RIP my SMSL Sanskrit III ...

[Mark S.]

I would blame your power supply

I wouldn't. It still works perfectly, now powering a headphone amp just fine. If anything I'm impressed that it withstood apparently being close to shorted by the Sanskrit.

 

[antcollinet]

I didn't actually have any problems with it powered only by the PC's USB.

I'm with @Jimi Floyd Are you very sure your meanwell PSU hasn't killed it? - Eg from power on transients? Or out of tolerance input voltage? Or transient voltage spikes that are not showing up on a DC voltage measurement?

I would be checking it with an oscilloscope before connecting it to your headphone amp.

 

[Mark S.]

I'm with @Jimi Floyd Are you very sure your meanwell PSU hasn't killed it? - Eg from power on transients? Or out of tolerance input voltage? Or transient voltage spikes that are not showing up on a DC voltage measurement?

I would be checking it with an oscilloscope before connecting it to your headphone amp.

It's a 'medical grade' SMPS, specs are exceptional in every way. Voltage is dead on (unsurprisingly). It's been powering the headphone amp 24/7 for a couple of weeks. For the first couple of months the Sanskrit was powered by an Anker 2-port 2.4 A USB charger/supply (which also still works fine).