So I lied, the world’s best power supply today is actually the Paul Hynes SR7. However, for many, the SR4 will be the ultimate “obtainable” end game power supply. It’ll be a critical component that will remain in one’s system throughout the flux of this hobby. It’s only second to its bigger brothers – and is still in its own league versus the competition. Many other power supplies sound piecewise, more confined, flatter, and fuzzier around the edges. With the Paul Hynes designs, there’s an unquestionable “rightness” to its sound.
Now, in order to proclaim something to be “The Best” you have to have heard all of the top players in the game (difficult). Or, after long-term listening and comparisons, you have to be genuinely less curious about what else is out there. All I can say is…I haven’t heard everything, but I’m no longer curious.
To sum my thoughts on the SR4 in two words: Congealed Realism. If you find your system a bit stretched, flat, etched, diffused, and grainy…the SR4 may be the remedy you’re looking for.
The impact of an SR4 on the various components are so profound, it makes me wonder if it could “convert” a simple server or DAC into something far greater (and more economical). For example, the power supplies are the main reason why the Innuos Zenith Statement is so expensive (but sounds so great). I’ll definitely have to experiment more.
It’s really too bad most manufacturers don’t allow you to use your own power supplies. I understand it may not be practical or economical, but I personally would pay to have the option of a DC input. There are many enthusiasts who have started to power their Chord Electronics Qutest DACs and Intel NUCs with the SR4 – resulting in very surprising gains.
When you hear the SR4, you really start to realize just how important the power supply is at every part of your chain. You’ll start to get the urge to replace every one of them. The goal of most audiophiles is to get closer to something utterly convincing. After hundreds of listening tests with electronics and cables, I don’t think this goal is achievable without a high-performance power supply, like the SR4.
Fortunately, SR4 orders are fulfilled in a timely manner – so I placed an order for another one. Get yours by contacting Paul Hynes at paul@paulhynesdesign.com.
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SR4s are manufactured in batches of 10 per month during the last week of the month, although this can vary slightly with staff absence due to holidays or illness. Shipment is usually made the following week after the two-day soak test.
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In my experience, my SR7 is indeed the finest PSU I have thus far experienced. I have auditioned, owned and still own other supplies from Teddy Pardo, Paul Pang, Kenneth Lau, SBooster, HDPlex, Teradak, Uptone Audio (JS2, LPS-1, LPS-1.2), and SOtM (sPS-500) and they are all fairly decent with the LPS-1.2 being a standout among this group for components that don't draw more than 1A, however, in my opinion, the mighty SR7 is without peer. Good call on this one, Jay!
It is a very good review.
Nevertheless it suffers greatly from the absence of the biggest competitor, the Uptone Audio LPS1.2.
There are reports that the SR4 and the LPS1.2 are nearly on par.
I would suggest to compare both in a post sriptum to make this review complete.
Thanks
Matt, I own both PSUs, and use the LPS-1.2 to power the ISO Regen and the SR4 to power to tx-USBultra. For powering the ISO Regen, SR4 and LPS-1.2 are more or less on par (the SR4 sounding a bit brighter). For powering the tx-USBultra, SR4 sounds slightly better than LPS-1.2, imo. Both are great PSUs, worth their price. While I could live with the stock PSU of ISO Regen, the stock PSU of the tx-USBultra sounds terrible and is worth being replaced.
@Jay: Great review, thanks!!
Matt: The absence of both Uptone Audio LPS 1.2 *and* Vinnie Rossi MINI ultracapacitor power supplies.
From my understanding, the VR MINI has been discontinued since a year ago. I'll get an LPS-1.2 in.
Hi Jay:
Alex from UpTone here. I think the world of Paul Hynes, I am happy to see that he is at last getting more production going of the terrific SR4, and I would not want to detract from your nice review of it.
That said, your readers are correct that the most contemporary comparison would be with our newer generation UltraCap LPS-1.2–now based on paralleled ultra-ultra-low-noise and ultra low output impedance LT3045 regulators, and now offering 5,7,9,12 volt user-selectable output setting.
I just saw your e-mail and we will get a unit down to you this coming week. We’ll likely swap it for one of the four(!) original LPS-1 units that you previously purchased from us.
Thanks and regards,
Alex Crespi
Hi Jay,
the right headline would have been
PAUL HYNES SR7 - THE WORLD's BEST AUDIOPHILE POWER SUPPLY
Matt
according to this measure,
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/uptone-lps-1-linear-power-supply-review-and-measurements.1849/
the Uptone lps1 does not eliminate AC mains leakage. Since there is not measures in uptone page, I guess lps1.2 suffers from the same issue.
Actually, both the UltraCap LPS-1 and LPS-1.2 completely block the path of normal low-impedance AC mains leakage. Always have.
But we later discovered (and yes Amir measured) that because the original Mean Well SMPS we were supplying with the LPS-1 did not connect AC ground to DC -ve output (“ground”), some high-impedance leakage could get through (because of a few dozen pF total capacitance of the transistors we use to alternate ultracapacitor banks instead of noisy mechanical relays).
We discussed all this and published measurements about it here:
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/37034-smps-and-grounding/?do=findComment&comment=734822
The solution is extremely simple: Just ground-shunt the “energizing”/charging supply to prevent high-impedance leakage from ever entering our DC>DC UltraCap unit. Many have done this as an easy DIY. And the LT3045-based LPS-1.2 comes with a new UpTone-branded 36W SMPS which is designed with an internal ground-shunt. So no AC leakage of any kind comes from the output. We also offer this new charger separately for $15 for those original LPS-1 owners who would like to address this minor issue but don’t want to run an external ground wire:
https://uptoneaudio.com/products/uptone-branded-7-5v-4-8a-36w-smps-with-internal-ground-shunt
My sincere apologies to Paul Hynes for this off-topic post. But I feel it is important to correct mis-information.
Thanks,
Alex at UpTone Audio LLC
Says who? You really believe you can make that claim by comparing Hynes PS with two other mediocre supplies? You seem to be just another dishonest and clueless audio reviewer. Get real.
Yeah - I do. Stop being a hater. It's not good for your health.
Hello
How sound the DC cable ZenWave 6N copper vs the Paul HYNES fine silver ?
I prefer copper. If you prioritize transparency and detail - go silver. Paul Hyne's silver is probably the smoothest I've ever heard. If you listen to mostly vocals or music that benefits from a more warm, golden sound - go Zenwave 7N copper.
The SOtM is far more revealing. But the TLS is warmer and is more tonally satisfying. I typically would opt for the warmer sound but the SOtM is able to unravel so much of the music, especially in regards to transient reproduction - it's hard to pass up. For lack of a better word, the SOtM (with clock, evo caps, and 7N upgrade) just sounds more real.
thanks :-)
Thanks Jay for all the great reviews....your input has enhanced my system greatly....I have been playing with TLS switch with Paul Hynes SR-4 LPS, trying to find a power cord that worked well in my rig. I took your suggestion with the Vovox Textura pc for my REL subwoofers however in my rig, with the SR-4 / TLS combo just didn't work well (I am running it off my PowerCell 12 SE ). I tried a bunch of different SR power cables, an Audience and even an older VooDoo I had on hand and non played well. I happened to have an older and very cheap AudioQuest NRG-2 on hand....this was from an era where these were not well thought of and wouldn't you know it! It is awesome in this spot...all the detail and dynamics with wonderful tone and lots of body and weight....incredible! Another audio "what the Hell"! Worth a try if you can pick one up!
I'll have to hear it!