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2x 5V Battery Pack/Linear PS: recommendations pls

McGillroy

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May 11, 2022
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It's my birthday and I'm ready to spend some money on silly things!

Case in question: Abacus Aroio DAC-HAT which allows to feed the analog and digital sections separately with 5V. Currently the DAC-HAT is receiving power from the Raspberry 3. See "documentation" here (PDF!).

Very happy with the DAC-HAT so far but would like to make use of the option of powering it separately. Looking for recommendations for suitable power-packs with dual 5V outs, ideally with switchable passthrough in case the batteries are drained.

Alternatively I'm open for suggestion for linear PS. Looked at the Topping P50 but seems not too great.

Budget around €100.-.

Thx!
 
What specific issue are you trying to fix?

If there is none, then I highly suggest spending that money on something actually useful, like a UMIK-1.

A linear power supply will not increase sound quality.
 
Most of the power packs (if not all) run on 3.6V internally (or 3.2V depending on the used battery type) and thus have internal DC/DC converters to boost the varying internal battery voltage up to 5V. Regardless of the battery voltage state up to the point where they should not be depleted further for longevity reasons.
These may not offer the 'cleanest' power and can have HF garbage on the outputs as most USB devices don't really care about 'clean' 5V.

This is something to consider when going this way ... (if a 'clean' 5V is the goal).
Also the 2x 5V USB out versions mostly have the 'ground' internally connected, so when the goal is to separate the power you would best use 2 power banks... for the good that would do....
 
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One can only hope it doesn't measure anything like this;


JSmith
 
It's my birthday and I'm ready to spend some money on silly things!

Case in question: Abacus Aroio DAC-HAT which allows to feed the analog and digital sections separately with 5V. Currently the DAC-HAT is receiving power from the Raspberry 3. See "documentation" here (PDF!).

Very happy with the DAC-HAT so far but would like to make use of the option of powering it separately. Looking for recommendations for suitable power-packs with dual 5V outs, ideally with switchable passthrough in case the batteries are drained.

Alternatively I'm open for suggestion for linear PS. Looked at the Topping P50 but seems not too great.

Budget around €100.-.

Thx!
Since you are in the mood for spending:
 
What specific issue are you trying to fix?

If there is none, then I highly suggest spending that money on something actually useful, like a UMIK-1.

A linear power supply will not increase sound quality.

I'm not trying to fix an issue, I'm trying to spend money.

So please direct suggestions not to spend money elsewhere. Suggestions for suitable kit like above welcome.
 
One can only hope it doesn't measure anything like this;


JSmith

I'd appreciate if somebody measures the Aroio DAC-HAT. It's ca $80.- and the company Abacus generally is known as a no-nonsense and no snake-oil outfit within the German audio sphere. Sounds pretty decent to my ears but it's running on a relatively low-end system in my office space and good enough for that.
 
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Since you are in the mood for spending:
Received one of these today. Blacker blacks, the deepest dark satin I swear.

Jokes aside: it's a pretty sturdy device, so far plugged only the Raspberry and didn't split up the DAC to be powered separately yet. Have to solder cables first. Will report but I like to have a proper button to push now.
 
It's my birthday and I'm ready to spend some money on silly things!

Case in question: Abacus Aroio DAC-HAT which allows to feed the analog and digital sections separately with 5V. Currently the DAC-HAT is receiving power from the Raspberry 3. See "documentation" here (PDF!).

Very happy with the DAC-HAT so far but would like to make use of the option of powering it separately. Looking for recommendations for suitable power-packs with dual 5V outs, ideally with switchable passthrough in case the batteries are drained.

Alternatively I'm open for suggestion for linear PS. Looked at the Topping P50 but seems not too great.

Budget around €100.-.

Thx!
Good idea. But 5 Volt for a circuit is anyway too low for a good dynamic amplifier with good headroom. Buy a better DAC.
 
Got a RME BFP Pro FS in my other system. For the office space with a pair of old Mission 761s fed by a Crimson 620D and listening levels rarely exceding 70dB that Rapsberry-DAC seem to suffice so far.
 
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