I think I read somewhere about Audiophile Jewelry. Probably, they mean this.
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As I was reading the discussion about the ideal voltage for the Matrix, I wondered if anyone has considered trying the new Hypsos power supply. I’ve read several glowing reviews of the Hypsos, which has the ability to vary the voltage on the fly so that the best sounding voltage can be dialed in. Of course, the Hypsos isn’t cheap (at $995 with DC cable included), but it’s roughly in the same price range as a tricked out Farad 3 with all the upgrades.
Just something to think about.
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I saw Hans review and I wish to purchase one myself. Just not soon. And probably not for a Matrix. But maybe. Its a very interesting piece of kit.
Has anyone made the step from a Cardas Clear USB to an Inakustik USB? The rabbit hole keeps calling me and Joe Biden is sending me money…
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Just ordered my matrix… coming tomorrow 
Mac mini > ROON/Tidal/Qbz > DSD JR via Bridge (EtherREGEN) > BHK Pre > BHK250 > Tekton DIs
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This is super interesting. May look into it
I only had Cardas RCAs and speaker cable but the have been down the German Digital cable rabbit hole 
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Inakustik Referenz One of the best deals in DSD HiFi behind Edcor XS4400 transformers. BTW all my Cardas cables are doing L& R rear surround duty in my Home Theater thanks to Iconoclast cables which play in the same league as Inakustik also being hard to beat at any price.
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What grade Cardas RCAs are you comparing to?
Exactly what happened to me. Changing the upsampling fixed the issue.
Matrix on a PowerBase, or is that going a little overboard? 
With the Matrix, there is no going overboard! 
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Of course, to be absolutely sure that the Matrix is only drawing power from the external supply is to somehow ‘disconnect’ the power conductor on the USB interface. I’ve read here that some have physically cut the cable but I cringe a little at the idea, particularly with the more expensive USB cables. Some have used the Sbooster Vbus2 connector to do it but this adds yet another connection point into the path. Perhaps cutting it at the Matrix’s USB plug or at the source’s plug?
Apparently not…
please read my post again, in my experience Matrix needs power on both sides to sound best.
My apologies. You’re correct, I didn’t comprehend your words. Although I don’t understand how that works because from the Matrix manual, “The device will auto-disconnect the USB bus power supply after connected the external power supply”. It would seem that the Matrix is either powered (presumably on both input and output sides) by the USB connection or by the (external) LPS.
I’m using a Sbooster Vbus2 on my newly purchased Nucleus. I don’t notice a change in sound for the better or worse. I also have a Sbooster 9v LPS on the Matrix. The sound of the Nucleus and the Matrix feeding the Directstream Dac is great to say the least!
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The problem with cutting the power line at source end, rather than device end is that cable is then floating and will act like an aerial and will induce any signal around it, including the clock signal right next to it, potentially being even noisier than when it was connected to the power source. Ideally you would want to tie it to ground somehow, but that might short out the matrix.
When USB 5V is issing, then INPUT USB module of Matrix is powered via OUTPUT module (extrenal PSU). I assume that this degrades the Matrix I2S output quality - at least this is what I am hearing.
I am using JCAT USB cable with Y legs - data going to RPi a Power going from another 5V LPS so can easily check with/without 5V o USB.
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I have done an experiment by disconnecting power to Matrix at the LPS. It goes off briefly, and back on again. This tells me the power disconnection / re-connection is electronic and does not rely on the physical plugging of the cable at the back. So, eliminating USB voltage using a device is not going to change things. Please make sure you mute or turn off DS DAC before this test
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I never had a problem with the external LPS cutting in and out on the Matrix. I would know if the power cuts out because the difference is quite pronounced with the 7v Farad or the 6v Sbooster in the Matrix. I do pull the power supply cable from the LPS in and out from the Matrix before when the music is playing and the music just stops and the auto switching initiates and I have to restart the music, but I do hear a pronounced difference in the sound after the switching. I believe as long as the voltage is higher from the LPS than from the USB cable, the switching will always happen. Ever since I have these LPS’s, I have never had a problem with them switching out on me, so I didn’t even know the problem existed.
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