GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Didital Things
In the Thread: Digi Redux; Drive 1 transport and iDAT-44+ DAC

Post Subject: Battery Power; Now More Than EverPosted by Paul S on: 2/24/2013

I touched on local electricity problems in a recent electricity post. Briefly, the local nuclear plant has been shut down by concerned politicians after "leaks" were detected. Setting aside mutated flora and fauna, sound has been worse more of the time since the shutdown.

Meanwhile, since I recently sent my only working phono cartridge to be refurbished by Ortofon DK, and there is no FM here to speak of, I am stuck with CDs. I generally warm up the iDAT DAC off a wall wart, then switch to battery for attentive listening. Lately, the difference in sound between battery and wall wart is HUGE! In fact, I can't stay in the room with wall power! Sadly, there are times when it sounds as though the system never warms up. Other times, all is well with a battery powering the iDAT, although just switching the iDAT back to wall power immediately ruins everything.

Again, although this iDAT 44+ now runs Class A, and it is fully balanced, it is a physically "whimpy" little unit (maybe 3.5 lbs, mostly the case...), with a small board and small parts, all matched to expectations for gain and 2V output, and it very likely "asks little" from a power source. Obviously, in this case, a big--ish 12V battery provides ample power for this unit. But YMMV with battery power for other applications. In fact, I suspect that most "high end" DACs with "overbuilt" PS might not be suited to battery power. Likewise, other components, in general. Compared to the iDAT 44+, my Drive 1 CD transport is gigantic (something like 35 lbs...)! I have not yet run the numbers, but with all those big caps - not to mention a motor - I doubt it would "work" to run this transport with a battery.

Paul S

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