Price: $577 (Single rail)
This power supply has by far the smallest footprint and is also the lightest of the entire shootout.
First, I like how small yet dense this power supply feels. Many will find the form factor (less than 1/3 the size of most of these power supplies) very attractive. Especially for smaller racks, desktops, etc.
I’ll be using the Level 2 copper and silver DC power cables for this review. Aside from a cooler tone and smooth sound, these cables will suit different tastes. If you’re attempting to change the cables, these are the instructions:
When changing cables we also recommend using the reset button at the back. Push it, the supply will have a fading red led (charging) and in this time the output is disabled, and the right moment to pull out the plug from the load. When the led turns blue again the output gets active again. Replace the cable on the Farad, and then push the reset button again, and when the led is fading red, put it in the load again, this way it is safe and doo you need need to remove AC power.
Many Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler and TT2 owners love these power supplies. I’ll be using a 12V on the HMS, but the 15V version will apparently sound better. It needs a few days to settle and it’s best to leave them always powered on. The Synergistic Research Orange is warmer and has more micro detailing than the HFT fuse.
These two cables sound very different. The copper will sound more congealed, dense, and slower. There’s not a lot of air or clear delineation. In other words, it’s very relaxed and mellow with a decent midrange texture. Many will find this cable more natural sounding.
The silver cable offers up what the copper misses – but with a cooler and leaner tonality. There’s more grain and edge. The bass is narrower but tighter. It’s just a more “alive” sound with more texture, transient speed, depth, and sparkle. It’s not as “collected” but offers more spatial clarity. Instruments have more raw resolution and reverb linger and subside more truly.
The copper cable will give you a full and intimate sound. The silver will prioritize vividness, detail, speed, and a cooler sound.
I would describe the Super3 as a “natural calm.” It’s smoother than it is tactile or powdery. Plucked strings and vocal cords have good density and strong extrusion. However, the tonality is more of a greyish tone – and cooler with the silver cable. I would even say it sounds “milky.” As far as stride, it’s mostly tame but could be assertive at times. Imagine a “cloudy day” type of sound. There’s more intimacy and cozy blankets than sunshine and rainbows.
String plucks and strums are thick and have robust extrusion. There’s this underlying liquid connection to all the performers. So you won’t get clean-cut separation, but it’s admittedly very coherent. The midrange is particularly wholesome and romantic. A good example is Zaz’s Les Passants where there’s good detail and meat all around.
Overall, the Super3 has decent energy, detail, and fullness. It’s also very impressive for its size and price. It articulates reverbs and decays very finely with the silver cable. And supplies a palpable midrange with the copper cable. The sound isn’t even slightly rough or abrasive – and does a fantastic job of reproducing 3D molds of all the artists and their performers.
The Super3 doesn’t try to surround the performers with air and space – but instead connects them with the surrounding. It’s not smeared because there’s still differentiation in shape. But does miss out on some focus. Because of this more polished sound, micro and macro dynamics are thicker than they are fibrous.
The treble is a little tapered and heavier. Bells and woodwinds don’t quite have that extra height and extension. Bass matches the midrange in weight – so it may need a bit more slam to stand out. Consequently, you get a sound that embraces a more present and fleshed-out midrange.
At least in my system, the Super3 did not give an expansive, highly resolving, or spatially clear sound. It wasn’t the most transparent and didn’t offer precise isolation of the music. I wouldn’t describe the Super3 as an energized or “exciting” power supply. But rather one that is meant to be for ease of listening.
For its performance characteristics, I think the Super3 is priced fairly. You won’t get as much depth or sparkle as some of the pricier power supplies. But you’ll be able to enjoy a good balance of body, detail, and smoothness. I could imagine this pairing well with more high-resolution, analytical, or thinner-sounding systems – as the Super3 will add more meat to the bones and also more of that analog-esque connective tissue.
This is a power supply for those who prefer a neutral color, super smooth sound, and more “connective” outlines. The Super3 is balanced in strength and has good richness and body in the midrange. In conclusion, it’s a solid and grounded sound.
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Well Jay, you have only just gone and done it again. Another mammoth review. Don’t you ever sleep!?
As a Dave owner I was lucky to obtain the first production version of Sean Jacobs DC4 and have been using that ever since with a big grin on my face every time I use the Dave. It has possibly been the biggest improvement to the sound of my system (with the possible and honourable exception of my own Wave High Fidelity STORM dual BNC cables of course!).
However all of that is about to change because Sean has been kind enough to loan me a prototype of his new ARC6 version of the DC4 power supply. Having had the Dave all this time I was not aware of any deficiencies. That was until I plugged in the ARC6. As you say in your review the DC4 is a master at revealing the texture of instruments but now the ARC6 version has a transient speed to go with that textural information. It is a quite uncanny combination. The bass is also deeper and more powerful and yet manages to more detail and information in it at the same time.
You will gather that I like the ARC6 upgrade to the DC4 for the Dave. It is a huge upgrade to the Dc4. I understand that existing owners of the DC4 can have theirs upgraded to the ARC6 version by returning to Sean or to one of his agents in the USA or EU.
But that is not really why I was minded to put pen to paper in response to your review. A few months ago I did my own private shoot out of power supplies powering the Qutest. These included the Sbooster with Ultra Mk2 upgrade, Farad Super3, Allo Shanti, MCRU, Sean Jacobs DC3, PowerAdd battery, iFi, a cheap LPS from China and of course, because I could, the 5V rail from a DC4. Broadly I agree with all your comments and in the end I used the Farad Super3, not because it was the best but because it was a reasonable amount of money to spend for the performance gain with a Qutest. One thing to say about the value for money Allo Shanti is that if one has the necessary skills it takes a leap forward in sound quality if the supplied captive leads are removed from the circuit board and GX16 sockets are installed allowing after market DC leads.
I have more recently listened again to a DC4 powering the Qutest and although first time around I rejected the idea of a single rail £4,000 DC4 powering a £1.200 Qutest as being any where near a sensible decision I have now begun to wonder whether in fact it brings the £5,200 combination up to a level of similarly priced DACs and I think it might just do that. Such is the benefit of the DC4 with a Qutest.
So, thanks once again for the huge undertaking and it is nice of course to see you still using my WAVE STREAM cables with your Dave. 👍
Nick.
I would be curious to hear the ARC6! Is there a tonal color difference between DC4 and ARC6? More shine?
I agree, the Farad Super3 is a great value, especially if you enjoy that more liquid and smooth sound. From memory, I thought the Mojo Illuminati V3 paired well with the Qutest. And I could definitely hear the potential of the Shanti, the price is incredible for its performance (but critical listeners won't be happy). GX16 sockets with custom cabling would be interesting.
Have you tried batteries?
I run my RME ADI-2 fs DAC and streamer on pure LiFePo4 cells (without any battery management electronics of course). The DAC uses 4*3.2V 20AH cells in series, and the streamer 2 of the same in series. The batteries last more than a day so I charge at night when sleeping.
It would be interesting to know how batteries like these compares to the better power supplies.
Yeah, I was thinking about including batteries as well. Which specific ones would you like to see?
I think the more "pure" cells you use the better, and not small AA or similar batteries. Here is the ones I use:
https://shop.gwl.eu/LiFePO4-cells-3-2-V/LiFePO4-High-Power-Cell-3-2V-20Ah-Alu-case-CE.html
Of if you want one ready made for RME DAC, this one works (its just 4 cells in series), should be similar available in NA if that's where you live: https://shop.gwl.eu/LiFeYPO4-batteries-12V-1-1/Lithium-Battery-LiFePO4-12V-20Ah.html
But basically you want low internal resistance in combination with pure cells. For example, a power pack used for mobile phones sounds a lot worse (they have switched DC regulators inside to get to 5V).
It also important to stay away from "battery management", even if you risk damaging the cells if overcharged or undercharged. Those battery managements are filled with switched cheap electronic.
I then have 18 awg OCC coppar cables with cotton sleeves as only insulation, soldered to a DC connector of copper.
A whole nother world there! I'll look into it.
Yes, it is. I like the sound of my LiFePO4 batteries though, and LPS manufacturers often use batteries like those as "reference" to compare with (or so I have heard).
It's also worth mentioning that Stromtank (a really expensive HiFi power gear) uses LiFePo4 cells for their "magic", but enough of them to also drive power amplifiers.
You should include some of Gieslers power supplies. Aussie seller very high quality supplies. Kraftwerk 2
https://www.gieseler.com.au/product-page/kraftwerk-ii
Not even a Contact Us email address. Doesn't infuse confidence unless you're inside Australi and can call them.
Would been nice if u would included Ferrum Hypsos!
https://ferrum.audio/hypsos/
They said they would send the Hypos in...but I never received it. Will check again.
Amazing post Jay. The table of results especially. I'd also love to know where the Hypsos ranks if they ever send you one.
Thank you! Yeah, I haven't heard back from Hypsos. Oh well.
Hello,
Maybe invest in some gear to measure them Jay?
Best regards
Geoff
Pachanko Stellar LPS would have been also interesting to see compared with all these.
Request sent.
Cool : )
Please consider the SOtM SPS-1000. I heard its very good.
great work - thanks a million!!
comment to the Sbooster PSU: i kind of relate to your findings (using mk 1 version), adding (now unavailable) Padis fuse and Furutech Absolute Power adds LIVE to it. yet, possibly also to all other PSUs tested here
Yeah fuses could make all the difference...maybe I'll test those at a later time.
Hi there,
I know you cannot review everything under the sun, but I’ll selfishly propose you review the ISOL-8 Prometheus LPSU. Their power conditioners are great and I would be curious to see how their power supply compares with the others.
Amazing amazing review; very well done! Thank you!
So, farad 3 isn’t that good?
What fuse and iec did you get within test unit?
My Farad Super 3 is custom modified, but I think it performs very well. Along w/ Jay I am factoring in price and its incredibly diminutive size.
I am also curious about the remarks in comparison to other PSUs, which cable was used: silver or copper?
Listening was primarily done with the copper cable. Still great for the price, especially if you enjoy a full bodied and smooth sound.