On checking, you are right. It’s my streamer than won’t wake up the x-spdif when i turn off the external power. It does work after a couple of tries though
@mike-marks What sort of improvement are you getting from the TalentCell vs usb? I may buy one if you think it’s worth it 
Given the outstanding analysis earlier in the thread about the way the Matrix handles external power, I believe that acquiring an ifi iUSB 3.0 Micro is in my very near future. I have to see if the 6v battery solution I’m currently using can be bested with a Micro in the USB signal path. So far the battery wins against straight USB from my Uptone linear power modded Mac mini.
Out of curiosity, why would you pick the iFi USB 3.0 over the universally praised, and similarly priced Uptone Ultracap LPS 1.2?
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… and the winner is 6V. Sent an email to the Mother Ship at Matrix and here’s the response they sent back.
Hello,
Thanks for your mail.
The recommended voltage of external power supply for X-SPDIF2 is 6V.
The required voltage input range is 6-9v, 6V can work stably, and the higher voltage will turn into heat. But if above 9V may damage the device.
External power going into X-SPDIF2 will passing low noise LDO to stepped down internally to 5V.
Best regards,
Yang
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I followed up their response with a question of whether to use 5v or 7v on the LPS1.2 since there is no option to select 6V:
“If so, that we will recommended 7V, because 5v maybe not enough to drive device.
Best regards,
Yang”
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Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Thanks for the info, @cudfoo. Guess I will leave my LPS 1.2 at 7V.
Yup - I guess the LDO should be filtering any noise when stepping down. If there is anything audible it seems to be a non issue with the Uptone 1.2. Arthur and Yang should talk more…
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A lot of discussion for something so obvious. The unit did state 6-9v input after all 
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I would still try 5V and do a listen test. Based on Yang’s statement above, it appears there is no risk other than it “maybe” not enough to drive. It may work fine with your LPS’s and if it doesn’t, you simply bump it up to 6 or 7V. The unit is at risk with over voltages so attempting to run at 5V at the external port brings no risk to the unit and until tested, no claims that 6V sounds best can be made.
My read from @cardri is that any PS which uses the DC input gets passed through DC/DC switch power converters which could cause unwanted noise. My guess is that any effect of this switching is very system dependent, as are most things.
The ifi iUSB avoids this power switching and should clean up the 5v coming through the USB cable. It also reclocks, among other things, which causes some concern as all previous attempts at adding USB decrapifiers into my system didn’t work for me. Placing the iUSB before the Matrix might. We’ll soon see.
The Uptone LPS vs a 6v battery would be an interesting comparison if I felt that staying with a 6v - 9v external power solution was the better choice. And it still might be. I’m also heading down a DIRAC room correction path so funds are kinda split between experiments otherwise I’d audition the ifi and Uptone together. Plus we just got word from @cudfoo that 6v is optimal, so the Uptone seems like it has some slight disadvantages. But listening wins vs theory in all things audio.
Correct! And this highlights an obvious design flaw with the Matrix that I imagine they will correct with their next rendition of this product.
What is obvious is the external power port adds an extra step of passing that already clean LPS power through a noise generating process of a DC-to-DC step down convertor. This can bring nothing positive to the show. Power from the USB port does not go through this extra step. So, in theory, if you can bring LPS power to the USB port and avoid this step down process altogether, less internal noise should be present within the Matrix.
And I find it interesting that their manual states 6V-9V yet the manufacturer just admitted that anything over 6V is unideal as it generates extra heat, and my guess, extra noise. Again, bad design choice on the part of Matrix. This is why I take some things with a grain of salt, including what is published in manuals AND what some manufacturers state/claim.
This is what has motivated me to come up with a power solution that avoids that poorly designed external power port on the Matrix.
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-A little sidetrack here, and probably a stupid question: If I stream an SACD file (which has been ripped), thru the matrix, with native DSD in the on position, shouldn’t I see DSD on my DSD screen? That’s what I see when I play an SACD from my DSMP.
-Just wondering
@JeffofArabica - Very good, now we all understand the motivation for going to the USB-B LPS. Also understand, this is speculation based on Matrix website verbiage (switched DC/DC) and a further experiment performed (measured) with the external PS vs. USB-B PS. If I had schematics, it would take one minute to answer the question, as opposed to speculating. However, in the absence of schematics, Jeff will be running an SQ test with Sbooster external vs. AQVOX USB-B LPS. Since I too have a 5-6V Sbooster LPS, I will be running the same experiment. Not that I don’t trust Jeff… I don’t trust anyone…
The questions that should be asked if contemplating Jeff’s approach:
- What was the external LPS used for the Matrix noise measurement?
- What was the USB-B LPS used?
- What was the cable used? “data only” or a full USB cable?
Full disclosure: I just ordered a Matrix, JMaxwell (1ft) “data only” cable, and an AQVOX USB-B LPS yesterday. The BII not having double DSD bothered me; however, my present set up streaming is better than the DMP SQ. In addition, since I use my DMP ~5% of the time, going to swap my DMP Valhalla 2 HDMI to the Matrix and use the PSA HDMI cable (stock) that Paul raves about as OMG amazing to see just how OMG amazing it is on the DMP.
Let the SQ experiments begin…
Forgot - this is very exciting adding yet another shinny little box to my BD… bye, bye BII. All I wanted from BIII was double DSD and it looks like it may get hooked to the Octave server scheme and that’s OK… this approach will help me for a few years before going to the next new shiny device…
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This is what is so astonishing. It was not LPS generated USB power. It was standard USB power from the Wyred4Sound DAC. So, standard USB power generated measurable less noise than the Wyred4Sound PS-1 linear power supply during that particular test. Again, this is one test case. But couple this test with the already mentioned inherent design of the external power chain within the Matrix and one can form their own opinion on the matter.
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That port sounds pretty great to me with the UpTone LPS-1.2!
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In the end it is all about what you hear… if it sounds great, sit back and love it… As Darren said in the interview… measurements are good to have, understanding the correct measurements, better… and in the end it is about listening… the reason I pay less attention to opinions and more about sounds… God gave me a good brain and a great pair of ears…,. I never loan their function out to others… trust, but verify…
Forgot - brain and ears are deteriorating every year… getting old sucks… Also, what makes this forum great (1116) is so much sharing of ideas. I get so many great ideas I get to track down and think a lot about…
I think the important take away with this discussion is not a proclamation that the Matrix cannot sound excellent (or even better depending on the case) when compared to the infinite USB power source possibilities.
We are obviously all interested in leaching out the very best from all of our components, the Matrix included. This is illustrated by the fact that this thread is not 1117 posts long. I am a tweaker to the Nth degree and if there is even a remote possibility that something within my control is causing an issue or limiting my system’s potential, I will address it. But I know this level of OCD is not within all of us and that is perfectly fine. Again, the Matrix is a fine device even if I question how they implemented their external power option.
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The AQVOX LPS route you are taking is of great interest to me as well. Certainly the more affordable option if only the power needs addressing. In my case, I’m assuming that the USB into the Matrix from a Mac may benefit more from ifi’s full bag of tricks. But I’m also skeptical of daisy chaining reclockers from my earlier attempts at ‘fixing’ USB audio.
For what I hope are good reasons, I’ll try ifi first.
Before I bought the LPS1.2 I used a six volt battery. The LPS1.2 sounds better, which wrecks my brain.
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