@RobH & @watchdog507
Sorry - been very busy building the house and working a lot. Also, cycling a lot in the rental house near the build. Looks like Farad is doing well for someone. I bought a few units and they are all custom builds. Matajis (Farad owner, designer), built me a nice custom output cable; blue fuse and rhodium IEC connector. They are not cheap; however, work fantastic… One thing I did do with Vern (Badly)'s help is add (4) 30mm black aluminum (o-ring base) heat sinks (stand-off) with thermal adhesive that reduced the operating temp from over 100F (18V, Nucleus+) to 94F, increasing the performance life. I have them on all (4) Farads. Vern is so cool and his machine shop rocks… the 5mm rubber dots needed height for air flow and super cap design last a lot longer with lower temps.
Had to get the (2) whips in there on different shots…
I have owned and used: (4) Sbooster, (4) Sbooster w/ filter, and (4) Farad power supplies. Sbooster makes a great supply and I loved them; especially w/ filter. Farad is better; however, if cost is an issue, stick w/ Sbooster w/ filter. The filter reduces the output 1V so that has to be taken into account. My stereo is in boxes waiting for my house to finish in the summer 2021. I made sure I had an 8gauge run from the main 400A panel that is 30ft from the transformer box on the street. In addition I have a 2in diameter tube that runs from my stereo wall to my network panel. I’m going to start w/ a Blue Jean CAT 6a pulled through the tube. Then if I don’t like that set up going to start trying others… Same set up in my office (8ga w/ Ethernet cable tube) so when I move my main stereo to my office and design my next music room rig, it will have the right infrastructure.
I am still waiting for my Farad - according to tracking it was cleared and awaiting departure from Netherlands on 21 October. Apparently not many flights to Australia. Ah well.
I have been beta testing a new USB cable, though, and it was a huge upgrade to my system! Holographic, detailed and incredibly natural sounding. Re-discovering my music. This makes me even more excited for the eventual arrival of the Farad.
Here is the BD for my system. You can see how I have used the Farad. Also, I am going to try the regen next summer and see if it sounds better than the AQVOX-SE and Giga Filter. If I go regen, Matajis is going to send me a kit for changing the voltage output to accommodate the regen. I have digital scopes, temp controlled solder station… so it will be an easy fix for me… I like one output very specific voltage power supplies. I like my Matrix external PS input set to 6V; got rid of the power in the USB (N+ to Matrix) by placing tape over the power pin so the cable is “data only” cause I have external Farad supply for the Matrix.
Make sure you allow at least a few weeks break in time. When I change anything in my system I listen for initial reaction, then wait at least 200hrs. I use to listen to my system for 10hrs a day so that would be 2-3 weeks. Keep you panties on, it is worth the wait. Also, Matajis does not believe in silver wire as some do… he has made this very clear on many occasions and has argued this with many including myself and would not use silver for my cables. All I can say is that I love my Farad supplies and I have (4) of them and they are worth every penny… also, I have loved my Sboosters and know that designer very well and they sound fantastic. Farad is just a level above…
Back on topic. You might be an audiophile if it’s over 70F and sunny in Ohio in November, you have a Porsche Spyder in the garage, and you are inside listening to music because is sounds so damn good.
So your Farad’s are running the copper dc cable? With Sbooster and filter 9v for matrix do you recommend? BTW I love the system diagrams. Thank you for the advice!
Hi, thanks for sharing this info. I am about to order said filter with Upscale Audio, but the sales there had no idea when I asked them to confirm the 1V reduction. So, I am just confirming if you meant that a 9V Sbooter with a matching filter would become 8V?
So - I got the Farad supplies some time ago and the silver copper debate was raging… I wanted to go silver and Matajis said no he does not do silver. he might have changed his mind or got religion, who knows. I did a 6.5V Sbooster w/ filter was 5.5V. Spec on Matrix is 6V; however, it worked great. When I changed to Farad I upped the voltage at the Matrix to be in spec = 6V. This is a very personal thing. There are so many different answers. I like the voltage as low as I can run it, my system seems to work best that way…
Yes - the filter reduces the Sbooster output by 1V. There is a ton of information I have presented if you search on Sbooster. Also, go on the Sbooster website and they will show the reduction.
Also - I beleive you can set the Sbooster 9V supply to 10V (switch on side; same as 5-6V) , then use the Ultra to get 9V. Careful on this approach with respect to current draw. I set my Sbooster (N+) to 19V and got 18V at the N+ and that was fine. I could have ran it lower, just used that. Here is the range information. For 9-10V; the supply is capable of 2.35A at 9V; however, the load will get 8V with the Ultra attached. Hope this helps. https://www.sbooster.com/sbooster-ultra-mkii/
Hi all. So I did get to an a/b today of a straight usb no lps into the matrix vs utilizing the loaded up farad. Here are my impressions.
First of all the matrix on its own still sounds good to me. Whenever I listen to something new I try to identify what is the most prominent difference first. With the farad I’d have to say it’s the attack. The leading attack of a note seems quite better. Listening to Gary burton - the vibraphone takes on a more percussive sound as the ‘vibes???’ are struck. I’d say by the same token the note decay seems a bit better. This along w the blacker background gives an ever so slight improvement in depth and instrument imaging.
The matrix while very good on its own sounded a little more homogeneous. A little less separation. A little less depth.
I’m very happy w the results. I’ve had it hooked up all week. Have only had an opportunity to have about 3 sit downs where music was playing thru it.
I wouldn’t call the change transformative but more evolutionary. In the end me likey
@timm - you might want to isolate the power on the USB when you go Farad “external” to the Matrix. I used Kapton tape to isolate the power pin on each side of the USB cable. I think I shared some pics of how I did that…
Farad PS w/ 30mm black aluminum heat sinks attached w/ thermal paste. O-ring grove w/ O-ring base for better isolation. As you can see, the heat sinks height allow a lot more air flow below the Farad; also moving “Q” through the heat sink using thermal paste to aid PS to HS transition . The 5mm high quarter dot rubber feet sold w/ units don’t allow a lot of air flow. Keeping super cap’s operating temperature lower will help prolong “performance” life. If you can keep the operating temps closer to 90F, the farad “performance” life will extend.
Yes - better with power isolated; however, not amazing, tad more quite. Matrix does not draw a lot of power from Farad; N+ draws a lot from Farad and gets warm. I changed all my Farad supplies since I had to buy the thermal paste for the N+ experiment and got the heat sinks from @Baldy (Vern), just did it all at once. Airflow is important; however, not 1st order important.
Also, it depends on the source for the Matrix wrt the USB power isolation. N+ is on a Farad PS and has no fan so it is pretty quite. I have internal 4TB SSD so there are no issues w/ noise. I have no idea what it will do on other Matrix sources. I think that modification is something you just do; however, results will definitely vary. It is very easy to perform so a no-brainer.
Nice to see you back. I remember kicking the tires on an lps a long time ago and you had mentioned the farad … at the time I was - nah I don’t want to spend that…and here I am!! Lol
All good - I miss my system, I packed it up in AUG when I sold my house. I am in a rental… Here is my music room and music room covered patio… 2in X 6in framing that will have spayed foam insulation. Also, going to a conditioned attic with spray foam. The covered patio is 22ft X 15ft X 12ft high. Going with EV Blue Tooth PA speakers (500watts each). Using my Pioneer DAP to listen to tunes out on the patio with the sliders closed. The Great room patio, a little bigger will have the same set-up.
