my Auralic streamer which also made an improvement.  When I got started and was shopping in the sub $1000 category for a phonostage, I got a ProJect and was very happy.  The Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B sells new for $1100 and hifishark shows some recent sales for around $650.  That may be one to put in your saved searches there to get notified when one comes up used.  If you prefer buying new, Crutchfield has one right now open box for $1022.  They have a 60-day return policy and since it is already an open box, you could try it out and nothing to feel bad about sending it back if you aren't impressed.  Good luck finding your next phonostage!

emann50
28 posts
 

In the meantime, this could keep you listening 

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-box-x5-phono-preamp-review.59982/

 

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