Linear Power Supplies

[Alaxleia]

My DAC and streamer are powered by a Keces 12v DC linear power supply, while my Rega TT-PSU is powered by a Swagman Labs 24v AC unit. Is there any reason to utilize upgraded power cables with these (Furutech plugs, DH Labs cable)? Isn't the linear power supply where all the magic happens?

 

[freemansteve]

The cables are mostly irrelevant.
You don't need a linear PSU these days either as SM has become so good.

I'd be surprised if many people would be able to tell in a blind test....

 

[Killingbeans]

Is there any reason to utilize upgraded power cables with these (Furutech plugs, DH Labs cable)?

No. There's no reason to utilize "audiophile" power cables in any situation whatsoever.

They are complete nonsense. Home audio is literally the only comparable field of electronics where claims about the necessity of special power cables are being made. Scientific equipment used to make groundbreaking discoveries by measuring ridiculously tiny signals, requiring mind blowingly good precision and noise rejection, does so using bog-standard power cables.

The whole industry of these cables is just an unscrupulous money grab, praying on people's wishful thinking.

Isn't the linear power supply where all the magic happens?

Linear power supplies aren't special. The "magic" happens in the audio gear itself. Post regulation, filtering and PSRR.

If your DAC or streamer are designed to perform audibly "transparent" when powered by an SMPS, you'll gain nothing from "upgrading" to a linear supply.

Of course you'll still might hear improvements, but that doesn't mean there actually are any. Our brains are very good at fabricating those kind of things. It has nothing to do with skills or intelligence. Just a part of being human.

EDIT: Boy, did I use a lot of quotation marks in this post! I feel like Dr. Evil