This is a strange hobby, and the hobbyists are a strange breed.
Some folks are content to listen to their music collection and not worry themselves if a power cord or a PSU will make an improvement to what they have.
They are the ultimate music lovers,while some of us, myself included,fuss over the smallest of details trying to squeeze that last drop of performance out of our systems.
Such types are mostly frowned upon,their enthusiasm about superior performance when changing one type of wire for another is met with more than a bit of scepticism.
"Don't such people know that if two wires measure identical they should sound the same not different?"
"The only difference between a stock fuse and an upgraded fuse is the cost.Soundwise there should be no difference."
On and on it goes.
The endless "I heard it" and the response"no, it just can't be".
Some of us have heard the improvements the TeraDak makes over an off the shelf wallwart, which as stated by someonelse, probably is a SMP device,the linear ones seem to be harder to find.
Battery power would appear to be, in theory ,to be the ideal.I once owned a Sutherland PHD battery power phono stage, my friend has a Nighthawk battery power phono stage.
Yes, getting off the grid does have it's benefits,but battery power isn't the magic bullet, ticket, to sonic nirvana.
It takes more than a battery power supply to bulid a good anything.
Not trying to disparage any of the above products, or anyone's based on battery power, but there is a lot to be said about how those batteries are implimented into the design and how good the design of the product is in the first place.
Running a device that is well made, and designed with top components will trump an inferior design with cheap off the shelf parts.
Because both are battery powered, doesn't mean they will be on the same playing field, and sound the same.
I would think that there are the same quality variations between such battery power supplies as there are with anythingelse.Some better than others.
Or you may feel that they should all sound the same.
The PHD doesn't sound like the Nighthawk,or my Steelhead, nor should it.
Yet the non battery powered unit with tubes,doesn't send any kind of hiss or residual noise thru my system, so it's as dead quiet as the battery unit was.
If that was the only thing to consider, then you could say that there is no difference between battery power and grid power.Or that it makes no sense to spend any extra money if the Nighthawk is as quiet as the PHD.
A SMP is said to be noisier, inferior to a linear unit, and the linear unit is said to be the equal of a good battery supply.
The LSA demands such little juice that how one can hear any differences at all between any of the devices is hard to believe.The power supply shouldn't really be of importance, just as long as it meets the specs.
Less would be bad, but more is overkill.
I'm not sold that it's the noise from a SMP supply that was robbing me from all the dynamics that I now enjoy.
The system sounds as noise free as before.
Just like the Steelhead is a noise free as the PHD was.
There are other things to be considered,not just noise cancellations.
I'm just a listener,not a techie.
But I'm not suffering from tunnel vision either or am I the slave to measuring devices.
And yet here we are discussing those very differences and merits between a cheap wallwart or a bit more expensive PSU being used with an entry level priced volume control.
Chump change to the those who play in the big leagues and ponder if another ten grand on interconects over and above the ten already spent,would have made the difference they were looking for.
I have no idea what the cost is for a decent battery power supply for the LSA, and what the lifespan/cost is to keep one running at it's optimum.Or if it gradually powers down or abruptly shuts down.
So I would think that if a linear supply sounds close, then that would be the one to go for.
I have no ideas why the TeraDak performs so well in my system.
Granted it's getting more support from what it's plugged into than most other LSA in use.
But that's getting back to the top of my rant.
The LSA is not priced as a High End performer,so the systems it maybe used in, perhaps reflect the cost constraints of the owner.In other words,it's cheap, but in cost only.But it's cheap, why throw any money at it?
I think if the thrifty music lovers, (who are always looking to cut corners to free up more cash for music software),and buy the LSA, will most likely partner it with gear in the same price spectrum.
And for those folks,expensive power cords and power supplies are unjustified for musical satisfaction.
So in essence, they are selling the LSA short from my perspective.
And in my opinion,so are the folks who own the LSA and power it with a SMP wallwart into a power bar.
From my recent experience it deserves to be treated with the same regard for power demand as any of the mega buck high end components, and will benefit just as much.Eventhough it only requires a minimum amount of power to work, don't take it for granted that it can not be made to work even better.
It's power demands are few but don't hold that against it.
Given a better power supply, the LSA is an even better giant killer.
