I built a controller board and bypassed the regulation section – relying on the linear supply for regulation (it’s what it does, after all). This was a noticeable improvement – nothing earth shaking, but most definitely a step in the right direction.
Here’s the Good Part …
Lynn Olson dropped over with a considerably more ambitious linear supply he acquired for use with his DAC. Serendipitously, it uses the same DC connector and polarity.
This supply, in conjunction with the change on the controller board is the sort of change we’re all chasing after. It’s rare that I’m so enthusiastic about something, but this most definitely raises the bar set by the 2014 controller release and it is not a trivial change.
I’m struggling for “reviewer-speak” words to describe this and I can’t come up with any – save to say that there’s more musical engagement and what sounded like a setup error (or perhaps an unruly cartridge) disappeared when the new supply was in circuit.
The Masquerade
That’s where the title of this post comes from. Several problems in your analog playback chain can masquerade as a setup error or a sick cartridge.
In addition to speed errors, another overlooked problem is a phono stage with a slow slew rate – a circuit which can’t respond quickly to transients (measured in volts per microsecond). A slow phono stage can sound like a mistracking cartridge and trying to chase this down can drive an audiophile crazy.
What's In It For You:
All new Gavias and Stelvios will be equipped with this power supply and new circuit board configuration.
I'll be releasing a package for Galibier owners. I expect the price (including the mods to the board) to be less than half of the introductory pricing I released the controllers for in 2014.
I’ll have much more to say about this after receiving pricing information from the vendor – hopefully within 7-10 days. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date.