El D, there's no question that $100 (really $131 delivered for the Elpac + mod) is not a small amount when compared to the price of the SB3 itself and perhaps by itself as well. It depends on what your audio budget is. My feeling is that I want to keep the SB3 for a while, and also that it's worth having the best source I can afford right now. I didn't consider more expensive mods to the SB3 or an expensive, custom PSU for it, both of which are available and which have good reputations. I did make this modded PSU expenditure with some degree of risk, however for me it paid off.
The sound is noticeably better than with the stock PSU. I have not conducted blind testing, but I tried the stock PSU again a couple days ago, and didn't like the sound nearly as much as with my new PSU. It's more natural sounding, which if forced to I might describe as being clearer, with better instrument separation and timbre. I have a relatively modest but fairly revealing system: SB3, digital out to Ack Dack 2.0 non-oversampling battery-powered DAC with ultra-resolution option, Onix SB3 35 watt tube amp, Onix Reference 1 monitor speakers, 12 gauge solid core copper speaker cable. My amp is plugged into the wall. The only power conditioning are two Powervar isolation transformers, an 11 amp and a 4 amp, piggy-backed. The SB3's PSU is plugged into the 4 amp. Hope this helps - feel free to ask any follow-up questions. :) -- JohnnyLightOn ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JohnnyLightOn's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=28 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=29058 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
