5v power adapter recommendation for DAC ?

[Contact]

Hello.
I am currently having some issues with my DAC, an iFi Zen DAC 3, while it is being powered by USB.
I am hearing some audible noise/clicks when I change the gain/volume via the units knob.

I am hoping to solve this with an external power adapter, and eliminating the power via USB to the DAC.

The DAC manufacturer iFi makes a low noise power supply adapter (5v 2.5a barrel plug) for this unit. (https://a.co/d/4PFmDzu)
The problem is the price.

Has anyone found power supply adapter (5v 2.5a, barrel plug) that works good enough?
My searches on Amazon have not come up with any good finds, and nothing labeled 'low noise'.
Is there another term in the audio world I can look for besides 'low noise'?

If you have any suggestions on a 5v power adapter, would you mind recommending some to me?

Thanks for the help.

 

[staticV3]

Has anyone found power supply adapter (5v 2.5a, barrel plug) that works good enough?

Apple 10W phone charger + USB to barrel plug cable.

Very clean power source, though unlikely to fix your issue TBH.

 

[Contact]

Apple 12W phone charger + USB to barrel plug cable.

Very clean power source, though unlikely to fix your issue TBH.

Would you elaborate as to why you say, "though unlikely to fix your issue TBH."?
Thank you for the reply btw.

 

[staticV3]

Would you elaborate as to why you say, "though unlikely to fix your issue TBH."?
Thank you for the reply btw.

I can't think of a mechanism by which powering a DAC via USB could cause audible noise/clicks when you change the gain/volume via the units knob.

Those seem unrelated.

 

[Contact]

I can't think of a mechanism by which powering a DAC via USB could cause audible noise/clicks when you change the gain/volume via the units knob.

Those seem unrelated.

ok. Would mind theorizing as to what would cause such an issue?
This clicking has been reported by other users, or so I have found online.
Some claimed a firmware issue, others claimed a separate power adapter was needed.
iFi themselves states an external power adapter is needed for "best performance". Not sure how true this is.
From the iFi Zen DAC 3 manual:

8 / 11
Tip: For optimal performance, it is recommended to upgrade from being powered by USB-C to being powered
by an ultra-low noise power adapter such as the iFi iPower 2 5V or iPower X 5V

I can confirm the issue occurs across multiple computers, so it's not a specific computer's port issue.

By the way, thank you very much for the Apple 10w charger tip. That's a great idea.

 

[staticV3]

Would mind theorizing as to what would cause such an issue?

In case of digital volume control, I'd suspect a lack of volume ramping/fading.

In case of analog volume control, I'd suspect a faulty or worn out potentiometer.

I can confirm the issue occurs across multiple computers, so it's not a specific computer's port issue.

Which further discredits USB power as the possible cause.

I think the most cost-effective way to troubleshoot this would be to buy a USB to barrel plug cable, then power the DAC from one of the USB-A phone chargers that you have at home.

If the issue is still there, then no amount of dough spent on fancy power supplies will fix this.

 

[Contact]

I think the most cost-effective way to troubleshoot this would be to buy a USB to barrel plug cable, then power the DAC from one of the USB-A phone chargers that you have at home.

If the issue is still there, then no amount of dough spent on fancy power supplies will fix this.

Copy that. I will try your suggestion. For what it is worth, I had a feeling that a ~$100 power adapter was a bit overpriced for this specific application.

In case of digital volume control, I'd suspect a lack of volume ramping/fading.

I did some research on volume ramping and found this:

https://www.qnx.com/developers/docs/7.1/#com.qnx.doc.neutrino.audio/topic/audio_ramp.html

This looks to be the exact issue I am facing.

Thank you so much for your input. Very much appreciated.

 

[Contact]

In case of digital volume control, I'd suspect a lack of volume ramping/fading.

In case of analog volume control, I'd suspect a faulty or worn out potentiometer.


Which further discredits USB power as the possible cause.

I think the most cost-effective way to troubleshoot this would be to buy a USB to barrel plug cable, then power the DAC from one of the USB-A phone chargers that you have at home.

If the issue is still there, then no amount of dough spent on fancy power supplies will fix this.

I just wanted to say thank you.
I dug out an old 10w Apple branded power supply from years past and ordered a USB to barrel plug cable from Amazon for $7.
I even tested the stability of the power coming out of the Apple branded usb brick with a USB voltage tester to make sure the USB brick wasn't malfunctioning and was able to provide the needed stable power while not overloading the DAC.
And I found the noise I noticed emanating from the speakers while changing volume was unchanged .

Thank you for being mindful enough to do that is a cost-effective way.
It's nice to not be taken for a fool.
In a world full of 'snake oil' sometimes we just need more practical, commonsensical, level headed approaches to issues like this.


Thanks again.